Psychology Lecturer Professor Neil Ferguson has been awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to conduct research on desistance from violent extremism and de-radicalisation.
During the next academic year, Professor Ferguson will undertake the research at the National Consortium for Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) at the University of Maryland.
START is a U.S. Department of Homeland Security Center of Excellence, tasked with utilising state-of-the-art theories, methods, and data from the social and behavioural sciences.
It aims to improve the understanding of the origins, dynamics, and social and psychological impacts of terrorism and violent extremism.
The Fulbright Scholarship is one of the most prestigious scholarships in the world. It will allow Professor Ferguson to work with some of the leading figures in terrorism research and gain access to the datasets housed at the University of Maryland. These are the most comprehensive databases on radicalisation, deradicalisation and disengagement in the world.