Dr Merryn Elizabeth Ekberg

Merryn EkbergPost held

Senior Lecturer in Health Sociology and Bioethics 

Contact Details

Office: Brampton 16
Telephone: (01604) 892523
Email: merryn.ekberg@northampton.ac.uk

Academic Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Science (Melbourne)
  • Bachelor of Arts (First Class Honours) (Melbourne)
  • Doctor of Philosophy (Melbourne)
  • Postgraduate Certificate in Research Degree Supervision (Northampton).

Professional Experience

  • 1989-1990: Research Assistant in The Department of Genetics, The University of Melbourne.
  • 1990-1998: Research Assistant at The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne.
  • 1999-2002: Tutor in Sociology and Political Science, The University of Melbourne,
  • 2001-2003: Editor of The Melbourne Journal of Politics. A refereed journal produced by the  Department of Political Science and The University of Melbourne.
  • 2002-2005: Postdoctoral Fellow at RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia.
  • 2002-2004: Course Coordinator and Lecturer for 'Science Communication' at RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia.
  • 2005-2005: Lecturer in Sociology at Central Queensland University.
  • 2005-present: Member of Editorial Board, International Journal of Science and Research.                
  • 2005-present: Senior Lecturer in Health Sociology and Bioethics, The School of Health, The University of Northampton, UK. 

Current Responsibilities

  • Programme Leader for MSc in Health and Bioscience
  • Module Leader for HLS 2013 Body Matters
  • Module Leader for HLS 3011 Researching Populations' Health
  • Module Leader for HLS 3013  Ethical Issues in Health
  • Teaching for HLS 2012 Health Issues in Later Life
  • Teaching for HLS  1007 Health over the Lifespan
  • Teaching for HLS  2014 Contemporary Issues in Health Care
  • Teaching for HLS  2016 Research Methods 
  • Teaching for HLS 1008 Health and Society
  • Teaching for HLS 3005 Communities and Nutrition
  • Supervision for HLS 4001 Dissertation 

Membership of Committees and Professional Bodies

  • Member of University of Northampton Research Ethics Committee.
  • Member of the University of Northampton International Committee.
  • Member of the Editorial Board for The International Journal of Science and Research.
  • Member of the British Sociological Association. 
  • Member of Organising Committee for Inspiring Transformation: The Arts and Health. Conference at the University of Northampton, September 2007.
  • Referee for the Australian Journal of Emerging Technologies and Society.
  • Referee for the Economic and Social Research Council.   

Research Areas

  • Medical Sociology.
  • The Ethical, Legal and Social Impact of the New Genetics.
  • The Ethical, Legal and Social Impact of Cloning and Stem Cell Research.
  • The Governance of Biomedical Science.

Publications

Journal Articles

  • Augstein, P., Stephens, L., Allison, J., Elefanty, A., Ekberg, M., Kay, W., and Harrison, L., (1998) 'B-Cell Apoptosis in an Accelerated Model of Autoimmune Diabetes,' Molecular Medicine Volume 4: 495-501.
  • Ekberg, M., (2005) 'Governing the Risks Emerging From the Non-Medical Uses of Genetic Testing.' The Australian Journal of Emerging Technologies and Society.  Volume 3(1):1-16.
  • Ekberg, M., (2005) 'A Comparative Analysis of Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methodologies.' International Journal of Science and Research. Volume 1(1): 3-12.
  • Ekberg, M., (2005) 'Seven Risks Emerging from Patents and Corporate Science.' Bulletin of Science, Technology and Society. Volume 25 (6): 1-9.
  • Ekberg, M., (2006) 'Genetic Expectations.' International Journal of Science and Research. Volume 2(1): 41-48.
  • Ekberg, M., (2007) 'The Parameters of the Risk Society: A Review and Exploration.' Current Sociology. Volume 55 (3): 343-366.
  • Ekberg, M., (2007) 'Maximizing the Benefits and Minimizing the Risks of Pre-natal Genetic Testing.' Health, Risk and Society. Volume 9 (1): 67-81.
  • Knight J, Ball V, Corr S, Turner A, Lowis M., Ekberg, M. (2007) An Empirical Study to Identify Older Adults' Engagement in Productivity. Journal of Occupational Science, 14(3).
  • Ekberg, M., (2007) 'The Old Eugenics and the New Genetics.' Social History of Medicine (Accepted).
  • Ekberg, M. 'The Problem with Science Journalism.' Submitted to Journalism.  

Book Reviews

  • Bauer, M., and Gaskell, G., (eds). Biotechnology: The Making of a Global Controversy, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Review published in the Melbourne Journal of Politics, volume 29, 2004.  
  • Gerrard, Turner and Bateman (eds.). Environmental Risk Planning and Management, Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing Limited. Review published in The Australasian Journal of Environmental Management, Volume 11, number 3, 2004.

Refereed Conference Papers

  • Ekberg, M. (2004) 'Are Risk Society Risks Exceptional?' Proceedings of The Australian Sociological Association 2004 Conference.
  • Ekberg, M., (2004) 'Intellectual Property Rights, Biotechnology and Globalisation.' Intellectual Property Workshop at The University of Melbourne, November 2004.
  • Ekberg, M. (2007) 'The Governance of Biomedical Research: The Role of Research Ethics Committees.' The University of Exeter, UK.
  • Ekberg, M (2007) 'The Concept of Health.' Presented at Inspiring Transformations: The Arts and Health. A conference at the University of Northampton, UK. 

Grants awarded

British Academy Conference Grant, 2007 
 

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