Robert Dingwall is Professor and Director of ISS. He is an eminent sociologist who has contributed extensively to the literatures in medical sociology, sociology of law and qualitative methodology. He is currently interested in the discourses surrounding the explanation of human behaviour, particularly the extent to which these re-run many of the debates around the role of 'instinct' in early 20th century social science.
ISS is internationally recognised as a unique centre for the empirical study of issues arising from modern biology and biotechnology. ISS staff are working regularly with the European Commission as ethical evaluators for bioscience. The Institute's future plans include the launch of new graduate courses, and an expansion into the social studies of neuroscience.