Beverley Clough | Social Sciences | Best Researcher Award

Published on 09/07/202509/07/2025 by Phenomenological Research Awards

Prof.Beverley Clough | Social Sciences | Best Researcher Award

Professor of Law & Social Justice at Manchester Metropolitan University, United Kingdom.

Professor Beverley Clough is a leading scholar in law and social justice at Manchester Law School, Manchester Metropolitan University. Her research focuses on mental capacity law, disability rights, feminist legal theory, and healthcare ethics. She is the author of the acclaimed monograph The Spaces of Mental Capacity Law and has co-edited several influential volumes. A recipient of the ISRF Early Career Fellowship and shortlisted for the SLS Peter Birks Prize, Prof. Clough has secured competitive research funding and contributed extensively to national and international legal scholarship. She also holds editorial roles with top journals including Medical Law Review and co-edits the Disability, Law and Justice series (Hart Publishing). Through her academic leadership, public engagement, and advocacy for inclusive legal reform, she continues to shape the future of socio-legal studies.

Profile:

🎓 Educational Background:

Professor Beverley Clough holds an impressive academic background in law and ethics. She earned her LLB (Hons) from the University of Manchester in 2009, followed by an MA in Health Care Ethics and Law in 2011. Her doctoral research, completed at the University of Manchester’s Centre for Social Ethics and Policy, focused on relational approaches to mental capacity law—passing with distinction. She is also a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), reflecting her excellence in teaching and academic leadership.

Academic Experience:

Currently a Professor in Law & Social Justice at Manchester Law School, Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU), Prof. Clough has held esteemed positions at the Universities of Leeds, Liverpool, and Manchester. She is the Research Lead at MMU and has led teaching across a range of modules including Medical Law, Tort Law, and Disability Law. Her mentorship extends to supervising PhD students and reviewing academic progress, reflecting her deep commitment to student development and legal education.

Research Interests:

Prof. Clough’s research explores the intersections of mental capacity law, disability rights, feminist legal theory, and social justice. Her monograph The Spaces of Mental Capacity Law and multiple edited collections reveal a unique focus on the spatial, relational, and temporal aspects of legal capacity. Her work frequently interrogates traditional binaries and highlights the lived experiences of disabled individuals, especially in areas such as consent, vulnerability, and autonomy.

Editorial Work:

She is a prolific author with journal articles in Human Rights Law Review, Social & Legal Studies, Medical Law Review, and many others. Her books, including Disability, Care and Family Law and Mental Capacity Law, Sexual Relationships and Intimacy, are highly regarded in academic and policy-making circles. As an editor, she plays a leading role in shaping discourse through her positions with the Medical Law Review, International Journal of Disability & Social Justice, and the Disability, Law and Justice series at Hart Publishing.

Professional Service and External Roles:

She serves as a trustee of the Socio-Legal Studies Association, a series editor at Hart Publishing, and an editorial board member for leading journals. She is also part of the International Scientific Committee for the International Academy of Law and Mental Health. Her peer review contributions span journals, academic publishers, and research funders, reinforcing her as a critical voice in shaping academic quality and research direction.

Public Engagement:

Prof. Clough is active in public legal education through blogs, keynote lectures, seminars, and interviews. She frequently engages with audiences at academic and practitioner events, including international conferences, public lectures, and collaborative workshops. Her presentations often challenge conventional legal thinking, addressing topics like homebirth, disability rights, consent, and feminist legal geography.

Honors and Recognition:

She was awarded the prestigious ISRF Early Career Fellowship (2017–18) and was shortlisted for the SLS Peter Birks Prize (2022)—a recognition of scholarly excellence in law. Her thought leadership and consistent contributions to socio-legal discourse mark her as a transformative scholar.

Publications:

Clough, B. (2017). Disability and vulnerability: Challenging the capacity/incapacity binary. Social Policy and Society, 16(3), 469–481.
Cited by: 99
Clough, B. (2014). Vulnerability and capacity to consent to sex – Asking the right questions. Child and Family Law Quarterly, 26, 371–397.
Cited by: 42
Clough, B. (2015). ‘People like that’: Realising the social model in mental capacity jurisprudence. Medical Law Review, 23(1), 53–80.
Cited by: 30
Clough, B. A. (2018). New legal landscapes: (Re)constructing the boundaries of mental capacity law. Medical Law Review, 26(2), 246–275.
Cited by: 25
Clough, B. (2014). What about us? A case for legal recognition of interdependence in informal care relationships. Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law, 36(2), 129–148.
Cited by: 23
Clough, B. (2016). People Like That”: Realising the Social Model in Mental Capacity Jurisprudence. Medical Law Review, 23, 53.
Cited by: 20
Clough, B. & Brazier, M. (2014). Never too old for health and human rights? Medical Law International, 14(3), 133–156.
Cited by: 19
Clough, B. (2016). Anorexia, capacity, and best interests: Developments in the Court of Protection since the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Medical Law Review, 24(3), 434–445.
Cited by: 14
Clough, B. (2018). New Legal Landscapes: (Re)Constructing the Boundaries of Mental Capacity Law. Medical Law Review, 26, 246.
Cited by: 14
Clough, B. (2021). The Spaces of Mental Capacity Law: Moving Beyond Binaries. Routledge.
Cited by: 12

Yongchao Zhang | Rural Development | Young Scientist Award

Published on 27/06/202527/06/2025 by Phenomenological Research Awards

Dr. Yongchao Zhang | Rural Development | Young Scientist Award

DR at Nanjing Agricultural University, China.

Yongchao Zhang 🇨🇳 is a dynamic young researcher in the field of rural land management and urban-rural integration 🌍🏡. With a strong academic foundation and deep passion for socio-economic development, he has significantly contributed to understanding land policy reforms in China 🇨🇳. He is currently pursuing advanced research at Nanjing Agricultural University 🏫 and has also been a joint Ph.D. scholar at AgroParisTech, University Paris-Saclay 🇫🇷. His work explores the governance of homestead transfers, rural household welfare, and revitalization strategies 🚜👨‍👩‍👧‍👦. Zhang has authored multiple high-impact journal papers 📚 and has served as a reviewer for prestigious SSCI/SCI journals 🌐. His global exposure and field-based research make him a standout figure among young scientists 🧠. An active academic with conference contributions and award recognitions 🏆, Yongchao is passionate about applying his research to drive equitable rural transformation 🚀🌾.

Professional Profile:

ORCID

Suitability For Young Scientist Award – Dr. Yongchao Zhang

Yongchao Zhang exemplifies the qualities of an outstanding young scientist. His academic excellence, cross-border research collaborations, and impactful field-based work in rural land management and urban-rural integration position him as a strong candidate. His scholarship is not only theoretically sound but also policy-relevant, offering solutions to complex rural development challenges in China and beyond. His ability to engage with international academic communities, publish in high-impact journals, and present at global conferences further underscores his leadership potential in the scientific community.

📘 Education

Yongchao Zhang 📘 began his academic journey with a Bachelor’s in Land Resource Management from Inner Mongolia Normal University 🎓. He pursued a Master’s degree at East China University of Technology 🏫, where he developed his expertise in surveying, land renovation, and real estate valuation 🏗️📐. He then completed his Ph.D. studies at Nanjing Agricultural University 🎓—a top-ranked institution for land management—focusing on rural land policies and public policy analysis 📊. Notably, he was also a Joint Ph.D. scholar at AgroParisTech, University Paris-Saclay 🇫🇷, through a prestigious China Scholarship Council (CSC) award 🌍, deepening his knowledge in rural governance and land sustainability across borders 🌿🏘️.

💼 Research & Work Experience

Zhang’s hands-on research began with NSFP-funded field projects in rural China 📋🚜, gathering household-level data on homestead transfers and welfare. He has conducted empirical research in Liaoning and Chongqing 🏞️, contributing to national discussions on land use reform. His research encompasses data collection, analysis, policy interpretation, and collaborative publication writing ✍️📊. In addition to academic research, Zhang has presented at over seven national and international conferences 🌐, held reviewer roles for major international journals 📝, and produced impactful working papers on urban-rural development integration 🏡➡️🏙️. His experience reflects a solid combination of theoretical modeling and grassroots engagement.

📚 Professional Development

Yongchao Zhang has consistently invested in academic and professional development 📈. As a reviewer for SSCI/SCI journals like Land, Sustainability, and International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 📝🌱, he plays an active role in peer review and knowledge dissemination. He’s a member of the Chinese Economics Society and Asian Economic Association 🌐, reflecting his involvement in international scholarly communities. His academic network includes collaborations with globally recognized scholars like Prof. Andre Torre 🇫🇷 and Prof. Shuyi Feng 🇨🇳. Zhang has delivered oral presentations at prestigious national forums, including Tsinghua and the China Land Society 📢, and has won multiple awards for research excellence 🏅. He continues to enhance his research through interdisciplinary knowledge in economics, governance, and environmental science 💡, solidifying his place among young professionals leading impactful land management research.

Research Focus

Yongchao Zhang’s research falls under Rural Development and Land Policy Reform 📑🏡. He focuses on the governance of rural homestead transfers, analyzing both government-led and market-based mechanisms ⚖️🛠️. His work contributes to understanding the livelihood transformation of rural households 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 and the role of land policy in rural revitalization 🌾. Using institutional economics, especially Williamson’s transaction cost theory 📘, Zhang explores why different regions adopt mixed or singular governance models for land transactions 🔄. He investigates how homestead circulation affects social capital, population migration, and income growth in underdeveloped regions 📈. His case studies from Northeast and Southwest China provide actionable insights for policymakers and planners 🗺️. Overall, Zhang’s research aims to develop frameworks that guide rural land use reforms and improve rural welfare outcomes across China and similar developing contexts 🌍.

Research Skills

Yongchao Zhang has developed a specialized set of skills aligned with policy analysis, empirical modeling, and rural governance research 🧠📊. He is skilled in designing large-scale field surveys, conducting econometric and qualitative analysis 🧾🔍, and developing institutional frameworks for land governance 🏘️. His use of theories such as transaction cost economics, Maslow’s needs theory, and multi-dimensional function analysis shows his capacity for complex conceptual work 🧩. Zhang demonstrates proficiency in academic writing, journal reviewing, and interdisciplinary research presentation 💬✍️. He brings policy-oriented insights to practical problems, applying his research to support urban-rural integration strategies 🔄🌆. His familiarity with GIS, aerial mapping 🗺️📡, and public policy software strengthens his applied research capacity. These research skills make him a valuable contributor to land economics, rural development planning, and institutional policy innovation 📈🌾.

🏅 Awards & Honors

Yongchao Zhang has received multiple academic and leadership awards 🏆. He earned the Second Prize and First Prize for Doctoral Academic Scholarships in 2016 and 2017 🎓🥇. As a representative of outstanding international students, he was invited to participate in diplomatic events in France 🇫🇷, including state visits by President Xi Jinping and Vice President Wang Qishan 🤝, earning Outstanding International Student Volunteer titles 🏅. He also won an Excellence Award for Academic Forum Presentation 🗣️📜. Beyond academics, he was part of the Freshman Cup Basketball Champion Team 🏀 at his university. These accolades highlight both his academic excellence and his diplomatic and interpersonal skills on global platforms 🌍✨.

Publication Top Notes

1. Heterogeneous Labour Market Trajectories in the EU: Convergence, Divergence and Stagnation Across Regions

Journal: The Annals of Regional Science, Vol. 74, Article 40, 2025
DOI: 10.1007/S00168-025-01379-1
WOSUID: WOS:001471424600001
Authors: Kamila Borsekova, Samuel Korony, Hans Westlund
Summary: The study explores labor market patterns across EU regions and reveals varying regional trends. While some regions are catching up economically (convergence), others are lagging (divergence) or showing stagnation. Policy implications are discussed for achieving regional cohesion.

2. Understanding the Impact Mechanisms of China’s Rural Homestead Transfer Policy on Household Welfare: A Perspective of Labor Migration

Journal: Habitat International, September 2025
DOI: 10.1016/j.habitatint.2025.103486
Authors: Yongchao Zhang, Zvi Lerman
Summary: This paper investigates how the rural homestead transfer policy in China enhances household welfare. The findings highlight labor migration as a key channel through which households improve income, consumption, and living standards.

3. Public Rental Housing and Long-Term Settlement Intention of the Migrants in China: The Mediating Effect of Identity

Journal: Buildings, Vol. 14, No. 9, 2024
DOI: 10.3390/buildings14092774
Authors: Cuicui Du, Wenlong Lou, Yuhua Qiao, Zhang Yongchao
Summary: This article examines how access to public rental housing influences migrants’ willingness to settle long-term in cities. It finds that migrants’ sense of urban identity significantly mediates this relationship.

4. The Impact of Chinese Government Promoted Homestead Transfer on Labor Migration and Household’s Well-being: A Study in Three Rural Areas

Journal: Journal of Asian Economics, 2023
DOI: 10.1016/J.ASIECO.2023.101616
WOSUID: WOS:000981621900001
Authors: Yongchao Zhang, Andre Torre, Marianne Ehrlich
Summary: The paper evaluates the outcomes of homestead transfer programs in three rural areas of China. It shows that such transfers encourage labor mobility and boost household economic conditions and overall well-being.

5. Governance Structure of Rural Homestead Transfer in China: Government and/or Market?

Journal: Land, Vol. 10, No. 7, 2021
DOI: 10.3390/LAND10070745
WOSUID: WOS:000676864400001
Authors: Yongchao Zhang, Andre Torre, Marianne Ehrlich
Summary: This study analyzes the governance models guiding rural homestead transfer in China. It discusses the interplay between government intervention and market mechanisms and suggests an integrated approach for better policy outcomes.

6. Report from a Chinese Village 2019: Rural Homestead Transfer and Rural Vitalization

Journal: Sustainability, Vol. 12, No. 20, 2020
DOI: 10.3390/SU12208635
WOSUID: WOS:000583123700001
Authors: Yongchao Zhang, Hans Westlund, Johan Klaesson
Summary: Based on fieldwork in a Chinese village, this paper illustrates how homestead transfer contributes to the national rural revitalization strategy. It underscores the socioeconomic and environmental benefits of efficient land use.

✅ Conclusion

Yongchao Zhang is a promising and impactful young scholar whose research addresses some of the most pressing challenges in rural development today. His academic credentials, research rigor, international collaborations, and societal relevance make him exceptionally well-qualified for the Young Scientist Award. Recognizing him would not only honor his current contributions but also encourage his continued efforts to shape equitable and sustainable land governance globally.

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