A UNIVERSITY of Chester graduate and visiting lecturer has been selected from hundreds of candidates as a New Generation Thinker.

After a nationwide search, Dr Jake Morris-Campbell has been chosen as one of 10 researchers by the BBC and the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) for the coveted New Generation Thinkers 2021 scheme which recognises the UK’s brightest minds in arts and humanities.

The programme places the country’s most promising early career researchers’ insightful and innovative work in the spotlight, including giving them the chance to broadcast their research on BBC Radio and get involved in other media opportunities including festival appearances.

Dr Morris-Campbell will spend a year being mentored by producers from Radio 3’s Free Thinking programme, where he will appear to take part in discussions between April and July, and will also work on episodes of The Essay to be broadcast on BBC Radio 3 next spring.

Academic and published poet, Dr Morris-Campbell is excited to embark on the programme and share his work with the international audiences tuning in.

He said: “I am delighted to be selected as one of the New Generation Thinkers for 2021. The scheme will provide me with a great springboard, allowing my writing and research to reach a wider audience.

“Writing poetry from and about the north of England, I’m excited to get involved in making radio broadcasts that will bring greater national recognition to the value of my own and others’ work.”

Dr Morris-Campbell is a current visiting lecturer in English, studied his Master of Arts in Creative Writing (2010) and Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in creative writing with English (2009) at the University of Chester and worked in the University’s Student Support and Guidance team between 2013 and 2015.

He also teaches at Newcastle University; has tutored for The Poetry School; and runs Creative Writing workshops in primary and secondary schools.

Alan Davey, controller of BBC Radio 3, said: “The successful 10 were selected from hundreds of applications from researchers at the start of their careers. They have all demonstrated a passion for communicating their work and a skill for making complex areas of study engaging, accessible, and enlightening.”

Since launching the scheme in 2010, the AHRC, BBC Radio 3 and BBC Arts have given more than 100 New Generation Thinkers unique access to training and support and the esteemed opportunity to communicate their research by making programmes for BBC radio and television.

New Generation Thinkers have become regulars on BBC Radio 3, presented TV documentaries on BBC Four, discussed their work with the public at the Hay Festival, hosted panel sessions, made short films about their expertise, taken part in judging panels for leading cultural prizes and several have gone on to become established BBC presenters.

The BBC Radio 3 Free Thinking programme introducing this year’s New Generation Thinkers can be listened to on BBC Sounds at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000t6fn.

For further information on the New Generation Thinkers scheme please visit: https://ahrc.ukri.org/innovation/new-generation-thinkers/.