Lisa Buckner is Professor of Social Statistics in the School of Sociology and Social Policy. She is a recognised expert on census data which she uses alongside official statistics and surveys to undertake policy-applied research on labour market inequality. Her work explores labour market disadvantage by gender, unpaid care and locality. Before returning to academic teaching and research, she worked as a local government demographer and in Census Division at the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
The Lecture
Title: Sows, Census and Social Statistics: Seeing the world through numbers
Abstract
What do the decennial census, pig behaviour and labour market inequality have in common? They can all be explored through numbers. Indeed, they must be explored through numbers, as this is the only way we can judge the scale of a issue. If we don’t know how big a problem is, we can’t persuade policy makers that they must tackle it. Communicating through numbers is a challenge in itself, as is the complex task of reducing masses of data into a form that allows them to make an an impact. An even greater task is communicating all this to a non-technical audience. Numbers are the ultimate weapon against bull***t, encouraging people to become more confident about numbers means they are less likely to be taken in by misinformation.
Statistics is the definitive interdisciplinary subject. Statisticians frequently become the lone 'number nerd’ amongst biologists, medics, local government officials - and sociologists. Professor Buckner will show that often, the outsider’s perspective can be the most challenging and the most important. She will talk about her journey through the world of numbers, a journey that has taken in agricultural and medical research, work in national and local government and teaching sociology and social policy students that numbers really aren’t as scary as they think.
We would like to welcome everyone – be they colleagues, postgraduate researchers, students, alumni or visitors – to this lecture celebrating the achievement and research contributions of Professor Buckner. Registration is free through Ticket Tailor.
The lecture will take place on Thursday 19 March 2026 at 1.15pm in Clothworkers North LT (Cinema) (2.31) – follow the link to the full venue details which includes directions within the building and accessibility information.
After the lecture there will be some time for Q&A. This lecture will take place in a more relaxed manner than others in the series and so in place of a drinks reception at the end, there will be tea, coffee and cake for attendees to help themselves to from 1pm and after the Q&A as well.
If you have any queries about this lecture, or about the series, please direct them via email to Izzy Jenkinson (Faculty Events and Communications Officer) at I.K.S.Jenkinson@leeds.ac.uk.