Institute for Social Marketing

15th June 2009 - Professor Gerard Hastings awarded OBE
Professor Hastings, Director of the Institute for Social Marketing has been awarded an OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List for services to healthcare.

Through his research with Cancer Research UK and the innovative application of social marketing both nationally and internationally, his findings have had a significant influence on policies relating to alcohol, tobacco and the impact of advertising on dietary behaviour.

May 2009 - New Report - "Changing Attitudes, Knowledge and Behaviour: A Review of Successful Initiatives"
An interesting report on changing attitudes and behaviours related to alcohol. There is a clear need to change attitudes, knowledge and behaviour relating to alcohol in the UK. This report presents seven case studies, each telling the story of an initiative designed to bring about attitudinal, behavioural or policy change, providing a unique insight into how the application of new thinking may help to reduce harmful drinking patterns. Published by Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

Health Education Outstanding Paper Awards 2008
The Editorial Team from the journal Health Education has chosen to Highly Commend ISM's 2007 systematic review of the effectiveness of social marketing interventions in influencing individual behaviour and bringing about environmental and policy-level changes in relation to alcohol, tobacco, illicit drugs and physical activity.

Stead M, Gordon R, Angus K and McDermott L (2007). A systematic review of social marketing effectiveness. Health Education , 107 (2): 126-140.

To merit nomination, papers must contribute something new to the body of knowledge, have an excellent structure and presentation and be rigorous in terms of analysis, relevant to practice and further research, up-to-date and clearly within the editorial scope and remit of the journal.

World Social Marketing Conference - September 2008
The National Social Marketing Centre, University of Lethbridge and the Chinese University of Hong Kong are jointly organising the World Social Marketing Conference at the Brighton Centre, Brighton, United Kingdom on 29-30 September 2008.

The World Conference will be opened by Philip Kotler, the pioneer of social marketing, will be the first of its kind and will bring academics, practitioners and policy makers together to discuss the application of social marketing across three separate fields, health, environment and civic engagement. With over 300 available presentation slots the event will appeal to all those involved in strategic, policy and practical social marketing.

The Conference call for papers can be found along with delegate registration details and sponsorship opportunities at the Conference website http://www.tcp-events.co.uk/wsmc

20th November 2007 - Blueprint Drug Education Research Programme - Delivery and Practitioner Reports
Blueprint is the Government's research programme designed to test the effectiveness of a multi-component approach to school-based drug education. The results of the programme will provide both immediate learning to influence drug education policy and practice, and a clearer idea of what future research priorities should be. The Delivery Report and Practitioner Report (and summaries) are both on the Home Office website. Read more about ISM's involvement with the project here.

October 2007 - NEW Social Marketing Course
The Open University now provide an online Continuing Professional Development programme - see here for further details.

16th October 2006
Does food promotion influence children? Read our systematic review, conducted for the Food Standards Agency, here: Review of Research on the Effects of Food Promotion to Children Part One: Main Report or go to Research Projects to find out more.

24th February 2005
Professor Gerard Hastings introduces the Open University Business School Annual Lecture, ‘The Business of Fighting Cancer’ by Professor Alex Markham of Cancer Research UK. Link to Open University Lecture 24 February 2005