Biography
Bobby Duffy is Professor of Public Policy and Director of the Policy Institute. He is a trustee of British Future, a Senior Fellow of the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy, University of Toronto, and Chair of the Advisory Board for the Centre for Collaboration in Community Connectedness (C4).
He was previously chair of the Campaign for Social Science and member of the Executive of the Academy of Social Sciences from 2019-2025 as well as Global Director of the Ipsos Social Research Institute. He has also been seconded to the UK Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit, and was a fellow at the Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion at LSE.
His first book, The Perils of Perception – Why we’re wrong about nearly everything, was published by Atlantic books in 12 countries, drawing on a set of global studies on how people misperceive key social realities. His latest book, Generations – Does when you’re born shape who you are?, came out in 2021 and challenges myths and stereotypes around generational trends, seeking a greater understanding around generational challenges and intergenerational connection.
News
Public perceptions of crime at odds with reality, study finds
Britons consistently overestimate how dangerous the county really is
Celebrating the fifth cohort of King's Parliamentary Research Interns at the House of Lords
King's celebrates the latest cohort of our Parliamentary Research Interns at an event in Parliament.
Major new project to investigate how values are shifting across Europe and beyond
The Policy Institute has been awarded funding to run the next wave of the European Values Study in the UK, in the same year as we’re also delivering the the...
King's marks ten years on from Brexit
Experts from across King’s have this month marked ten years since the Brexit referendum in 2016 with a series of events, new research and media commentary.
Public have more fear than hope on AI and future of work, study finds
A majority of the UK public are worried about the economic impacts of AI
One in seven people have used AI instead of seeing a GP, study finds
One in five people who use AI for health advice say it has discouraged them from seeking professional healthcare
King's Business School students score top prize at Policy Idol competition
Their winning proposal aimed to tackle isolation among young people
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy discusses UK's cultural divisions and tensions at King's event
She joined a panel of experts to explore the implications of research by the Policy Institute
UK's sense of urgency on net zero and support for climate policies falls sharply, study finds
Public support for UK reaching net zero by 2050 is waning
King's joins new partnership to understand what makes research communication effective in an era of mistrust
The Policy Institute at King’s partners with Wellcome and Sense about Science to explore how research communication can remain effective amid rising...
Events
The Fair Necessities: Why We Need a Fairer Britain
Join our panel to mark the launch of the book and discuss what a fair society might look like, why it matters, and how we can make it happen.
New choices: Revisiting futures for higher education in England
This event is being held in partnership with the Higher Education Policy Institute
10 years of Brexit: how the vote to leave changed the UK
Join UK in a Changing Europe, the Policy Insititute and Ipsos as we mark 10 years since the EU referendum.
Please note: this event has passed.
What Next for Higher Education across Europe?
Higher education in Europe is at a crossroads.
Please note: this event has passed.
Why are populists winning? Disillusionment, delivery and the future of democracy
Is this peak populism or populism’s tipping point?
Please note: this event has passed.
Are Culture Wars Finally Taking Hold? Division, tension and identity in the UK today
Join an expert panel to explore the perceptions and realities of division and polarisation in the UK
Please note: this event has passed.
Campaign for Social Science Annual Sage Lecture 2025
The Campaign for Social Science Annual Sage Lecture in partnership with the Policy Institute at King's College London.
Please note: this event has passed.
An emerging divide? Young people's attitudes to gender and the challenges facing both women and men
This discussion will unpack how social, cultural and online influences are shaping young people's outlook on gender and identity – and how we can move toward...
Please note: this event has passed.
Conservative Party Conference: What is the Conservative approach to higher education and skills integration?
What is the Conservative approach to higher education and skills integration?
Please note: this event has passed.
Labour Party Conference: The future of higher education and skills, together
Labour Party Conference: The future of higher education and skills, together
Please note: this event has passed.
Features
British people see geographical inequalities as most pressing – not gender or race
The end of lockdowns is in sight but the road out of these restrictions is only the start of a much longer journey to a full recovery from the pandemic.
One year on: Reflections from working at the forefront of the pandemic
As 2020 started, the world faced the threat of a totally new virus, COVID-19. As we all navigated completely new and very difficult challenges in our working...
Three ways people are reacting to coronavirus: 'accepting', 'suffering' and 'resisting'
How the UK is coping with life under lockdown
Informing the public debate on COVID-19
Academics from across the Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy are helping us all better understand the huge societal shifts created by the COVID-19...
News
Public perceptions of crime at odds with reality, study finds
Britons consistently overestimate how dangerous the county really is
Celebrating the fifth cohort of King's Parliamentary Research Interns at the House of Lords
King's celebrates the latest cohort of our Parliamentary Research Interns at an event in Parliament.
Major new project to investigate how values are shifting across Europe and beyond
The Policy Institute has been awarded funding to run the next wave of the European Values Study in the UK, in the same year as we’re also delivering the the...
King's marks ten years on from Brexit
Experts from across King’s have this month marked ten years since the Brexit referendum in 2016 with a series of events, new research and media commentary.
Public have more fear than hope on AI and future of work, study finds
A majority of the UK public are worried about the economic impacts of AI
One in seven people have used AI instead of seeing a GP, study finds
One in five people who use AI for health advice say it has discouraged them from seeking professional healthcare
King's Business School students score top prize at Policy Idol competition
Their winning proposal aimed to tackle isolation among young people
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy discusses UK's cultural divisions and tensions at King's event
She joined a panel of experts to explore the implications of research by the Policy Institute
UK's sense of urgency on net zero and support for climate policies falls sharply, study finds
Public support for UK reaching net zero by 2050 is waning
King's joins new partnership to understand what makes research communication effective in an era of mistrust
The Policy Institute at King’s partners with Wellcome and Sense about Science to explore how research communication can remain effective amid rising...
Events
The Fair Necessities: Why We Need a Fairer Britain
Join our panel to mark the launch of the book and discuss what a fair society might look like, why it matters, and how we can make it happen.
New choices: Revisiting futures for higher education in England
This event is being held in partnership with the Higher Education Policy Institute
10 years of Brexit: how the vote to leave changed the UK
Join UK in a Changing Europe, the Policy Insititute and Ipsos as we mark 10 years since the EU referendum.
Please note: this event has passed.
What Next for Higher Education across Europe?
Higher education in Europe is at a crossroads.
Please note: this event has passed.
Why are populists winning? Disillusionment, delivery and the future of democracy
Is this peak populism or populism’s tipping point?
Please note: this event has passed.
Are Culture Wars Finally Taking Hold? Division, tension and identity in the UK today
Join an expert panel to explore the perceptions and realities of division and polarisation in the UK
Please note: this event has passed.
Campaign for Social Science Annual Sage Lecture 2025
The Campaign for Social Science Annual Sage Lecture in partnership with the Policy Institute at King's College London.
Please note: this event has passed.
An emerging divide? Young people's attitudes to gender and the challenges facing both women and men
This discussion will unpack how social, cultural and online influences are shaping young people's outlook on gender and identity – and how we can move toward...
Please note: this event has passed.
Conservative Party Conference: What is the Conservative approach to higher education and skills integration?
What is the Conservative approach to higher education and skills integration?
Please note: this event has passed.
Labour Party Conference: The future of higher education and skills, together
Labour Party Conference: The future of higher education and skills, together
Please note: this event has passed.
Features
British people see geographical inequalities as most pressing – not gender or race
The end of lockdowns is in sight but the road out of these restrictions is only the start of a much longer journey to a full recovery from the pandemic.
One year on: Reflections from working at the forefront of the pandemic
As 2020 started, the world faced the threat of a totally new virus, COVID-19. As we all navigated completely new and very difficult challenges in our working...
Three ways people are reacting to coronavirus: 'accepting', 'suffering' and 'resisting'
How the UK is coping with life under lockdown
Informing the public debate on COVID-19
Academics from across the Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy are helping us all better understand the huge societal shifts created by the COVID-19...