Professor Lesley Henderson

Professor Of Science Communication

Journalism, Media and Communication

Personal statement

Joined the University of Strathclyde in 2022 as Professor of Science Communication, recruited under the Global Talent Programme to drive cross University interdisciplinary research. Founder of Strathclyde Centre for Doctoral Training in Social Dimensions of Plastics: Communications, Behaviours & Social Change

Currently head of subject for Journalism, Media & Communication - an internationally recognised group of academics and professional practitioners consistently ranked 1st in the UK for Communication & Media Studies (The Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026, 2027).

Previously held research and teaching posts in Social & Political Sciences, Brunel University London, founder/leader of Sustainable Plastics Research Group, Public Health & Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and Dept. of Sociology & Anthropology, University of Glasgow.

Extensive track record in Communications for Social Change (public health, science & environment). Published widely with over 100 articles, chapters and scientific reports. Recent books include Communicating Plastic Pollution: Media, People, and Social Change (Routledge); Media Analysis and Public Health: Contemporary Issues in Critical Public Health (Routledge); Television news, Politics and Young People: Generation Disconnected? (Palgrave Macmillan) and Social issues in Television Fiction (Edinburgh University Press)

Present research focuses on the science, media, policy interface with specific interest in (micro)plastics. Led work packages on public perceptions, communication and behavioural change concerning plastic pollution in Indonesia piscespartnership.org. Explored social interactions with plastics, open burning and global plastics policy in the UK, EU and Indonesia (funded by NERC/GCRF/UKRI/ Innovate UK/European Space Agency, International Science Partnerships Fund - total 4.5 million GBP).

Frequently invited to provide expert policy advice to UN and DEFRA, member of expert working group reporting to the EU Scientific Advisors Panel (SAPEA, 2019) and Rapporteur for Expert Workshop on Microplastic Pollution: Social and Behavioural Sciences Perspectives and Policy Implications Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities (BBAW). Co author of Microplastics in Nature and Society which influenced EU regulation and policy (Circular Economy Action Plan), led to plastic free oceans becoming a "cross cutting priority" for the European Commission and directly influenced the WHO report on microplastics in drinking water.

Appointed member of the UKRI Interdisciplinary Assessment College, peer review college for the European Science Foundation and panel member for strategic UKRI and Science Foundation Ireland programme calls. Editor (Social Science) for Microplastics and Nanoplastics - the first inclusive interdisciplinary journal dedicated to the topic (EIC Prof Bart Koelmans).

Lesley welcomes PhD applications which focus on any aspect of science and environmental communications.

Publications

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Publications

Living with Complexity : Using the tools of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences to reframe the role of the user in the plastic packaging crisis: Henderson Lesley, Hornbuckle Rosie, Foster Stuart; Innovations in Sustainable Packaging Challenges tackled across the life cycle stages of plastic packaging (2025) (2025)
EastEnders and the environment : communicating the planetary crisis in prime-time?: Henderson Lesley; Critical Studies in Television Vol 20, pp. 331-345 (2025); https://doi.org/10.1177/17496020251340359
Strategi Berbasis Bukti dalam Mengurangi Sampah Plastik di Indonesia: Jobling Susan, Iacovidou Eleni, Roy Joyashree, Gerassimidou Spyridoula, Austen Melanie C, Cordova Muhammad Reza, Ceschin Fabrizio, Henderson Lesley, Hendrawan Gede, Pahl Sabine, Praptiwi Radisti Ayu, Sembiring Emenda, Sudarso Sudarso, Thompson Richard, Velis Costas, Wyles Kayleigh; (2025); https://doi.org/10.17633/rd.brunel.30156742
Evidence-based Strategies for Reducing Plastic Waste in Indonesia: Jobling Susan, Iacovidou Eleni, Gerassimidou Spyridoula, Roy Joyashree, Austen Melanie, Ceschin Fabrizio, Cordova Reza, Henderson Lesley, Hendrawan Gede, Pahl Sabine, Praptiwi Radisti Ayu, Sembiring Emenda, Soedjono Eddy Setiadi, Sudarso , Thompson Richard, Velis Costas, Wyles Kayleigh; (2025); https://doi.org/10.17633/rd.brunel.29881835
Indonesia Unwrapped – A Plastic Paradise : The PISCES Film: Henderson Lesley; (2025)
Towards a 'theory of change' for ocean plastics : a socio-oceanography approach to the global challenge of plastic pollution: Horton Alice A, Henderson Lesley, Bowyer Cressida, Courtene-Jones Winnie, Garrard Samantha L, Kulsum Nieke Monika, McKay Deirdre, Manikarachchige Imali, Sreekumar Sreejith, Stanton Thomas; Microplastics and Nanoplastics Vol 5 (2025); https://doi.org/10.1186/s43591-025-00127-8

More publications

Research

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Professional Activities

SynSci26 – Meeting for a Healthier Future: Participant; 14/7/2026
SynSci26 – Meeting for a Healthier Future - International Forum on Ethics and Innovation, Institute of Physics: Speaker; 13/7/2026
Greens: A Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Training Programme on 5R's Implementation in Micro and Nanorobotic Design, Manufacturing, and Application: Keynote/plenary speaker; 15/6/2026
Communicating Research in a Digital World: Speaker; 26/5/2026
University of Udayana: Visiting researcher; 18/5/2026
Small particles, big challenge: How research is tackling microplastics: Recipient; 11/5/2026

More professional activities

Projects

EMBER: Exchanging insights on media and behavioural change to reduce open burning in East JavA: Henderson, Lesley (Academic); Awarded £25,643 for project from International Science Partnerships Fund. Open burning of waste is a global problem particularly in LMICs where there is a lack of waste management infrastructure however the problem is unlikely to be solved through technical means alone. EMBER draws on the tools of Humanities and Social Sciences in relation to media and behavioural change to apply innovative research insights to the problem which foreground the heterogeneity of audiences and role of media in shaping behaviours and understandings; 22-Jan-2024 - 31-Jan-2024
Communicating (Micro)plastics: Science and media myths in a changing landscape: Henderson, Lesley (Principal Investigator); 01-Jan-2023 - 31-Jan-2026
Popular Storytelling to Reduce Plastic Waste: Behavioural Change, Sustainability and Young People: Henderson, Lesley (Principal Investigator); 01-Jan-2023 - 31-Jan-2026
Healthy Reusables? Challenges and Opportunities in NHS settings: Henderson, Lesley (Principal Investigator); 01-Jan-2023 - 31-Jan-2025
Social Dimensions of Plastics: Providing Innovate UK funding for a studentship in Plastics, Communications, Behaviours and Social Change: Henderson, Lesley (Principal Investigator); 01-Jan-2023 - 31-Jan-2026
SCDT Social Dimensions of Plastics: Communications, Behaviours and Social Change: Henderson, Lesley (Principal Investigator); Set up the new Centre and leveraged funding from NERC (£52,886k) Wastebuster & FSG Packaging (£84k) and match funding from the Centre to support 3 students for 3.5-4 years. Topics are: Popular Storytelling to Reduce Plastic Waste: Behavioural Change, Sustainability and Young People; Healthy Reusables? Challenges and Opportunities in NHS settings; Communicating (Micro)plastics: Science and media myths in a changing landscape. This Centre will strengthen capacity building for the next generation of plastics research leaders building a community of scholars focused on interdisciplinary approaches to the plastics crisis. The plastics challenge is complex and requires the triple helix approach to innovation systems to bring together industry, government, and higher education to identify spaces of consensus and achieve systemic change. There is a pressing need for doctoral researchers to be equipped with novel interdisciplinary skills required to meet global challenges and our students will be uniquely placed to take up research posts in the forthcoming international portfolio of plastics related grants at ease with collaborating across academic disciplines, sectors and nations as formulating sustainable solutions to plastics pollution has become an integral part of the UN 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).; 01-Jan-2023 - 31-Jan-2027