Two University of Bath academics have been elected to the Fellowship of the British Academy, the UK’s national academy for the humanities and social sciences.
Professor Manuel Barcia, the University’s Pro-Vice Chancellor (Global Engagement), and Professor Dimo Dimov, an expert in entrepreneurship, management, and innovation, were confirmed as British Academy Fellows in recognition of their achievements in research and impact across their careers at the body’s AGM yesterday.
Professor Manuel Barcia is a world-leading, award-winning historian of Atlantic and Global History, specialising in slavery, resistance, and global imperialism.
Born in Cuba, he completed his undergraduate studies in History at the University of Havana while working full-time as a stonemason and mural painting preserver. Following postgraduate studies in Dakar and Rio di Janeiro, he completed a PhD at the University of Essex.
He joined the University of Bath in 2025 as Professor of Atlantic Studies and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Global Engagement), where he leads international strategy, global partnerships, and international student recruitment.
He is also an elected Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and has authored five books, co-authoring another.
Professor Manuel Barcia said: “I am deeply honoured to have been elected a Fellow of the British Academy. Looking back on a journey that began as a history student in Havana over three decades ago, I could never have imagined receiving this recognition from one of the UK's most distinguished scholarly communities.
“Much of my work has been devoted to recovering the life stories of people who had to confront extraordinary hardship and who fought to shape their own destinies. Over the years, this understanding of the value of individual agency and community has come to influence the way I think about education, international collaboration and public life.
“As both a historian and in my current role leading the University of Bath’s global engagement, I am a strong believer in the power of international collaboration, intellectual curiosity and the open exchange of ideas. At a time when these values matter more than ever, I am proud to join the British Academy and to contribute to its mission of advancing research, understanding and public benefit.”
Professor Dimo Dimov is Professor of Entrepreneurship and a Director of the Centre for Research in Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CREI) within the School of Management. His research examines how entrepreneurs shape the future through the businesses and innovations they create. Drawing on philosophy and design science, he develops frameworks to understand and enhance how entrepreneurs and investors think, act, and interact in the face of uncertainty.
Prof Dimov co-created Kinetic Thinking, a framework for organisational development that helps individuals, teams and organisations navigate change. He works with both startups and established organisations on innovation strategy, leadership development and capability-building.
The founding editor-in-chief of the Journal of Business Venturing Insights, he has held leading editorial roles in the field for two decades. Originally from Bulgaria, he earned his PhD from London Business School and previously held faculty positions at Newcastle University, the University of Connecticut, and IE Business School.
He said: “It is a great honour to be elected as Fellow of the British Academy. I look forward to contributing to the Academy's mission of inspiring and supporting excellence in the humanities and social sciences. I am grateful to the colleagues and students who have shaped my thinking over the years.”
Founded in 1902, the British Academy is the UK’s national academy for the humanities and social sciences. It is a Fellowship consisting of over 1,800 of the leading minds from the UK and overseas.