Personal profile
Current Teaching
PhD Supervision:
Apisara Khli-in; Lydia Hubbard; Shuntao Nian
Qualifications
1999 PhD(Open University)
1999 PG Cert.(Strathclyde)
1991 BSc Hons(Strathclyde)
Current Research
Plastic Packaging in People's Lives (UKRI/NERC funded)
Research Grants
‘Vulnerable Consumers’ with Susan Dunnett (Edinburgh) and Kathy Hamilton (Strathclyde) ESRC Seminar Series
‘The Role and Significance of the High School Prom Among Low-Income Adolescents’ with Dr Peter Nuttall (Bath) and Dr Julie Tinson (Stirling) The British Academy (£10,000)
‘Psychology of Consumer Behaviour’ Awarded £12,337 by the Office of Fair Trading (commissioned research) (2007) Principal investigators: Maria Piacentini, Sally Hibbert and Margaret Hogg.
'Faifley Community Action on Food: Exploring The Potential For Community Development' Awarded £1,000 by Greater Glasgow Health Board (1999) Principal investigators Maria Piacentini, Sally Hibbert and Haya Al Dajani.
'Consumers’ perceptions of speciality coffees' Awarded £62,888 by Teaching Company Directorate and Matthew Algie & Co. (1998-2000) Principal investigators: A. Paterson (Bioscience) & M. Piacentini (Marketing), University of Strathclyde.
'Reducing Confectionery Sales at Checkouts' Awarded £6,855 by Lanarkshire Health Board (1997-8) Principal investigators: M.Piacentini, L. MacFadyen, D. Eadie (Marketing, University of Strathclyde)
SUMMARY of research interests (100 words)
I am a qualitative social science researcher, and my research focuses on vulnerable consumers coping with difficult marketplaces. My research has been funded by UKRI (NERC; ESRC); the British Academy; Barnardo’s, and the European Foundation for Alcohol Research. I have published in international refereed journals in social sciences and marketing/management journal. O am co-editor of Consumer Vulnerability: Conditions, Contexts and Characteristics (Routledge, 2016) and co-author of Consumer Behaviour (Oxford University Press, 3rd Ed. 2022). Along with Emma Banister, Kathy Hamilton and Sue Dunnett, I am co-chair of the Academy of Marketing’s Consumer Research with Impact for Society (CRIS) Special Interest Group.
Profile
I am currently the LUMS Associate Dean for Research (2023- present). I was Head of Department in Marketing (2014-2017), was Deputy Dean/Associate Dean (Resources) in Lancaster University Management School (2018-2020), and then interim Pro-Vice Chancellor for Education and EDI (2020-2021).
I have extensive experience of teaching at both undergraduate and postgraduate level, and have a PG Certificate in Advanced Academic Studies (Strathclyde University).
Professional Role
2023 - Associate Dean for Research (LUMS)
2020-2021 Interim Pro Vice Chancellor Education and EDI (Lancaster University)
2018-2020 Deputy Dean/AD for Resources (LUMS)
2014-2017 Head of Department of Marketing
2013-2014 Director of Research, Department of Marketing
2009-2011 Academic Co-ordinator, Period Quality Review (Nov 2011)
2003-2009; 2012 Programme Director, MSc Advanced Marketing Management
External Roles
External Examiner, UG Marketing, Edinburgh University (2017-2020)
External Examiner, UG Marketing, Glasgow University (2014-2017)
External Examiner, PG Marketing, Manchester Business School (2011-2014)
External Examiner, BA Marketing, Stirling University (2009-2012)
External Examiner MSc Marketing Management, Glasgow Caledonian University (2003-2007)
My Role
Associate Dean for Research (LUMS)
Director of Centre for Health Futures (LUMS)
PhD Supervisions Completed
Hayley Cocker, Andres Barrios, Fredah Mwiti, Liz McIver, Piya Ngamcharoenmongkol, Kath Hennell, Donal Rogan, Virginia Mwangi, Scott Jones.
External positions
External Examiner, Universtiy of Edinburgh
08/2018 → …
External examiner, Univ Glasgow
07/2015 → 07/2018
Keywords
- Marketing
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Public experiences of service change in primary care: Focusing on the spaces and places of service delivery
Cronin, J. (CoPI), Piacentini, M. (CoPI) & Obeada, I. (PhD Student)
1/10/23 → 1/11/26
Project: Research
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IAA: Plastic Packaging in People's Lives (PPiPL): In the Loop
Stowell, A. (Principal Investigator), Piacentini, M. (Principal Investigator), Hendry, L. (Funding Applicant), Cronin, J. (Funding Applicant), Skandalis, A. (Funding Applicant), Hardy, J. (Funding Applicant), Sparks, C. (Co-Investigator), Routh, J. (Co-Investigator) & Gwynne, K. (Co-Investigator)
17/03/25 → 28/11/25
Project: Research
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International communications platform for food plastic packaging.
Stowell, A. (Principal Investigator), Piacentini, M. (Principal Investigator), Skandalis, A. (Co-Investigator), Cronin, J. (Co-Investigator), Hendry, L. (Funding Applicant), Hardy, J. (Funding Applicant), Brunclikova, L. (Researcher), Fujimoto, Y. (Team Member), Ooi, P. B. (Team Member) & Gew Lai Ti, J. (Team Member)
1/11/24 → 31/03/25
Project: Research
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LU GCRF Block Grant and Newton & FCRI: Plastic Packaging in Peoples Lives - Malaysia
Piacentini, M. (Principal Investigator), Stowell, A. (Principal Investigator), Cronin, J. (Co-Investigator), Hadley, C. (Co-Investigator), Hardy, J. (Co-Investigator), Mumford, C. (Co-Investigator), Skandalis, A. (Co-Investigator) & Hendry, L. (Co-Investigator)
3/10/22 → 30/09/23
Project: Research
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PRRC: Plastic Recycling and Reduction in Cities
Stowell, A. (Principal Investigator), Semple, K. (Principal Investigator), Fujimoto, Y. (Principal Investigator), Arouna, K. (Principal Investigator), Skandalis, A. (Co-Investigator), Piacentini, M. (Co-Investigator), Get Lai Ti, J. (Co-Investigator), Ooi, P. B. (Co-Investigator) & Homer, S. (Co-Investigator)
1/04/22 → 30/09/22
Project: Research
Research output
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From Edgework to Edgeworking: The Interplay of Risk and the Life Course
Obeada, I., Cronin, J. & Piacentini, M., 1/04/2026, In: Sociology. 60, 2, p. 291-308 18 p.Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Open AccessFile44 Downloads (Pure) -
From Everyday Packaging to Everyday Litter: More Than A Matter Of Bad Behavior
Ferri, M., Piacentini, M. & Stowell, A., 27/03/2026Research output: Exhibits, objects and web-based outputs › Blog › peer-review
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One Person's Edge, Another's Plateau? Edgework and Lifecourse Diversity
Obeada, I., Cronin, J. & Piacentini, M., 24/04/2025, p. 52.Research output: Contribution to conference - Without ISBN/ISSN › Conference paper › peer-review
Open Access -
Plastic Packaging in People's Lives: Rethinking the consumer attitude-behaviour gap (infographic)
Stowell, A., Piacentini, M., Hadley, C., Mumford, C., Cronin, J., Ferri, M., Hardy, J., Hendry, L., Kaloudis, H., Razak, G., Skandalis, A. & Verma, S., 19/03/2025, Zenodo.Research output: Book/Report/Proceedings › Other report
Open Access -
Plastic Packaging in People's Lives Malaysia Pilot: Household and Waste Management Practices (infographic)
Stowell, A., Piacentini, M., Brunclikova, L., Cronin, J., Skandalis, A., Fujimoto, Y., Ooi, P. B., Gew, L. T., Hardy, J. & Hendry, L., 19/03/2025, Zenodo.Research output: Book/Report/Proceedings › Other report
Open Access
Activities
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OTB4 La vie en bin. When waste reflects the materiality of societies
Stowell, A. (Presenter), Piacentini, M. (Contributor), Mumford, C. (Contributor), Skandalis, A. (Contributor), Hadley, C. (Contributor), Ferri, M. (Contributor) & Hendry, L. (Contributor)
10/12/2025 → 13/12/2025Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in conference - Academic
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Knowledge Exchange Event: Packaging Responsibility in the UK & Malaysia: Policy, People & Waste Management Practice
Stowell, A. (Organiser), Piacentini, M. (Organiser), Harrington, A. (Keynote/plenary speaker), Hudson, R. (Keynote/plenary speaker), Skandalis, A. (Presenter), Ooi, P. B. (Presenter), Gew Lai Ti, J. (Presenter), Brunclikova, L. (Presenter), Cronin, J. (Contributor), Hadley, C. (Contributor) & Mumford, C. (Contributor)
9/07/2025Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
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Plastic Free July and the experiences of the Plastic Packaging in People's Lives Team
Stowell, A. (Speaker), Piacentini, M. (Active Contributor), Skandalis, A. (Active Contributor), Cronin, J. (Contributor), Ferri, M. (Contributor), Hadley, C. (Contributor), Hardy, J. (Contributor), Hendry, L. (Contributor), Mumford, C. (Contributor) & Verma, S. (Contributor)
8/07/2025Activity: Talk or presentation types › Oral presentation
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Textbook and educational influence: Beyond the student to practice
Piacentini, M. (Speaker)
11/06/2025Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
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Reflexivity and Resilience in Research Leadership
Piacentini, M. (Speaker)
10/06/2025Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
Prizes
Press/Media
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How Does Litter Happen?
Ferri, M., Stowell, A. & Piacentini, M.
12/03/26
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: TV Interview/Appearance
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5 common kitchen products you can't recycle this Christmas
Stowell, A., Piacentini, M., Cronin, J., Hadley, C., Hardy, J., Hendry, L., Kaloudis, H., Mumford, C., Razak, G., Skandalis, A., Verma, S. & Ferri, M.
17/12/25
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Newspaper Article
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Plastic Free July
Hindocha, N., Stowell, A., Piacentini, M., Hadley, C., Mumford, C., Verma, S., Saltalippi, M., Skandalis, A., Cronin, J., Hendry, L., Hardy, J. & Ferri, M.
16/07/25
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Expert Opinion
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BBC Radio Lancashire: Waste and Reycling
Stowell, A., Mumford, C., Piacentini, M., Cronin, J., Hadley, C., Hardy, J., Hendry, L. & Skandalis, A.
24/06/25
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Expert Opinion
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BBC North West Today: Waste and Recycling Series
Stowell, A., Mumford, C., Piacentini, M., Hadley, C., Cronin, J., Ferri, M., Hardy, J., Hendry, L. & Skandalis, A.
24/06/25
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: TV Interview/Appearance
Datasets
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Plastic Packaging in People's Lives: Consumer Insights, 2021-2022
Hadley, C. (Creator), Skandalis, A. (Contributor), Cronin, J. (Contributor), Piacentini, M. (Contributor), Stowell, A. (Contributor), Mumford, C. (Contributor), Verma, S. (Contributor), Hendry, L. (Creator) & Hardy, J. (Creator), UK Data Service, 24/07/2024
Dataset