The Transdisciplinary Social Science books team was created in January 2025 to bring together a set of programmes that sit across imprints but share a common purpose: publishing research that crosses disciplines to tackle complex societal challenges. Despite being a new, geographically dispersed team, we’ve quickly built a strong collaborative identity and made real progress embedding ourselves in each of our diverse research communities.
Our book programmes span Human Geography, Environmental Social Science, Science and Technology Studies, Criminology and Law, Forensic Science, Population Studies, Disability Studies and Creativity Studies. What unites them is a commitment to research that connects ideas, methods, and communities.
Our team exists to champion this work, strengthen partnerships, and provide a publishing home for impactful, transdisciplinary scholarship.
As a newly formed group of editors, we wanted to take a moment to introduce the people behind our book programmes—who we are, the subjects we specialise in, and what we enjoy outside of work. In the coming months, we hope to share further posts that explore our programmes in more detail and the ways we collaborate with our subject communities.
Rachael Ballard, Editorial Director Transdisciplinary Social Science
Rachael Ballard is Editorial Director for the Transdisciplinary Social Science books team at Springer Nature, where she leads the strategic direction, growth, and operational excellence of a global team of five editors working across the Palgrave Macmillan and Springer imprints. Her role brings together more than two decades of experience in academic publishing, team leadership, programme development, and strategic commissioning.
With extensive experience shaping scholarly book programmes that bridge the social sciences, natural sciences, and applied interdisciplinary research, Rachael oversees the continued development of the Transdisciplinary Social Science publishing portfolio and plays a pivotal role in aligning it with broader strategic priorities at Springer Nature. As part of her remit, she also serves as commissioning lead for the Geography & Environment and Science and Technology Studies (STS) books programmes, building on a long-standing record of establishing and developing new publishing areas from the ground up.
Before stepping into the Editorial Director role, Rachael served as Head of the Science and Society team and Executive Editor at Palgrave Macmillan, where she successfully developed highgrowth programmes in emerging interdisciplinary areas, nurtured editorial talent, and contributed actively to company-wide initiatives such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) publishing programme. Her leadership has included mentoring global editorial teams, implementing strategic frameworks, driving programme resilience, and fostering key networks across the academic and professional landscape. She works in the London office.
In her spare time Rachael can often be found outdoors running or hiking somewhere across the South Downs.
Josie Taylor, Executive Editor, Criminology & Socio-Legal Studies
Josie Taylor has overseen the well-established Palgrave Criminology list since 2016, with 22 books series which prioritise critical, innovative, intersectional research, from prisons and rethinking poling to racial justice and human rights. She leads the Palgrave & Springer cross-imprint Criminology team with a combined goal to continue expanding the research base, giving voice to under-represented communities and countries.
She is passionate about SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions and co-leads the internal working group. She is also an open access champion and is interested in developing ways to maximise research impact for our books and authors. She previously worked on the Palgrave Professional Business list, starting in 2013, and is based in the London office. In her spare time, she enjoys netball and reformer pilates, likes to visit vineyards, cook and is an avid restaurant goer.
Evelien Bakker, Executive Editor, Population Studies & Human Geography
Evelien Bakker is Executive Editor in the Transdisciplinary Social Science books team at Springer, in the Netherlands, where she is responsible for the book programs in Population Studies and Human Geography. As part of a cross-imprint team she also manages the Palgrave Macmillan commissioning editors responsible for the Creativity Studies, Disability Studies, Human Geography, and Science and Technology book programs.
Evelien has been with Springer, formerly Kluwer Academic Publishers, for more than 35 years serving in a variety of roles, starting as Assistant to the Publisher and later becoming Office Coordinator for the Humanities and Social Sciences division. There, she oversaw a team of assistants, ensured every publishing program received the support it needed, hired and trained new staff, and helped team members grow in their careers.
In 2006, she became responsible for the book and journal programs in Population Studies and Human Geography, establishing partnerships with leading academic institutions and societies and developing a large network and a strong portfolio of books and journals. Following Springer’s 2019 restructuring into dedicated book and journal teams, Evelien has since then focused exclusively on academic books. She is passionate about providing the best possible service to her authors and editors, making research available open access, and publishing books that will inform, educate and inspire meaningful change in society.
Outside of the office, Evelien enjoys gardening, training her dog, cycling, beach walks, and spending quality time with family and friends over a cocktail and good food.
Marion Duval, Commissioning Editor, Transdisciplinary Social Science
Marion Duval joined Palgrave Macmillan as a commissioning editor in 2021. Since then, she has been managing a diverse and multidisciplinary list across all aspects of human geography, planning and the built environment, social studies of health and medicine, and science and technology studies (STS).
Marion has over 15 years’ experience as a publishing professional, having worked for both large and small publishing houses in Australia (Brisbane) where she is based, and in her home country, France. She commissions books globally, with a focus on transformative and locally grounded research from the APAC region.
She co-Chairs an internal working group focused on advancing progress towards SDG11’s goal to make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. She is also involved in advocacy work as part of the SN Women Australia employee network. On the weekends, Marion can often be found outdoors, rock climbing, hiking, or gardening.
Anna Goodlett, Senior Editor, Criminology & Forensic Science
Anna Goodlett is a Senior Editor for Criminology and Forensic Science at Springer in New York, where she manages a rapidly expanding global publishing program that includes twelve book series and a list that aims to bridge research and practice. Current topics of interest include critical policing, digital crime, trauma and victimization, justice systems, and applied forensic research.
She is the Third-Party Rights Champion for the Social Sciences and previously served as chair of the North America Women’s Network, where she supported professional advancement and visibility for women across the organization. In her free time, Anna is a singer at St. John the Divine, is an avid Irish dancer and Pilates-goer, and a lover of cats.
Clelia Petracca, Senior Editor, Disability Studies | Creativity Studies
Clelia joined Palgrave Macmillan in 2023 as the commissioning editor for a newly established programme in Disability Studies and Creativity Studies. Since then, her portfolio has grown exponentially and now boasts five new series and several high-profile publications across all formats. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of her lists, being part of the Transdisciplinary Social Sciences team allowed her to maximise opportunities for collaboration across subject areas and imprints, also exploring how inter- and transdisciplinary studies can contribute to the development of new research methods.
A classicist by background, Clelia has worked in the social sciences for more than a decade, first as desk and development editor at Mondadori Education in Italy, her home country, and then as Editorial Assistant and Associate Editor in Sociology and Anthropology at Wiley. She is a member of the Social Science Matters working group and the books external DEI task force. At Springer Nature she also co-chairs the SDG 5 – Gender Equality working group, where she leads a group of colleagues in supporting Springer Nature’s goal of becoming the SDG publisher of choice by developing new partnerships and organising internal and external facing events.
Clelia’s commitment to global inclusion strongly informs her commissioning strategy. Decolonising the research agenda and giving voice to underrepresented scholars is at the core of Palgrave disability studies programme, which explores how people with disabilities or neurodiversity face ableist stigma, health and social inequalities, and how participatory research methods can be implemented successfully to make co-research possible. A stronger focus on Indigenous perspectives, Asia and the Pacific region, as well as Africa, are also a key priority for the future development.
When not at work, Clelia likes a good barre class, enjoying the sun in one of West London parks, or planning a holiday around the world.