Rate My Professor George Thomson

Associate Professor George Thomson serves as an Honorary Associate Professor in the Department of Public Health at the University of Otago, Wellington, part of the Health Sciences Division. He holds a BA in History and Politics, a Masters in Public Policy, and a PhD. Throughout his career at the University of Otago, Thomson has established himself as a leading researcher in tobacco control, health policy, and health politics. His work examines strategies to achieve tobacco endgames, the implementation of smoke-free policies, public attitudes toward tobacco regulations, and the influence of industry on health legislation. Previously recognized as a Senior Research Fellow, he has contributed extensively to New Zealand's public health landscape through rigorous empirical studies and policy analyses.

Thomson's scholarly output is substantial, with over 240 publications and more than 5,768 citations on Google Scholar, reflecting an h-index of 38. Notable publications include 'What are the elements of the tobacco endgame?' published in Tobacco Control in 2012 (cited 95 times), which delineates comprehensive approaches to phasing out tobacco; 'Public Attitudes to Laws for Smoke-Free Private Vehicles' from 2009 (cited 92 times), assessing support for protective legislation; and 'Attitudes to smoke-free outdoor regulations in the USA and Canada: a review of 89 surveys' from 2016 (cited 50 times), synthesizing global trends in outdoor smoking restrictions. Additional influential papers cover topics such as the potential of Google Street View for smokefree signage research (2015, cited 30 times) and business influences on public health decisions. His research has informed debates on denicotinisation, retail display bans, and expanding smokefree areas in pedestrian spaces and vehicles. Thomson has supervised multiple PhD theses in public health and participated in research symposia like Smokefree 2025. His contributions underscore the importance of evidence-based policy to mitigate tobacco-related harm.