Campaign Supporters in Action
Our Campaign for Social Science Supporters are among the most proactive and engaged producers and users of social science. On this page you can view and learn more about major projects, initiatives and activities that they are involved in. Find out how they apply their knowledge, expertise and research to address real world challenges, including supporting local communities, and the impact they are delivering for our society.
Supporting the Campaign for Social Science demonstrates a strong commitment to the social sciences and signals a recognition of the value and power of research evidence from across the full spectrum of these disciplines.
Our Gold Supporters
Find out more about the projects, research and activities by our Campaign for Social Science Gold Supporters.
Our Silver Supporters
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Engaging communities in climate assemblies focusing on ‘just transitions’
An interdisciplinary team of researchers, including social scientists at the University of Aberdeen, are working with the Scottish Government to establish local climate assemblies in the north-east of Scotland. The assemblies give local people a say in how a just energy transition can be achieved for communities in the region. The project examines how climate assemblies can influence decision making in the region as part of a just transition that protects communities and is fair, inclusive and democratic.
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Using psychology to improve health and safety in the workplace
Safety culture has to be central to the ethos of highways service providers that work with local authorities across the UK maintaining the road network. Psychologists from ARU are working on a joint project with one of the biggest highways companies in the business. Through a Knowledge Transfer Partnership, the team at ARU have examined health and safety culture in the company and involved its staff in the design of the new safety measures. ARU researchers are also supporting the company to find the best ways to implement the new measures.
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Helping to shape the future of work
The future of work is changing, with the pandemic catalysing a transition to flexible working. The call for businesses to behave in a way that is environmentally friendly and inclusive has also never been greater. University of Birmingham researchers are carrying out work that supports organisations to become more responsible in their practices and adapt to changes that are happening now and in the future.
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Shedding light on political power and the judiciary in France
Research at University of Bristol asks fundamental questions about the relationship between political power and the criminal justice system in France, where 600,000 people are convicted each year. The research focuses on crime and discrimination using analysis of large individual datasets to deconstruct judicial decisions while shedding light on the ‘demand for tougher justice’ captured in polls and politicians’ ‘zero tolerance’ speeches.
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Helping save the rhino
Each year rhinos are tracked, shot and mutilated in their hundreds by poachers, with the World Wide Fund for Nature suggesting that only around 27,000 non-captive rhinos still exist today – just 5% of the number that existed a century ago. Brunel University London has been using social science in its work with the NGO African Parks on tackling the problem. The Brunel research team has shown authorities that poaching is a security problem that can be tackled by improved sharing of information and intelligence between national parks. The data from Brunel’s research has changed the way parks pursue poachers.
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Informing the EU administration
UEA research into the organisation and operation of the EU administration has informed practices in both the European Commission, which develops, delivers and enforces policy, and the General Secretariat of the Council, or GSC, which supports the European Council and the Council of the European Union.
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Helping to make democratic engagement more equal
Researchers from University of Edinburgh have used voting habits from the 2021 Scottish Parliamentary elections to assess for the first time the long-term impact of Scotland lowering the voting age to 16 in 2014. While the lower voting age has boosted participation in elections, standard patterns of inequality have re-emerged with those from higher socio-occupational classes more likely to vote. The research suggests a number of measures for governments to adopt to address this inequality, including highlighting the proven track record of providing a good civic education.
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Reimagining India’s health system
The King’s India Institute (KII) undertakes research within multiple social science disciplines including an investigation into why health is not prioritised in Indian policy and what can be done to strengthen political commitment to ensuring universal access to good healthcare in India. This research makes more visible the demands of voters and provides a starting point for the multifaceted approach that will be needed to rebuild India’s health systems following the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Helping policymakers to tackle racial inequalities
Lancaster University has launched the Racial Equity in Policy Network (REiPN) which draws on social science research to equip policymakers at every level with suitable information, tools and approaches to respond to racial inequalities and identify potential ways forward.
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Supporting planners to understand social and spatial vulnerability to climate change
Climate change can impact anyone, but some people are more acutely affected than others. The extent to which people are affected depends not only on their exposure to events like floods and heatwaves, but also on various forms of social vulnerability. Researchers at University of Manchester have developed a mapping tool to provide a practical way to measure climate disadvantage and identify vulnerable groups. The tool has been used to inform local planning and policy responses to climate change and has also informed the UK Government’s Committee on Climate Change.
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Informing approaches to reducing youth violence
Youth violence is a significant issue in England and Wales. Open University research is pioneering a new public health approach to holistically address youth violence, its deep-rooted causes and its economic and social impact, thereby helping to safeguard children across England and Wales.
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Helping to increase sustainable conservation
Through its Social Sciences Engagement Fellowships scheme, University of Oxford works closely with English Heritage to deliver activity within a framework of collaborative research and knowledge exchange activities to support a shared vision for sustainable conservation.
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Closing the language development gap in preschool children
In England almost a quarter of children start school without the language skills needed to flourish. Research at University of Sheffield is supporting the creation of accessible materials to help parents with their child’s language development at home.
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Helping people with dementia to communicate
Psychologists at University of St Andrews have discovered through their research how people with advanced dementia could be helped to interact through a non-verbal communication technique known as ‘Adaptive Interaction’. In the latter stages of dementia, those living with the condition can lose the ability to use and understand spoken language, however this research has found an alternative way to facilitate connection and bring comfort.
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Helping us understand how the pandemic has impacted entrepreneurship
University of Strathclyde researchers have been providing a series of Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) reports to help policymakers understand how the pandemic has impacted entrepreneurship across 38 economies globally. GEM data has been consistently used by government officials across the UK and there has been particular interest around gender, ethnicity and immigration.
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Informing international counter-terrorism policies
University of Sussex research on the effectiveness of disrupting the online activities of terrorist and violent extremist groups is having an impact on international counter-terrorism policies. The Home Office is now using this research to give guidance to internet companies in the UK and internationally on how to disrupt extremist activity on their sites.
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Supporting the Welsh Government to review leadership in education
Swansea University has been working with the Welsh Government to lead a team of partners from HE and practice in Wales in undertaking a review of the Welsh education system. Focusing on leadership development, the review is designed to help the Welsh education system improve performance.
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Demonstrating the importance of digital technology in the public’s relationship with government and policies
UCL research has shown the importance of digital technology in the public’s relationship with government and politics, shaping the digital design and research culture across UK government departments. The research has made it clear that technical systems are at the heart of the relationship between the public, politics, and governance.
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Strengthening oversight of secret intelligence
The world of intelligence is changing faster than ever before and with ‘big data’ dominating the intelligence landscape, public concerns about spying have grown. Researchers at University of Warwick have advised governments across the world on how to adapt to this new age.
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Safeguarding the future of the British Overseas Territories
Studies carried out by UWE Bristol have helped promote and strengthen the position of Britain’s Overseas Territories (OTs) in the aftermath of Brexit. Research considered the political, economic and social impacts of Britain leaving the European Union (EU) on the territories, and how they could be mitigated.
Bronze Supporters
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INSTITUTION:
RESOURCE:
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City, University of London
Improving data on national population, mortality trends, and helping UK pension funds reduce their costs View -
Durham University
NHSA mental health report - £2bn cost of mental ill health ‘parallel pandemic’ View -
University of Leeds
Priority places for food - identifying the places where support is most needed to help people access affordable food View -
London School of Economics
Helping to improve socio-economic diversity in the television industry View -
Royal Holloway, University of London
Identifying the most important issues across Parliamentary constituencies View -
University of York
Evaluating the impact of extending working hours View