Making the case for social sciences
In a paywalled article for Research Professional, Stian Westlake FAcSS (Executive Chair of the ESRC) set out how he views the relevance of the social sciences for the new UK Government’s agenda. He sets out by arguing that all of the new government’s missions have a social dimension, saying: “From economic growth, to crime, to youth opportunity, delivering the missions will require an understanding of society, of human behaviour, and of policy and public administration—subjects on which social scientists possess deep expertise”.
He goes on to make two key calls. The first is the need for more and better synthesis of evidence, saying that there is a wealth of social research on how to tackle mission-related challenges, but it is often inaccessible to policymakers, locked behind journal paywalls or framed in unfamiliar terminology. His second call is that in a ‘mission-led’ approach to policymaking, there must be better provision and explanation of data, noting that “mission boards are already using an impressive set of data dashboards, designed by the 10 Downing Street Data Science Unit, to track progress”.
The article sets both a challenge for social scientists to consider how we support and engage with government, as well as making a timely case for social science in a government who as yet has been relatively quiet about the role for social science in delivering its agenda. The Academy will ourselves be adding to this over the coming months with a new report showcasing social science perspectives on key contemporary policy issues.
Other news in brief
- Maths academy shelved: A new national maths academy, championed by Rishi Sunak, has had their funding commitment withdrawn by the UK Government. It would have become the fifth UK national academy, alongside the Academy of Medical Sciences, the British Academy, the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Royal Society. However, the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT) withdrew the plan.
- Office for Science guide for academic engagement: The UK Government’s Office for Science launched a new online guide to help academics engage with government. The website highlights the various opportunities available for academics, industry professionals and scientific experts to get involved and share their expertise with policymakers.
- CASE report on public engagement with research: Working in collaboration with NatCen, the Campaign for Science & Engineering set out recommendations for increasing the public’s “emotional connection” to research. Their report outlines a list of “people’s principles” as a guide for the R&D sector to increase public participation. According to Case, increased public engagement “will help identify new research questions, bring fresh perspectives, challenge norms, motivate researchers and open up more funding opportunities”. They argue that this will bring the public closer to the research system, which will ultimately help form the basis for sustained public and political support for the R&D sector’s work.
- Committee chairs: Amongst the key appointments of Select Committee chairs in the new parliament, Labour MP Chi Onwurah was elected chair of the Science, Innovation & Technology Committee, having been overlooked for a ministerial job in favour of Sir Patrick Vallance. Ms. Onwurah beat fellow Labour MP Dawn Butler by 377 votes to 183, and remains the only chartered engineer in parliament. Although very proud of her STEM background, she has also been an advocate of the social sciences in the past too. Elsewhere, the Labour MP Helen Hayes was named Commons education committee chair.
- New government’s direction of travel for HE: In mid-September, the new UK Government skills minister Baroness Jacqui Smith faced her first questions (in the Lords) since her appointment. Amongst other things, she indicated:
- The new government’s intention to increase cost recovery for research
- A rejection of caps on student numbers or on numbers of universities
- Her expectation that universities will play ‘a huge role’ in economic growth
- Support for international students, with there being no intention currently to remove the restrictions on dependants
- The new government has no plans to rejoin Erasmus+
- UK In A Changing Europe funding cut: The ESRC cut their funding for the UK In A Changing Europe thinktank when its current grant expires in April 2025, placing the future of the King’s College London-based organisation in doubt. Other new funding streams for similar work will however open, to which the think tank could apply.