This report emphasises the vitally important yet underdeveloped role of the social sciences in the UK’s current research, development and innovation system. Drawing on data which highlights the ways in which social scientists contribute to a diverse ecosystem of talent and impact, it sets out some distinctive flavours of the UK’s social sciences, and how they are transforming UK research into a recipe that is genuinely world-leading and future-focused.
As such, the report sets out four central themes, supported by examples, which demonstrate the essential role of the social sciences in the STEM sphere and the amplifying effect of collaborative work across both STEM and social science fields.
- Social sciences enable whole systems thinking
- Social sciences are critical for good policy development
- Social sciences underpin smart and responsible innovation
- Social sciences are essential to international collaboration and tackling shared global challenges
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‘Reimagining the recipe for research and innovation: the secret sauce of social science’ is a joint publication between the Academy’s Campaign for Social Science and Sage, authored by Professor James Wilsdon FAcSS, Kathryn Weber-Boer, Dr Juergen Wastl and Dr Ed Bridges.
To cite this report: Wilsdon, J., Weber-Boer, K., Wastl, J. and Bridges, E. (2023). Reimagining the recipe for research and innovation: the secret sauce of social science. London. Sage/Academy of Social Sciences.