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Social Science in Society
Social science research has an important contribution to make in bridging the gulf of understanding that often exists between science and the public. The ESRC's Science in Society strategy is one way of ensuring that this research is communicated as widely as possible and has the maximum possible influence on policymakers, in government, in business and on the general public. There are three strands to our strategy: - To lead in initiating and embedding public dialogue in strategic objectives and processes
- Embedding public engagement in its strategic processes
- Supporting and enabling ESRC researchers and investments to engage with the public
- Increasing the public’s engagement with and understanding of social science research
- To support research into science in society and ensure that the findings are disseminated widely to those involved in the delivery of activity and policy development
- To engage with teachers, young people and education stakeholders to help equip UK young people with the skills to become informed citizens, and are informed of careers in social science
Together with Research Councils UK and the other six Research Councils we work towards raising the public’s awareness of science and innovation, and encourage their involvement in these subjects.
Supporting Researchers
The ESRC is committed to supporting research into science in society, and has commissioned a series of reviews covering a variety of science in society issues. Beacons for Public Engagement are university-based collaborative centres to help support, recognise, reward and build capacity for public engagement work across the UK. These guides are designed to help researchers get the most out of their engagement activities.
Learned Societies in the Social Sciences: Developing Knowledge Transfer and Public Engagement. The ESRC and The Academy of Social Sciences final report (June 2008) of the knowledge transfer and public engagement activities undertaken by social science learned societies, and the final recommendations on how to enhance these activities.
Reaching Young People
A website and blog aimed at A-level teachers and students. Offering resources covering topics such as crime, body image, and elections, the website aims to bring social science to the classroom. The Royal Anthropological Institute, funded by ESRC's Science in Society strategy, are working to inform teachers and students about anthropology as a subject and how it can fit into many aspects of the curriculum. Science in Society is funding two regions in this growing, UK-wide secondary school level competitive debate. Debates pit schools against schools, giving students a topic and making them research and present a view to a panel of experts, including ESRC social science researchers. This website was created by The Association for Science Education, and aims to provide science resources for teachers and students. CREST is Britain's largest national award scheme for project work in the STEM subjects. It gives young people aged between 11 and 19 opportunities to explore real world projects, and closely relates to the curriculum.
Reaching the Public
This is the chance for ESRC researchers to bring their work to the public. This event takes place over one week in March during National Science and Engineering Week with events in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England. These free events range from conferences to workshops and debates, exhibitions, film screenings, plays, policy briefings and more. Society Now is published by the ESRC three times a year, and brings the latest and most topical social science research to key opinion formers in business, government and the voluntary sector. The magazine highlights research currently being undertaken by the UK's leading social scientists, and demonstrates the contribution it can make to society. Britain in... is published once a year. It showcases the diversity of ESRC-funded research around the state of the nation. The magazine is a mixture of academic opinion pieces alongside informed journalistic writing, offering a concise analysis of research and topical issues concerning Britain today. The British Science Festival is an annual Festival, taking place each September. The Festival brings together the latest in science, technology and engineering. This webpage is regularly updated with events that RCUK are sponsoring or attending. Science lives beneath the surface of everything we touch and taste. It is the key to our prosperity, one of the driving forces of our economy, and it creates thousands of jobs that keep Britain at the leading edge. So let's look again at science: what is it doing for us already? How is it going to drive us to a better future?
Public Engagement with Research RCUK
All of the Research Councils support Science in Society activities across the spread of disciplines from Astrophysics to Zoology. Visit the Research Councils UK website. RCUK has also created a number of 'best practice guides':
Science in Society Team
Senior Science in Society Manager: Kate Miller e-mail: kate.miller@esrc.ac.uk
telephone: 01793 413049 Science in Society Manager: Grace Leggette-mail: grace.leggett@esrc.ac.uk
telephon: 01793 442849
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