Academy of Social Sciences

Are you interested in how social science research can be translated into policy? At the end of last month, we held an event where members of the Senedd in Wales heard about two vital social science research projects offering evidence-led insights into Welsh public policy. At a lunchtime briefing event, hosted by Cefin Campbell MS (Plaid Cymru, Mid & West Wales), Dr Emily Lowthian and Ella Rabaiotti both based at Swansea University / Prifysgol Abertawe, addressed an audience of elected members, researchers, academics and civil society representatives about their work on educational trajectories of care-experienced children and warm hubs, and offered recommendations which could help improve public services in Wales. Find out more➡️ https://lnkd.in/eQNjcDg4 #socialsciences #welshpolicy

Are you looking for advice and guidance on making your events more inclusive? This month’s recommended EDI event resource is EDIS’ safer space policy which is adapted from their in-person events code of conduct and is used to cover all of their in-person and online events and communications. It provides a good example for other organisations looking to create a safer space policy for their own events. Whether you’re looking for advice and guidance on creating and hosting inclusive events, including conference accessibility and the characteristics that an inclusive event has, or examples of EDI policies for events, our EDI hub has plenty of freely available resources to explore. Explore our hub for more➡️ https://lnkd.in/et_mqEVx The EDI Project is a joint programme between The Academy of Social Sciences (AcSS), its member Social Science Societies and the ESRC: Economic and Social Research Council. The project aims to encourage and facilitate greater awareness of, and actions to support, EDI across member social science societies, by working together to share resources, learning and to maximise the potential to effect real and positive change. #EDI #socialscience

Meet our chair: The Academy’s President Will Hutton will be chairing our forthcoming webinar to mark the launch of our forthcoming report, The contemporary relevance of the social sciences. Will is a political economist, author, columnist and President of the Academy of Social Sciences. He is an associate with the London School of Economics Centre for Economic Performance, a non-executive director of the Satellite Applications Catapult, co-chair of the Purposeful Company, an associate of the Oxford Martin School, and writes a regular column for The Observer. He was principal of Hertford College, University of Oxford from 2011 to 2020, and has authored many bestselling books including the acclaimed The State We’re In (1995). Our forthcoming webinar will see an expert panel of speakers reflect on the essential role played by the social sciences in harnessing the key opportunities and mitigating the many and varied challenges we face in our contemporary human world. Our speakers are: ➡️ Professor Linda Bauld FAcSS (Chief Social Policy Adviser, Scottish Government) ➡️ Michael Davis (Chief Executive, National Centre for Social Research) ➡️ Gavin Kelly (Chief Executive, Nuffield Foundation) ➡️ Professor Rosie McEachan (Director, Born In Bradford research programme) Following contributions from each of our speakers, there will be an opportunity for attendees to engage in a Q&A. Event details: 📅 12 November 2025 ⏰ 12.30pm-2pm 💻 Online Register now➡️ https://lnkd.in/etQyeTZQ

“I think more and more people are becoming engulfed in information diets that are quite high in falsity or low in credibility depending on how you want to view it.” Can we inoculate ourselves against misinformation?  In the latest episode of the We Society podcast, host Will Hutton is joined by Professor Sander van der Linden FacSS, Professor of Social Psychology in Society at the University of Cambridge, to discuss the psychology of how people can become influenced by misinformation and his research into how we can gain resistance to false persuasion and manipulation.  Listen and subscribe👂➡️https://lnkd.in/eMKKvZnY About the We Society podcast 🎙️ Brought to you by the Academy of Social Sciences in association with the Nuffield Foundation and The Leverhulme Trust, the We Society sees host, acclaimed author, journalist and Academy President, Will Hutton FAcSS, invite expert guests from the world of social science to explore the stories behind the news and hear their solutions to some of society’s most pressing problems.    #socialscience #podcast #WeSociety   

“When it comes to climate change, news media attention is highly event-driven and the largest spikes in coverage tend to occur during international climate summits, as illustrated by the findings of The Media and Climate Change Observatory at the University of Colorado which tracks news media attention over time.” In this blog✍️ from our archive, Professor Alison Anderson from the University of Plymouth, focuses on the ways that climate change is covered, and sometimes not covered, in the news media. She also uses evidence from social science to show that, whilst it has increased overall, coverage of climate change is often event-driven and the issue is often presented as a separate or niche topic rather than as a systemic problem and as a cross-cutting element embedded within our news reports. Read more➡️https://lnkd.in/eNimJcGF

Are you a learned society looking to deliver EDI interventions but aren’t sure where to start? As part of our joint EDI Project, we have a number of Q&As with social science learned societies sharing their insights and learnings from delivering their own EDI interventions, including creating and delivering a pilot teaching resource in schools, improving website accessibility and engaging with students about careers. Find out more➡️ https://lnkd.in/etne6yzR The EDI Project is a joint programme between The Academy of Social Sciences (AcSS), its member Social Science Societies and the ESRC: Economic and Social Research Council. The project aims to encourage and facilitate greater awareness of, and actions to support, EDI across member social science societies, by working together to share resources, learning and to maximise the potential to effect real and positive change.  #EDI #socialscience 

Our Campaign for Social Science Annual Sage Lecture is fast approaching! There’s only a month to go until we welcome The Hon. Julia Gillard AC, 27th Prime Minister of Australia and Chair of the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership, to discuss how social science can still have global impact in an era of political polarisation and widespread misinformation, public scepticism, political interference, and funding reductions. Following the lecture, Yuan Yang, the Labour MP for Earley and Woodley, and Stian Westlake FAcSS, Executive Chair of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), will reflect on Julia’s talk and share their own thoughts on the vital role of social science in our increasingly divided world. The event will be chaired by Professor Bobby Duffy, Director of the Policy Institute at King's College London. Doors open at 6.15pm, with the lecture starting promptly at 6.30pm. A networking reception will follow the lecture until 8.30pm. This event is now sold out, however you can still join the waiting list in case places become available. Event details: 📅 20 November 2025 ⏰ 6.30pm-8.30pm 📍 Bush House, King's College London Strand campus, 30 Aldwych, London, WC2B 4BG Find out more & join the waiting list➡️ https://lnkd.in/epFKd4XR

With undergraduate submissions to UCAS open, are you thinking about taking your social science studies to the next level at university? Social scientists have skills and knowledge that are in demand across a range of sectors leading to a variety of interesting and rewarding careers. Whether you’re interested in establishing yourself in the world of business, want to help others in the wider community or put your research skills to use in shaping public policy, a degree in social science gives you the skills and knowledge to shape your career. Read our interviews with social scientists to learn more about why they chose to study social science, the skills they developed during their studies and how they use these in their roles now, their advice to anyone thinking about studying social science, and more ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eA8is4BM I am a social scientist features professional social scientists from a range of backgrounds discussing their career paths, what inspires them about their work and their advice for anyone wanting to study or pursue their own career with social science.   #socialscience #careers

“I simply want to ensure that as many people as possible have as rich experiences as possible and enjoy the freedom that this generation has above any other to travel.” In case you missed it, the latest episode of the We Society podcast sees travel journalist and broadcaster Simon Calder join Will Hutton to discuss the joys of travel and how it has changed over the past 30 years, as well as exploring the threats that huge increases in tourism poses to popular destinations and the environment at large. Listen and subscribe👂➡️ https://lnkd.in/eCK5CrSF About the We Society podcast 🎙️ Brought to you by the Academy of Social Sciences in association with the Nuffield Foundation and The Leverhulme Trust, the We Society sees host, acclaimed author, journalist and Academy President, Will Hutton FAcSS, invite expert guests from the world of social science to explore the stories behind the news and hear their solutions to some of society’s most pressing problems.     #socialscience #podcast #WeSociety

With this summer being the warmest on record for the UK, according to the Met Office, what can social science evidence tell us about tackling the climate crisis? Our climate and sustainability hub showcases some of the best evidence-based social science research offering perspectives that help deepen our understanding of the effects of climate change, while also contributing potential solutions and answers. The hub covers a range of fields and disciplines including economics, business and finance; sustainable development, spatial planning and innovation; environmental policy and governance; environmental law; communications and public engagement; the psychology of behavioural change; transitions and adaptation to climate change; and energy and transport. Explore now➡️ https://lnkd.in/e-SqSc2z