New Academy of Social Sciences report demonstrates how the social sciences are helping to 'level up' the UK
The Academy of Social Sciences has released a new report today, published in partnership with SAGE, demonstrating the impact of the social sciences in ‘levelling up’ the United Kingdom.
'The Place to Be’ is comprised of 24 case studies that showcase how social scientists are making practical contributions to cities, regions or countries in the UK – improving economic growth, services and the quality of life for people and businesses in these places.
The report highlights the breadth of the work happening across social science disciplines, often involving interdisciplinary work with colleagues in STEM fields, and increasingly using complex and large scale datasets that require computational social science skillsets.
The report has six key messages:
1. Social sciences matter for ‘levelling up’. Using social science makes a difference to ‘levelling-up’ plans and outcomes.
2. Virtually every social science discipline – economics, geography, demography, political studies, business and management, education, sociology, psychology, social statistics and others – has a part to play.
3. University-based social scientists often do this work as part of the civic mission of their university, a role that universities take seriously and which many fund themselves to make their areas better.
4. Results often arise when funding from universities and local businesses or local authorities is based on long-term partnerships. Having clear and stable funding to support this work matters.
5. Social scientists increasingly use complex data, often working with computational social science experts to make sense of social characteristics, patterns of behaviour, or data that links economic, social and physical statistics. COVID-19 showed how essential these data can be. We need more social scientists with these skills, and even better and more accessible data for them to use.
6. Local areas would benefit even more if there was more co-ordination in support, more partnership working across institutions in particular areas, and more learning about what works.
To find out more, read the full report on the Academy of Social Sciences website.
Watch the webinar: Levelling up: Principles and Practices
This event, held on 9 November 2021, assembled a group of distinguished social scientists, politicians and practitioners for a timely exploration of the principles and practices that must be foremost if ‘levelling up’ is to be as effective as we would all like it to be. Chaired by Will Hutton FAcSS (President Academy of Social Sciences)
Speakers
Professor Adrian Pabst, Deputy Director for Social and Political Economy, National Institute of Economic and Social Research (at approx. 7 minutes, 20s)
Stuart Martin, CEO, Satellite Applications Catapult (at approx. 23 minutes 26s)
Professor Sandra McNally, Professor of Economics, University of Surrey and Director of the Centre for Vocational Education Research and Director of the Education and Skills Programme at the Centre for Economic Performance, LSE (at approx. 35 minutes)
Laila Page, Head of Sustainable Banking, Performance and Frameworks, NatWest (at approx. 44 minutes 34s)
Professor Christine Whitehead, Emeritus Professor of Housing Economics, LSE (at approx. 1 hour 2 minutes)
Lord Kerslake, Chair of Peabody and the UK2070 Commission (at approx. 1 hour 15 minutes, 5s)
Professor Kate Pickett, Professor of Epidemiology at University of York and co-founder of The Equality Trust (at approx. 1 hour 28 minutes, 52s)
Juergen Maier, Vice-Chair of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership (at approx.1 hour, 39 minutes, 44s)
Neil O'Brien, MP - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities (at approx. 1 hour 51 minutes)