15. April 2010 11:02
Europe, know thyself: social science solutions to the biggest problems
Roderick Floud, chair of the ESF social sciences standing committee, calls for tools meet the demands of the discipline's insights in Times Higher Education today
Why do economies fail? What welfare changes will best support an ageing workforce? How can my children be better educated?
The complexity of human behaviour means society’s most important issues rarely have simple answers. In a European Science Foundation report, Vital Questions: the contribution of European social science, more than a dozen of Europe's leading social scientists show how important their work is to the future of Europe and solutions to its current problems.
"Social scientists have argued for years that they can help society understand itself and solve its problems. Now others seem to agree," says Roderick Floud, chair of the ESF social sciences standing committee, writing in Times Higher Education today.
He continues: "Politicians need answers, even if they do not always like what they hear. Social scientists are uniquely positioned to rise to this demand by engaging with the crucial questions of our times. Above all, for the research of thousands of scholars to make its proper impact, they need to sell themselves and their work. This is neither vulgar nor pandering to requests for measures of impact: it is essential."
An event in Brussels today looks at the next steps on from the report, with policymakers and representatives from the largest community of social scientists in Europe.
Read the full article in Times Higher Education 15 April 2010
Download Vital Questions: The Contribution of European Social Science: www.esf.org/research-areas/social-sciences.html
Media contact:
- Ms. Chloe KemberyE-Mail
Science contact:
- Sir Roderick C. FloudE-Mail
