Campaign for social science

The Academy of Social Sciences has launched a 'Campaign for Social Science' to promote UK social science and raise its visibility in the public, media and Parliament. The campaign will also investigate the results of any shrinkage in social science capacity as a result of changes to funding of teaching and research budgets. The stated long-term goal is 'for social science to be widely understood as an essential ingredient of our wellbeing as a society.'

'To deliver this Campaign successfully we need to raise funds to cover research and public engagement for a five-year period,' states the campaign website at www.campaignforsocialscience.org.uk. 'To achieve this goal an associated development Appeal will seek to raise £250,000 from the social science community in the initial stages of the Campaign.'

Speaking on the website, Chair of the Academy of Social Sciences and psychologist Professor Cary Cooper said: 'It's important that we protect our social sciences... we need your support, this is a very important campaign. You can make a difference, we can make a difference, we can make a difference to the whole of society.'