British Academy: The UK's National Academy for the Humanities and Social Sciences
British Academy urges balance in ESRC’s future funding priorities
It is vital for the future health of the UK’s social sciences research community that the Economics and Social Research Council (ESRC) strikes the right balance in its funding between strategically directed research in particular areas and supporting open, “response mode” applications.
This is one of the principal recommendations, published today, in the British Academy’s submission to the ESRC’s public consultation on its future strategy.
The Academy – the UK’s national academy for the social sciences and humanities – acknowledges the major role the ESRC plays supporting and steering the direction of social science research in the UK. However, it argues that appropriate balance, and emphasis on a plurality and diversity of research subjects and approaches, is essential to ensure that fresh thinking and new approaches continue to flourish across the social sciences.
Other key aspects of the Academy’s submission include:
- Encouraging ESRC to engage in wide consultation and peer review before selecting topics for its strategic initiatives
- Concern that the Government’s emphasis on the potential of research for income generation could undermine the development of research with wider, perhaps more significant, benefits
- Encouraging ESRC to enhance the involvement of British researchers in comparative research not only across Europe but more extensively across other major regions of the world.
The full text of the response is available online.
NOTES TO EDITORS
Published:
29 September 2008
For media enquiries please contact, Michael Reade, External Relations: m.reade@britac.ac.uk / 020 7969 5263.