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Mapping Weak Signals

Inspired by: workshops/meetings » Concerns about socio-economic and humanities research "downgrade"

version: 10 / updated: 2011-01-07
id: #1366 / version id: #1341
mode: VIEW

Originally submitted by: Rafael Popper
List of all contributors by versions (mouse over)
Last changed by: Rafael Popper
WI-WE status:
submitted unpublished archived

Source of inspiration

Workshops/Meetings

iKnow workshop country name

United Kingdom

Workshop date

February 2010

The source of the Weak Signal is

Expert group on wild cards and weak signals related to social sciences and humanities (SSH). See also Research Fundamentals blog at: http://fundermental.blogspot.com/2010/12/protecting-social-sciences-humanities.html

Signal's headline

(max. 9 words)
Concerns about socio-economic and humanities research "downgrade"

Signal's description

(approx. 150 words)
Please describe the Weak Signal (approx. 150 words)
As discussed in the iKNOW workshop in Manchester (February 2010) and more recently reported in Research Fundamentals blog (December 2010), growing number of actors, including the University Association for Contemporary European Studies (UACES) have raised concerns about the Socioeconomic Sciences and Humanities stream (SSH) within the European Commission's Framework Programme. In particular, three issues have been highlighted: (1) The "downgrading" of socio-economic and humanities research in DG Research from a department to one single office (from January 1, 2011); (2) the plan to abolish broader, long-term integrated projects in SSH in the 8th Framework Programme. Instead, a focus on "grand challenges" with topics that are more applied than basic research and are supposed to foster European competitiveness on global markets (social science as an ‘auxiliary’ discipline to be mainstreamed into the other sciences); and (3) the downsizing of funding for socio-economic and humanities research projects in the 8th Framework Programme.

Keywords

social sciences, humanities, SSH, FP8, funding, research

Mini-description

(max. 250 characters)
Commentators following discussions about the next European Commission Framework Programme for Research and Technology Development (FP8) are concerned about socio-economic and humanities (SSH) research being abolished as a specific thematic area.

Signal's first apperance

2005-now

Signal's potential evolution

It could lead to...
issue type of issue/development potential impact on society timeframe for the issue to become at least 50% probable
#1 End of research on particular areas of SSH which may be seen as "less important" for Europe (e.g. behavioural and cognitive sciences). discontinuation
 		mainly harmful
 		now-2015
#2 Considerable reduction in research efforts addressing issues related to European identity, multiculturalism, multilingualism, social cohesion, democracy, participation, peace and international cooperation. discontinuation
 		mainly harmful
 		now-2015

Under what assumption the Weak Signal might evolve.

Very weak and disconnected efforts to "protect" European SSH research do not manage to influence SSH-related discussions in the planning of the EC's 8th Framework Programme for RTD. Thus, socio-economic and humanities research becomes, at best, an "add-on service" to wider European research programmes (i.e. reactive analysis of implications of "grand challenges" on society).

Importance

please specify
please select
Level 3: important for the European Union

Filters preventing the signal's monitoring

institutional filters (rules, laws, regulations)
political filters (party or ideological interests)

Comments on selection:

Internal EC discussions about FP8 may prevent many people from monitoring this signal.

Key driving forces of this signal

Please use these boxes to provide up to 2 drivers of HIGH importance. Click on HELP to see examples:
Driver 1 Driver 2
Economic Growing pressures to translate research into economic value.

Major risks & opportunities associated to the signal

Please choose the most appropriate timeframe option(s) to which you would like to provide inputs.
Risks Opportunities
before 2015 Sudden drop in the number of undergraduate and postgraduate students applying for social sciences and humanities related studies.

Potential stakeholders' actions

short-term actions
(now-2015) 		longer-term
(after 2015)
Academic/Research sector Evaluate the implications of lack of pan-European instruments supporting research on social sciences issues.

Signal's relevance for European Grand Challenges

where? please justify:
particularly relevant Europe world
Ageing and other demographic tensions
Behavioural change
Coexistence and conflicts
Crime and terrorism
Social pathologies & ethics
Social exclusion & poverty
Social cohesion and diversity
Globalization vs. localization
Innovation dynamics

Signal's relevance for thematic research areas

please justify:
particularly relevant
Social Sciences and Humanities
Science in society

Pan-European strategies influencing the signal

please justify:
particularly relevant
Strengthening research institutions and universities
Facilitating and promoting knowledge sharing and transfer

Research-friendly strategies potentially improving understanding of the signal

For further information about 'research-friendly strategies' click here
please justify:
particularly relevant
Overcoming sub-criticality and systemic failures
To be subcritical means that the effort in a particular field or subfield lacks resources, equipment or a sufficient number of researchers to achieve a desired goal
Creating a closer link between researchers & policy-makers
(e.g. supporting both thematic and cross-cutting policies, highlighting the strategic purpose of the European Research Area, etc.

Signal's relevance for future R&D and STI policies

Note: RTD = research and technology development; STI = science, technology and innovation
This signal suggest that further research may be needed on the role and contributions of social sciences and humanities (SSH) research to the European STI landscape.