Making the Case for the Social Sciences The Academy, supported by ESRC, is producing a series of booklets showcasing some of the work of social scientists as it makes a real difference to society. The first in the series is on the overall theme of well being and social policy and will be launched at 61 Whitehall, London on Wednesday 10 February 2010 with a lunchtime presentation and discussion. The booklet contains a dozen case studies of the work of social science having a strong impact on our understanding of key issues and the ways in which we deal with them. It will be distributed very widely and all Academicians and member learned societies will receive copies. Two of the contributors to the booklet. Professor Ruth Lister CBE AcSS and Professor Ann Buchanan AcSS, will talk about their vital work and a panel, chaired by Professor Cary Cooper CBE AcSS, the Chair of the Academy's Council, will discuss the wider contribution of social science to society. The panel members will include David Willetts MP (shadow minister for universities and skills with special responsibility for family policy); Dr Tony Wright MP (Chair of the Public Administration Select Committee); Lord Kirkwood of Kirkhope; Andrew Haldenby (Director 'Reform'); and Sunder Katawala (General Secretary of the Fabian Society). Adrian Alsop, Director of Research for the ESRC will introduce the event. |
*****************
Work and Wellbeing Conference 28th April 2010 Unilever House, 100 Victoria Embankment, London EC4Y 0DY
Sponsored by SAGE and Unilever PLC, a major day conference for employers, operations managers, HR professionals and the academic community on current issues in work and wellbeing, viewed over the course of the traditional working life, from both employer and employee perspectives. Good health enables human flourishing and fulfilment. Given the amount of time spent at work, the workplace is central to physical and psychological health, as well as life satisfaction. As the costs of ill health continue to rise, workplace health has become an issue that employers can no longer afford to ignore. This conference brings together all the latest thinking on current issues in work and wellbeing, from both academic and practioner perspectives.
Programme Click Here to download a Word version of this programme and here for a booking form or visit the Events Page to book online. 10.00 Registration and Coffee 10.30 Welcome to the conference - Stephen Anderson, Executive Director, Academy of Social Sciences
Session Chair: TBA 10:40 The importance of the Health and Well Being Agenda – An Overview of the link between Work and Health : Professor Cary L Cooper CBE AcSS, Chair of Council, Academy of Social Sciences and Pro Vice Chancellor (External Relations) and Distinguished Professor of Organizational Psychology and Health, Lancaster University 11.10 Workplace Health and the Law – Current Issues : Simon Ost, Partner, Employment Practice, Hammonds LLP, Manchester 11.40 Refreshment Break 12.00 The Organisational Costs of Mental Ill-Health : Mike Parsonage, Senior Policy Advisor, Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health, London 12.30 The Issue of Bullying in the Workplace : Professor Charlotte Rayner, Professor of Human Resource Management Portsmouth Business School, University of Portsmouth 13.00 Lunch
Session Chair: TBA 14.00 What people want from work – the changing needs and attitudes to work at different life stages : Professor Susan Cartwright, Professor of Organizational Psychology and Well Being, Director of Centre for Organizational Health and Well-Being, Lancaster University 14.30 The Value of Older Workers : Mr David Fairhurst, Senior Vice President, Chief People Officer, McDonald's UK & Northern Europe 15.00 Health Promotion in the Workplace : Dr John Cooper, Head of Corporate Occupational Health, Unilever PLC 15.30 Health and Worklessness : Professor Dame Carol Black DBE, FRCP, FMedSci. Director for Health and Work, DWP, Chair of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and Chair of the Nuffield Trust
16.00 Discussion 16:30 Close & Tea Click Here to download a booking form or visit the Events page to book online. |
*******************
Subscriptions
Details of how to pay your subscription, including by Direct Debit, are now available from the Members' Area (Update your Details). If you have forgotten your login details, please contact the Communications Officer Madeleine Barrows on: m.barrows@acss.org.uk
***************
Myths and Realities: Series of Public Lectures and Discussions The next two lectures in this series will be held at the British Library on 8 February (Crime and Punishment in the 21st Century) and Tuesday 9 March (Are we what we eat?). Both events begin at 6.30pm and finish with a drinks reception. For further details visit: http://www.bl.uk/whatson and click on Events and Tours To download a flyer, click here. |
*********************
NEW! The Academy welcomes Two New Societies
The Academy has recently welcomed into membership the Scottish Economic Society (SES) and the British Accounting Association (BAA). The addition of these two new members increases the Academy's representation of the whole spectrum of the social sciences still further. The SES aims to promote the study and teaching of economics on the widest basis, in accordance with the Scottish tradition of political economy inspired by Adam Smith, and to provide a forum for the discussion of Scottish economic problems and their relationship to the political and social life of Scotland.The BAA, which was established in 1947, is a UK organisation which brings together those interested in teaching and research in accounting and finance.
*********************
Academy Responds to Lord Mandelson's speech on the Future of Universities
The Academy has issued a press release, which is available to read in full on the Press Area of this website, calling on the Government to rethink its plan to favour only STEM subjects at university, pointing out the vital role played by the social sciences.
********************
Research Impact Conference
16 July saw around 150 delegates come to the premises of the Royal Statistical Society (one of the Academy's member learned societies) to hear key speakers from the main stakeholders talking about the importance and measurement of research impact. Lively question and answer sessions followed the speaker presentations. It is anticipated that a report will appear shortly in THE. Speaker presentations can be downloaded by clicking on the highlighted names.
Barbara Doig AcSS introduced the morning session on Why Impact is Important. Professor Phil Cowley AcSS, professor of Parliamentary Government at the University of Nottingham and recently seconded to the Government Social Research Unit, spoke on the View from Government. Graeme Rosenburg, the REF project manager for HEFCE, who is currently developing proposals for the assessment of research impact in the REF, gave the view from HEFCE, prompting debate about the level of contribution that Impact should make to the REF evaluations.
He was followed by Dr Phil Sooben, Director of Policy and Administrationat ESRC and a member of the HEFCE Expert Advisory Group, who looked at the issues from ESRC's point of view. Finally, Professor Chris Bellamy AcSS, Professor Emeritus of Public Administration at Nottingham Trent University gave the view from academia.
The afternoon session evidenced equal interest in Issues, Methodologies and Evidence during a session chaired by Professor Irene Hardill AcSS which considered case studies as well as theoretical matters. Professor Elliot Stern AcSS, a practising evaluator and part-time professor of Evaluation at Lancaster University; Professor Peter Taylor-Gooby AcSS, Professor of Social Policy at the University of Kent; and Dr Steve Wooding, research leader of RAND Europe all invited lively discussions about the wider issues involved.
The delegate list can be downloaded here. A selection of photographs from the event is available here as a Powerpoint pdf to download.
