The Impact of Social Sciences blog is run by the LSE Public Policy Group, and is a hub for researchers, administrative staff, librarians, students, think-tanks, government, and anyone else interested in maximising the impact of academic work in the social sciences and other disciplines.

In a recent post, related to the Philopshy of Data Science series, Emma Uprichard talks to Mark Carrigan about big data http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/2015/02/12/philosophy-of-data-science-emma-uprichard/.

Details of all recent posts can be viewed via the blog home page http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/.

Three new Universities, Essex, Nottingham and Southampton, have joined the Q-Step programme as Affiliates. Further details can be viewed on the Nuffield Foundation website http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/q-step-affiliates.

Two new methods-related masters degrees have been launched at Warwick University, starting in September 2015.

• MSc in Big Data and Digital Futures
• MA in Politics and International Studies: Big Data and Quantitative Methods

The Q-Step Centre is delighted to welcome Prof Tak Wing Chan, new Co-Director and Professor of Sociology, who joined the team on 5 January 2015.

2015 Seminar Theme : The different Approaches to Complexity

Two new seminar dates for 2015 confirmed.