Faculty of Social Sciences Research Impact Newsletter January 2023
In this issue you can find out about the ESRC Impact Acceleration Account, the Festival of Social Sciences, and our latest Impact training sessions and events.
New ESRC Impact Acceleration Account 2023-28
What a great way to start the new year! The University of Warwick has been awarded a new Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) for 2023-2028 by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)Link opens in a new window. This £1.25m award will allow us to continue to support research impact related projects across the Social Sciences when the current IAA finishes on 31 March this year.
It will enable us to work with partners from all sectors to apply social sciences knowledge to challenges in society. The new IAA will run from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2028. We will be in contact again once the first call for applications is open later in the Spring.
As the new IAA awards are yet to be formally announced by the ESRC this news can only be shared with Warwick colleagues at present: please keep this confidential!
The Exchange, BirminghamLink opens in a new window 9.00-16.00
This event, organised by the Universities of Birmingham, Leicester, and Warwick highlights one important pathway to impact: commercialisation. Commercialisation refers to the potential to use knowledge and skills created by research to develop commercial products and services.
This event will include examples of success stories, progress made, and lessons learned from the first year of developing the Commercialising Research Outputs from Social Sciences (CRoSS) initiative funded by the ESRCLink opens in a new window.
This event is open to doctoral students and early career researchers working in social science areas from HEIs in the Midlands. For details on how to book, the schedule and travel bursaries see hereLink opens in a new window.
Commercialising Research out of Social Sciences (CRoSS) Training Programme
October 2022-March 2023
The Warwick ESRC IAA funded CRoSS training programme consists of a series of nine sessions spanning Autumn and Spring terms 2022/23. These events are free of charge and open to anyone interested in either commercialising social science research or supporting others to do so. It is also possible to book one to one consultancy sessions to discuss your commercialisation ideas.
Please visit the webpage to book your place. The following sessions will be taking place during the Spring term:
Monday 27 March | 10am to 5pm |The Slate | University of Warwick
In recognition and celebration of the amazing variety of research impact activity funded by the ESRC's Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) 2019-2023, we are holding a special event this spring in the beautiful lakeside surroundings of The Slate at Warwick Conferences. Chaired by Professor Nick Vaughan-WilliamsLink opens in a new window, Vice-Provost and Chair of the Faculty of Social Sciences and PI of the ESRC IAA, the day will include:
- Short talks from recipients of IAA funding highlighting how these awards are enabling their research to have a positive impact on wider society (whether at regional, national or international level) followed by a Q&A.
- Sessions to showcase the impactful work of the ESRC IAA Postdoctoral Innovation Fellows across the Midlands Region and to highlight the various collaborative activities made possible by the Midlands Graduate School ESRC Doctoral Training Partnership.
- A spotlight on the recent ESRC IAA Commercialisation of Social Science Research fund (CRoSS), including commercialisation ‘myth-busting’, pop up sessions with business consultants and talks from CRoSS award holders.
For more details, and to register, please visit the celebration website.
The event is open to all researchers (including ECRs and PhD students) and members of academic and professional services staff with an interest in social sciences research.
The ESRC Festival of Social ScienceLink opens in a new window celebrated its 20th anniversary this year with over 200 free events being organised by 34 universities from 22 October to 13 November. The festival is a celebration of research and knowledge about humans and society and offers a platform for social science researchers to engage with a wide range of audiences, including young people and the wider communities which universities serve.
Some of the events offered by Warwick included: A talk from Professor Omer Moav of Warwick EconomicsLink opens in a new window challenging the economic orthodoxy on how farming affected the development of civilisations; the Screening Rights Film FestivalLink opens in a new window which presented eight films dealing with social justice combined with post-screening panel discussions; and a series of workshopsLink opens in a new window for children, led by Professor Felicity Boardman, that used self-portraits to explore what makes us unique in the context of genetics and identity. Keep an eye on the festival websiteLink opens in a new window for details of the Festival of Social Science 2023.
David Bowie and the Philosophy of Difference, Authenticity and Love
Last term saw the first of three public lectures by Professor Alex SharpeLink opens in a new window, Impact Director at Warwick Law SchoolLink opens in a new window, ‘On Difference’ using David Bowie as a conduit to bring to life particular theoretical ideas, creative methodologies or ethical debates that have contemporary relevance within the fields of law, social theory, ethics and/or art. The talk, subtitled ‘Scary Monsters: the hopeful undecidability of David Bowie’ was organised by Warwick Institute of EngagementLink opens in a new window (WIE) as part of the Resonate Festival.Link opens in a new window It provided an audio-visual feast and was accompanied by Bowie music, photos and text. The talk is available on WIE’s YouTube channel.Link opens in a new window
The next lectures in David Bowie and Ideas series will take place in March and July 2023 and address authenticity and love: Authenticity: what a drag! on 8 March 2023 and Bowie Love: beyond law on 6 July 2023 (TBC). Find out more and book your ticketLink opens in a new window. The lecture series draws on Professor Sharpe’s 2021 book David Bowie Outlaw: Essays on Difference, Authenticity, Ethics, Art & LoveLink opens in a new window.
Policy Support Fund 2022-2023
Following a competitive internal application process, 26 Policy Support Fund grants of up to £50,000 have been awarded. These grants, underpinned by a quality-related funding awarded to the University from Research England, will allow researchers to build new, and grow existing, collaborations with external organisations in the pursuit of policy impact.
The projectsLink opens in a new window span all three faculties with the Faculty of Social Sciences receiving 12 awards. They will support researchers in engaging with a wide range of partners to achieve policy impact in areas such as the energy crisis, policing, countering electoral malpractice and 999 call handling.
Congratulations to all who have received funding!
Please see our webpages for a range of case studiesLink opens in a new window from previously funded projects. From research into wedding laws to natural parks and family hubs, these projects are enabling evidence-based policy making.
Policy Engagement Opportunities
Click below for current opportunities to engage with UK policymakers.
Internal Funding Opportunities
Click below for the latest information about funding opportunities, including Impact Acceleration Accounts. This is updated regularly as funding is secured and released from Research Councils and other sources.
Social Sciences Impact Managers and Coordinators
Please contact the relevant Impact Manager for your department for support with impact strategies or to explore funding opportunities. We can also assist with policy briefings to help communicate research to non-academic audiences.
Contacts
Dr Helen Ackers Research Impact Manager for Applied Linguistics, CEDAR, Education Studies, Centre for Interdisciplinary Methodologies, Institute for Employment Research, Sociology & Warwick Business School
Carolyn Silvester Research Impact Manager for Economics, School of Law, Politics and International Studies & Philosophy and currently Interim R&IS Assistant Director (Head of Research Impact)
Chris Waite Research Impact Coordinator for Social Sciences
Claire Wragg Research Impact Coordinator for Social Sciences
You can also follow us on twitterLink opens in a new window
Do you have an impact story or event that could be included in the next newsletter? Please get in touch!