PLUS!PLUS! SocietyNow IN FOCUS Society 8 page supplement ESRC STRATEGIC PLAN
ESRCow RESEARCH MAKING AN IMPACT SUMMER 2009 ISSUE 4
LeavingLeaving a markmark Events shaping society since the moon landing
Polly School Fair trade Toynbee: league tables: tourism: The social Falling short of Bringing it vocalist expectations back home Welcome to the summer issue of Society Now, the Economic and Social Research Council’s (ESRC) regular magazine which highlights our funded research and the impact of social science. Few events are truly world-changing, but the 10 16 40th anniversary of the Apollo moon landing is a reminder of how particular events can change our perception of our world, or indeed ourselves. The cover feature focuses on events or developments over the last decades that have left their mark on our society – for better or worse. Other features in this issue include research on fair trade tourism and school league tables, the recent Michael Young Prize winners, and an interview with social affairs journalist and 17 18 writer Polly Toynbee. The In Focus supplement is dedicated to the new ESRC Strategic Plan – an important unless otherwise marked ‘road map’ for our strategic priorities over the next fi ve years, setting out research Alamy challenges ahead. © I hope you will fi nd the magazine enjoyable and informative, and I welcome feedback and hotography ideas for content.
Editor, Arild Foss 22 26 All Society Now p
FEATURES In this issue... 10 Leaving a mark Forty years after Apollo 11’s ‘giant leap REGULARS for mankind’ we take a look at events and 3 News developments that have changed our world 16 Changing land policy 15 Opinion Land management research by Michael The views and A decade of devolution statements Young Prize winner Mark Reed has led expressed in this to national and international impact publication are 20 The UK by numbers: those of the authors Leisure and culture 17 Tackling the blood trade and not necessarily those of the ESRC Unsafe blood supply practices at the NHS 28 Information and updates were uncovered by Michael Young Prize People; publications; news briefs; winner Carol Grayson websites; events 18 Turning the tables School league tables are seen as an indicator IN FOCUS of quality – but they don’t tell us how the Society Now school will perform in the future THE ESRC STRATEGIC PLAN 22 Voices: The social vocalist The supplement highlights the ESRC’s new Strategic Journalist and writer Polly Toynbee talks Plan, mapping out the research challenges over the about social affairs, research and the effect next fi ve years. Contents also include an introduction of recession from the ESRC Chair Alan Gillespie and an interview with 26 Avoiding the guilt trips the ESRC Chief Executive Ian Diamond about investing Tourism can alleviate injustice and poverty in research in an economic downturn – or exacerbate it. Research highlights the paradox of the tourist trade
2 SOCIETY NOW SUMMER 2009 Maximising teacher skills ■ Britain on the move ■ Volunteers dislike ‘lab rat’ status ■ Hospital targets payNEWS off ■ Understanding women child molesters ■ Religious questions ■ New family forms are not norms ■ Reaching the public with robotics ■ Food fi ghts ■ Using the internet to mobilise British Chinese ■ Reaching across the digital divide ■ NEWS Facing loss ■
Maximising teacher skills
GAINING EXPERTISE AS a teacher is For example, more effective teachers arise from this study,” claims Professor a process that continues throughout a created a positive climate for learning Day. “At present, initial teacher training teacher’s career, says new research from by challenging pupils’ ideas and being does not stress suffi ciently either the the Teacher and Leadership Research more innovative; they gave more time need for lifelong learning or the fact Centre, University of Nottingham. to developing individual relationships that those starting on their careers are “Our fi ndings show that the old with pupils, focusing on building not the fi nished article. Introducing notion that experience or years in the self-esteem, engendering trust and trainee teachers to the difference teaching profession somehow equates maintaining respect; and they offered between effective and more effective to expertise is entirely false,” Professor individual support to pupils’ specifi c teaching would raise the bar for them.” Christopher Day points out. “Teachers needs to build motivation and ensure In terms of current teachers, need to develop expertise throughout inclusion in the class community. researchers suggest that their fi ndings their career and there’s no point at Teachers themselves said that should be more systematically included which those who want to be more enthusiasm for teaching, a positive in existing procedures for observing effective teachers can stop learning.” In this two-year study, researchers analysed the classroom practices of 80 The more effective teachers drew on a teachers identifi ed as effective in terms greater range of diverse teaching strategies of their school’s national test and exam results and data on pupil attitude. The “and practices, regardless of school phase research also involved a further 38 school leaders and some 3,000 pupils relationship with children and high and assessing teachers’ classroom in 38 schools in England. motivation and commitment were the performance. “Many of the dimensions” “A key aim was to discover what most important factors in effective of more effective teaching can be taught distinguishes more effective teachers teaching. Their least important factors using methods such as feedback,” from those who are simply effective,” were years of teaching experience, good Professor Day concludes. “We need to explains Professor Day. “We found pedagogical knowledge and having a increase the focus through continuing that while a number of key factors sense of vocation. Children’s views on professional development on raising (such as creating a positive climate for effective teaching varied with age. In classroom expertise, not just for those learning, promoting positive teacher- year 2 the strongest factor was ‘overall starting in the profession but across all pupil relationships, creating structured pupil enjoyment and security’; in ages and levels of experience.” ■ and well-paced lessons) contributed year 6 it was ‘positive teacher support to classroom effectiveness, the more and reassurance’. For year 9 pupils, i Contact Professor Christopher Day, effective teachers drew on a greater ‘teacher interest in pupils’ and ‘teacher University of Nottingham Telephone +44 (0) 115 951 4423 range of diverse teaching strategies and approachability’ were very important. Email [email protected] practices, regardless of school phase or “Several implications for both ESRC Grant Number RES-000-23-1564 socio-economic status.” teachers and the policy community
SUMMER 2009 SOCIETY NOW 3 IN BRIEF Britain on CREDIT CONSTRAINTS In the current fi nancial climate the move many fi rms fi nd themselves particularly credit constrained. WHILE MUCH MEDIA A new study aims to analyse the attention is paid to the topic impact this has on how fi rms of international immigration structure their dealings with into Britain, the matter of who is partners in the supply chain. moving where within Britain Questions include whether credit has been largely ignored. constrained fi rms exposed to Internal migration is market risk wish to outsource or important, Professor John insource operations, and whether Stillwell argues, because credit constrained fi rms with this is the key phenomenon investment opportunities charge responsible for explaining too high prices. population change and demographic ESRC grant number RES-000-22-3468 restructuring in many parts of the country. Hence, in a new 12-month PANDEMIC RESPONSES study, researchers from the University How people behave, interact and of Leeds set out to develop a clearer travel during a pandemic could understanding of internal migration limit or exacerbate their risk of fl ows taking place within the UK and infection. Effective planning involving different ethnic groups. “White people requires an understanding of Based on an analysis of Special do indeed show how people are likely to change Migration Statistics and commissioned a tendency to move to areas of greater their behaviour when faced with tables from the 2001 Census on seven concentration of white people. And a pandemic. This new research ethnic groups – white, Indian, Pakistani spatial patterns of migration within network is bringing together and other South Asian, Chinese, black, London show that internal migrants a range of experts to develop mixed and other – fi ndings show of all ethnic groups have a tendency to methods with which to predict that the propensity to move within move from deprived neighbourhoods to how individuals may respond to Britain varies between ethnic groups. areas of less deprivation. infectious disease outbreaks. Despite the fact that nine out of every “But, interestingly, all non-white ESRC grant number RES-355-25-0019 ten migrants are white, several ethnic ethnic groups except the ‘mixed’ group minorities have higher migration are moving to areas in London with MANAGING DIABETES propensities than whites. The Chinese lower shares of population in the same Does the way people view have a particularly high rate – especially ethnic groups as themselves. This diabetes affect the way in which within the 20-24 age group – and are fi nding supports work documented they manage their illness? A new most inclined to move longer distances. elsewhere that serves to dispel the study aims to explore whether the While migration involves just over ten myth of ‘non-white ethnic group ability to ‘make sense’ of diabetes per cent of the population, more than self-segregation’ despite the range of is important in helping people 15 per cent of people whose ethnicity positive factors such as familiarity, manage the emotional impact of is described as ‘other’ non-white in security, family links, and shared living with an ongoing illness. the census migrate within Britain. cultures, traditions and language that Researchers will also examine the However, despite non-white groups encourage residential clustering. The role played by social environment in general having a higher propensity policy implication of this may involve and family relationships in terms to migrate internally, people described making affordable and social housing of helping those with diabetes to as ‘Indian’ and ‘Pakistani and other more available to ethnic minorities in care for themselves. South Asian’ have the lowest recorded predominately white areas, or being ESRC grant number PTA-026-27-1928 rates of migration. aware that ethnic minority groups may The fi ndings contradict suggestions want the opportunity to relocate from that non-white ethnic communities are areas with which traditionally they becoming increasingly concentrated have been associated.” ■ or that levels of segregation within the © iStockphoto biggest cities are rising. i Contact Professor John Stillwell, University of Leeds “On the contrary, our results for Telephone +44 (0) 113 343 3315 London suggest that internal migration Email [email protected] is an agent of dispersal for non-white ESRC Grant Number RES-163-25-0028 Part of the Understanding Population Trends groups, rather than greater spatial and Processes Initiative segregation,” Professor Stillwell states.
4 SOCIETY NOW SUMMER 2009 Volunteers dislike ‘lab rat’ status IN BRIEF HOW DOES IT feel to be a volunteer in biomedical particular study. “It’s often overlooked that research? While many previous studies have taking part in clinical research is a socially explored why people choose to volunteer and how awkward situation in which volunteers expose well they understand clinical trials, very little themselves (sometimes literally) to strangers, is known about the actual experience of being and to new technology, questions and so on,” a volunteer. “We wanted to discover how those Dr Morris says. “We found that to counter these who volunteer to take part unpaid in medical feelings volunteers tend to take an active role research feel about their role, their infl uence on in establishing their identity as thinking human the research process and the dynamics of the beings and not ‘guinea pigs’, emphasising their researcher/volunteer relationship,” Dr Norma voluntary participation.” POLICE UNDER SCRUTINY Morris at University College London explains. Although volunteers aspire to be Police-public encounters will In this study researchers collaborated collaborators, existing codes of professional be scrutinised by researchers with medical physicists who were recruiting ethics make it diffi cult for researchers to in a new study that aims to volunteers to test new laser light technology respond appropriately. “Researchers could do identify features of which the for generating diagnostic breast images. The more to ensure that volunteers feel ‘comfortable’ public approves or disapproves. 85 volunteers ranged in age from 19 to 75 with the research experience, whether through Previous research indicates that and included those with and without breast adjusting their own behaviour, their briefi ng while people value the police as cancer. Importantly, the trial offered no personal material, or their preconceptions about an institution, their experience of medical benefi t to the volunteers, so personal volunteer concerns,” Dr Morris points out. ■ contact with police offi cers is less healthcare-related concerns and interests were favourable. Findings will help less relevant as factors. i Contact Dr Norma Morris, University College London improve police-public relations Findings show that taking part in research is Telephone +44 (0) 20 7679 3703 by enabling police offi cers to a challenging experience even in the low-risk, Email [email protected] appreciate how others perceive ESRC Grant Number RES-000-23-1160 pain-free, non-therapeutic setting of this and evaluate their actions. ESRC grant number RES-000-22-3571 ATTRACTED BY THE RIGHT Hospital targets pay off The emergence of extreme right parties has generated THE ‘TARGETS AND terror’ policy Researchers further claim that the much interest, yet very little is introduced in England in 2000 to cut target-driven regime succeeded without known about who joins these hospital waiting times has worked, appearing to damage patient care. organisations, how they do so says research conducted at the Critics claimed the targets would lead and why. This fellowship grant University of Bristol. to unintended adverse consequences, will enable the researcher to Findings reveal that the aggressive such as treatment contrary to clinical disseminate recent fi ndings policy of targets coupled with the priority, but the study fi nds no evidence on activism in contemporary publication of waiting times data and to support these claims. ■ extreme right-wing parties. strong sanctions for poor performing Findings are drawn from semi- hospital managers introduced for the i Contact Professor Frank Windmeijer, structured life history interviews NHS lowered the proportion of people University of Bristol Telephone +44 (0) 117 331 0762 with activists and additional waiting for planned treatment relative Email [email protected] archival research. ESRC Grant Number RES-166-25-0022 ESRC grant number PTA-026-27-2117 to Scotland, where no such policy Part of the Public Services Programme was introduced. DIVERSITY IN PRISON Prison managers in England and Wales are concerned with developing and sustaining an environment which is secure and yet respectful of diversity. This involves showing respect for a diverse prison population that includes race and ethnicity, faith, gender, sexuality, age, disabilities and class. This project brings together practical policy and theoretical concerns about how to respond to diversity in prison. ESRC grant number RES-000-22-3441
SUMMER 2009 SOCIETY NOW 5 IN BRIEF Understanding women child molesters MALE CHILD MOLESTERS, research suggests, failing to react assertively to men who ask hold a series of beliefs that contribute to their them to accompany them in the molestation sexually offensive behaviour. These include, of children. Further, over-perceiving male for example, seeing children as sexually hostility could lead some women to turn to knowledgeable, seeing sex as harmless younger males for sexual companionship. The or seeing one’s own abusive actions as study further indicates that domestic abuse uncontrollable. Knowing that child molesters experiences appear to increase the risk of a may hold such beliefs is vital for treatment sexual offence occurring. providers. To date, however, very little has been By providing this empirical documentation known about the beliefs held by women who of the types of offence-related beliefs held by HOUSING DECISIONS sexually abuse children. women child molesters, researchers believe Over the past 25 years there In a new study, researchers from the their study will assist professionals when have been dramatic changes in University of Kent set out to increase assessing and treating women abusers. ■ housing and mortgage markets, understanding of women child molesters’ including fi nancial deregulations, offence-supportive beliefs. One interesting i Contact Dr Theresa Gannon, University of Kent broader access to credit, changes fi nding is that women child molesters Telephone +44 (0) 1227 824827 in homeownership and the over-perceive male hostility. Researchers Email [email protected] ESRC Grant Number RES-000-22-1880 recent increase in mortgage suggest this belief may result in these women foreclosures. To better grasp the causes and consequences of these developments, researchers aim to identify underlying reasons behind households’ tenure decisions – their decision to own or rent and how this affects housing market volatility. ESRC grant number RES-000-22-3532 PLANNING A FAMILY A new network of 24 scholars, researchers, practitioners and policymakers will discuss reproductive decision-making and reproductive success in the 21st century. Their aim is to improve understanding of how individuals take decisions regarding their reproductive lives and future plans for child-bearing © iStockphoto and the factors that impact on reproductive success. ESRC grant number RES-355-25-0038 Religious questions SUPPORT FOR WAR A NEW STUDY of religious for the US, where average attendance In recent years, UK forces have practice based on the International frequency of churchgoers is low in been deployed abroad in diverse Congregational Life Survey of almost more religious environments. places, for various reasons, one million respondents in Australia, Why then, if an area is more and with diverging degrees of England, New Zealand and the USA religious, would churchgoers there success. Yet little is known about raises some intriguing questions be on average less religious than the conditions under which the about religious activity. For example, elsewhere? Researchers believe the British public will support – and analysis suggests that Anglican church explanation for this seeming paradox is prepared to bear the costs of – attendance in England is negatively is that the impact of ‘more religious’ such action. This project will map affected by the Anglican share of the localities is felt at the margin. ■ foreign policy attitudes in Britain local churchgoing population. In other and provide a rigorous analysis words, the more Anglican churchgoers i Contact Professor David Voas, University of of the conditions underpinning there are, the less likely any randomly Manchester Telephone +44 (0) 161 275 4836 support for war. selected Anglican attender is to be in Email [email protected] ESRC Grant Number RES-000-22-1816 ESRC grant number RES-062-23-1952 church on Sunday. This also holds true
6 SOCIETY NOW SUMMER 2009 Reaching the public with robotics NEW RESEARCH INTO public attitudes towards robotics aimed to discover not only what people feel about this area of emerging science but also how well attempts to engage the public are working. Robots are being developed for use in a variety of locations, including the workplace, home, healthcare and the military. The installation of robotic machines increased considerably in the late 1990s, but overall, artifi cial New family forms intelligence and autonomy have developed more slowly than predicted. are not norms Findings from this study show that perceptions of robotics are heavily IF MUCH MEDIA commentary is divorce is preferable to marital confl ict, infl uenced by media coverage and science to be believed, the family as a social particularly where children are present. fi ction, making people more receptive to institution in Britain is close to collapse Although a conservative minority in robotics than some other areas of science as people turn to looser, and more this study retained traditional views of and technology. Due to this largely positive individualised, arrangements for the family, for most people the model public attitude, researchers were able to living, loving and caring. In a recent of a heterosexual married couple living use a series of public meetings, forums and study, researchers from the University in the same household is no longer workshops to examine the effectiveness of of Bradford and the National Centre particularly central as a social norm. current engagement strategies. for Social Research set out to discover However, where children are involved, This relatively small project, led by Dr people’s views about family and it seems that ‘non-individualist’ Clare Wilkinson, highlighted how ‘public personal life and whether family life is moral absolutes or imperatives are engagement’ is currently understood and indeed in crisis. still pervasive – for example, levels of utilised by the research community. From Based on the British Social Attitudes approval for single women who choose a practical viewpoint, researchers suggest Survey 2006 and UK Census 2001 data to become mothers, and for same sex that those putting on public engagement about geographical distributions, the couples (both men and women) as activities should not underestimate the time study points to a growing acceptance parents were relatively low. and planning required to host a successful of non-traditional family forms in the Overall, fi ndings show that although event. Good facilitation, structure, UK. But, researchers argue, this does there have been changes in family life organisation and awareness of the audience not necessarily amount to ‘family and attitudes to different family forms, is also required if the event is to meet breakdown’. Rather, norms about the this does not amount to a ‘breakdown’ audience expectations and support two-way content and nature of family life seem of the family. Hence, although friends rather than one-way communication. ■ quite durable. In other words, while were seen as an important source the outward form of families may of emotional support, they were i Contact Dr Clare Wilkinson, University of the be changing, the inner core – or the usually seen as an addition to, not a West of England, Bristol value that people attach to their family replacement for, family support. Friends Telephone +44 (0) 117 328 2146 Email [email protected] relationships – remains steady. are not the ‘new family’ it seems. ESRC Grant Number: RES-000-22-2180 So, when it comes to partnership, “In fact, the importance attached people in Britain now generally view to family life does not seem to have cohabitation as equivalent to marriage, altered,” concludes Professor Simon divorce is usually seen as a normal Duncan. “Certainly there is evidence part of the life course, and step of change and evolution, but most parenting is viewed as good enough. people still place great emphasis The study also found that other forms on maintaining successful family of relationship, such as couples who relationships and functional family live in separate households, same-sex lives, whatever form these take.” ■ couples or indeed living alone were acceptable for most people. And, with i Contact Professor Simon Duncan, University of divorce now seen as a fairly normal Bradford Telephone +44 (0) 1274 235233 occurrence, the majority of people take Email [email protected] ESRC Grant Number RES-000-23-1329 perhaps the non-traditional view that © iStockphoto
SUMMER 2009 SOCIETY NOW 7 Food fi ghts FOOD ALLERGY IS widely perceived as a growing problem. Although the actual prevalence of food allergy and food intolerance is diffi cult to measure and highly contested, the charity Allergy UK has estimated that two per cent of people in the UK population have a food allergy, and 45 per cent experience some form of food intolerance. Although some experts remain sceptical about the extent of ‘true’ allergic conditions, public concern has intensifi ed nonetheless. A new study has taken a wide-ranging sociological view on how food allergy and food intolerance is understood and Using the internet to communicated in a number of different settings including medicine, science, the mobilise British Chinese food industry, allergy charities, government, private clinics and testing services, the CHINESE PEOPLE, ACCORDING to populations they are highly scattered media, and amongst NHS patients, patient survey evidence, feel the least British throughout Britain, with no local groups and the public more generally. among all minority groups in Britain. authority area having more than two Findings reveal that considerable debate Moreover, the 2006 Citizenship per cent of its residents as Chinese. surrounds even the basic defi nition of Survey indicates that Chinese people in Findings show that many users of ‘food allergy’ and ‘food tolerance’, and that Britain are less likely to be volunteers British Chinese community websites attempts by the scientifi c profession to than other ethnic groups, while the found them a key means of meeting defi ne and ‘rein in’ the allergy zone sit in Electoral Commission fi nds this group other British-born Chinese people, tension with attempts to expand or reframe to have very low voter registration, and and regular participation on these the allergy zone by a range of other actors, there are no Chinese MPs. sites enhanced a collective sense of including commercial organisations and In a new study, Dr David Parker being British Chinese. “The creation patient groups. and Dr Miri Song explored the cultural of internet forums aimed at a small “Uncertainty as to the causes of and political marginality of the British ethnic group like the British-born food allergies, compounded by a lack of Chinese and considered the potential Chinese may appear divisive and clarity about what constitutes allergy or of British Chinese websites and online insular,” says Dr Parker. “But we argue intolerance, is making this problem very social networks to enhance the social that the development of the social diffi cult for people to comprehend and inclusion and political participation of agenda necessary for subsequent manage, which in turn is contributing to British Chinese people. political participation is facilitated by heightened uncertainties and corresponding “These issues are usually the primarily co-ethnic interactions anxieties,” states Dr Sarah Nettleton. ■ overlooked in relation to a group occurring on the websites we explored.” which appears to be well-integrated The study concludes that British i Contact Dr Sarah Nettleton, University of York and successful in higher education,” Chinese websites and social networks Telephone +44 (0) 1904 433062 argues Dr Parker. “In socio-economic have the potential to mobilise a Email [email protected] terms, the British Chinese are also part of the population yet to be fully ESRC Grant Number RES-000-23-1134 regarded as a success story. But unlike represented in mainstream public life. the South Asian and African Caribbean To secure greater involvement from populations in Britain, whose cultural this under-represented population, and political presence is undeniably the researchers suggest public bodies felt, there are hardly any references to devise online content that sets out the British Chinese people in mainstream pathways to political participation at cultural and political life.” local and national levels, and tailor Researchers explored the potential invitations to policy consultations in of British Chinese websites (such as areas such as immigration, education britishchineseonline.com, dimsum. and health via these new media co.uk and bcproject.org.uk) for social forums. ■ and political mobilisation. The ability of online communication to connect i Contact Dr David Parker, University of Nottingham a dispersed population is particularly Telephone +44 (0) 115 846 8939 signifi cant for the British Chinese, as Email [email protected] ESRC Grant Number RES-000-22-1642 unlike many other minority ethnic
8 SOCIETY NOW SUMMER 2009 purposes, changesineatinghabitsandmore internet forhealthinformationandother health, greaterprofi ciencyintheuseof bring increasedself-confi denceinmanaging learning support. connection withoutthehelpofthisfacilitated net), whiletheotherhalfusedtheirinternet for theperiodofsixmonths(heartsofsalford. help touseadedicatedcoronarysupportportal people inonehalfofthesampleweregiven and prepaidbroadbandaccessforayear. The patients freehomeuseofaPCandprinter average internetaccess. patients –agrouplikelytohavelowerthan the internetonlivesofasampleheart to exploretheimpactofprovidingaccess coronary heartdisease(CHD)intheUK,setout Salford, acitywithoneofthehighestrates exclusion? ResearchersfromtheUniversityof to theinternetmerelyincreasetheirsocial vulnerable people,ordoeslackofaccess communication technologiesempower DOES THEGROWTH living standards inretirement. entitlements to maintainacceptable employment andbuilduppension and encouragingpeopletosustain increasing importanceofenabling the studyfurtherpointsto official poverty threshold. their partnerwhilelivingbelowthe were surveyedfacedthedeathof one infourofthepensionerswho follow thedeathofapartner.Indeed, weather theeconomicchangesthat are notwellplacedfinancially to retirement age. out amortgageandreachingstate such asthebirthofachild,taking planning atkeyturningpoints and providingpromptsforfinancial law marriageprovideslegalrights, wills, dispellingbeliefsthatcommon includes encouragingpeopletomake issues inthegeneralpopulation.This maintain awarenessoffinancial highlights theneedtoraiseand implications ofapartner’sdeath NEW RESEARCHINTO Facing loss Reaching across the digital divide Findings showthatfacilitatedlearningdid Researchers gavemorethan100heart The studyshowsthatsomepeople From apolicyperspective, ofinformation thefinancial ■ social support.Researchersalsofoundthat prospects of survival for heart patients.” improved health, reduced surgery and better whether in the long-term this may result in informed. Further research is needed to discover such a project, although this demand is better- more not less demand from participants in intensive. Our fi ndings indicate that GPs face Professor Paul Bellaby. “But it is also resource- for vulnerable people,” concludes researcher is necessary to overcome the digital divide or exercise. the patients’behaviourondrinking,smoking However, internetusewasnotfoundtochange receptive togovernmenthealthmessages. that thosewhousedtheCHDportalweremore likely togobacktheirGPforadviceand people withaccesstotheinternetweremore i i “Our results suggest that facilitated learning University of York Contact Email Telepho Contact Part of the e-Society Programme ESRC Grant Number ESRC Grant Number Email [email protected] [email protected] ne Professor Paul Bellaby, University of Salford Anne Corden, Social Policy Research Unit, +44 (0) 161 295 2819 Telephone RES-000-23-1530 RES-341-25-0037 +44 (0) 1904 321950 ■ IN payments might be designed. be loans or grants, and how such which these contributions should towards its costs, the extent to parents and students make the contributions that taxpayer, education and, in particular, the financing of higher to policy debate concerning This study will contribute directly FINANCING EDUCATION ESRC grant number income and not just prices. on different products varies with share of household budget spent into account the fact that the standards. The new method takes (PPPs) in measuring living use of purchasing power parities will remedy flaws in the present cent of the world’s population. It 146 countries covering 95 per of average living standards for will provide improved measures Using new methods, this project LIVING STANDARDS ESRC grant number England and Wales. improve health services in on engaging staff that can help also provide important lessons working in NHS Scotland may Scotland. Evaluating partnership management partnership in NHS the groundbreaking labour- the process and outcomes of process, this project evaluates contributes to the modernising assess how partnership working high on the policy agenda. To Modernising the NHS remains PARTNERSHIP INTHENHS ESRC grant number and policy option simulation. will involve theory, estimation The methodology for this project © iStockphoto
BRIEF SUMMER RES-000-22-3438 RES-000-22-3569 PTA-026-27-2256 2009
SOCIETY NOW 9 Leaving a mark The Apollo 11 moon landing on 20 July 1969 was a landmark event, witnessed by an unprecedented percentage of the global population and changing our perceptions of the world. Which major events and developments since then have changed society – for better or worse? Our panel of commentators looks at the events that have changed today’s world
THE NEW EUROPE groups across the former communist bloc looked 1989 THE FALL OF THE BERLIN WALL warily at the rise of right-wing nationalist parties. Professor Richard Berry, Director of the ESRC Centre The changes in the economic base of the for Russian, Central and East European Studies region were dramatic; the old state economies were subject to privatisation and foreign investment THE YEAR 1989 will be seen as a watershed in poured in. The old communist trading bloc world history in the same vein as 1789 and 1848. collapsed, necessitating an opening to the world However, it was not ‘the end of history’ and the economy. The countries of the region signed simple triumph of liberal democracy and capitalism Association Agreements with the EU, which would over the one-party state and the socialist economy. eventually result in EU membership in 2004 In effect, 1989 was the culmination of a long for the Baltic states, Hungary, Poland, the Czech process of economic decay and moral bankruptcy. Republic, Slovakia and Slovenia, while Romania The geography of Europe changed dramatically. and Bulgaria joined in 2007. The states of the The German Democratic Republic (GDR) was former Yugoslavia will be next to join. Convertible united with the far larger and more advanced currencies were introduced, and in the case of Federal Republic. Overnight, the economic and Slovenia and Slovakia the euro was adopted, political system collapsed, forcing the government a process which will be adopted elsewhere when of Chancellor Kohl to begin the process of pouring conditions permit. Membership of NATO spread vast sums of money into the former communist throughout the region. country. This reconstruction process goes on to this However, there are still economic and social day and has implications for the current fi nancial problems arising from the collapse of communism. crisis. As a result of its experiences in the former There are considerable west/east divisions as GDR, the government of Chancellor Merkel is wary the more prosperous western regions have a far of another large fi scal stimulus. higher standard of living. The old rust belts of the The Czech and Slovak republics agreed to region still have high unemployment rates. The go their separate ways (1 January 1993) in what population had to learn a hard lesson: namely was referred to as ‘the Velvet Divorce’. This was that the establishment of political independence a far cry from the bloody wars that engulfed does not result in economic independence, only Yugoslavia, resulting in sieges and atrocities not interdependence. The fall of communism also saw witnessed on the European continent since the more corruption and provided opportunities for Second World War. The collapse of the USSR criminal elements to fl ourish: who had heard of the meant independence for the Baltic, Central Asian traffi cking of women from the region before 1989? and Caucasian states. Ethnic confl icts, such as in Overall, the death of communism is to be Chechnya, came to the fore. Elsewhere, the beast welcomed. Its legacy is complex, but in the of nationalism took less aggressive forms, but establishment of democracy the people at least there were still disputes between Hungary and her have a say. If a government fails to perform, it neighbours, especially with Slovakia and Romania can be ousted – a scenario unthinkable in the over Hungarian minority rights. Meanwhile, Roma repressive communist era.
10 SOCIETY NOW SUMMER 2009 LEAVING A MARK
THE INTERNET COMMUNITY that can be browsed, booked and paid for online. 19 91 INVENTION OF THE WORLD WIDE WEB Web media are increasingly taking audience and John Fisher, Chief Executive of charity Citizens Online advertisers from the printed newspapers, while TV and radio programmes can be downloaded THE INTERNET WAS already underway at the online. Public services are going digital, ensuring time of the moon landing, but it was Tim you can order library books or pay your taxes with Berners-Lee’s 1989 innovation the ‘World Wide a few mouse clicks. Web’, connecting hypertext pages with a browser, With the increasing importance of the internet, which brought the global network to the people it is all the more vital that no-one is left out. Recent and kick-started the internet revolution. During the Ofcom research shows that almost 30 per cent of 1990s the growth of the internet doubled year-on- adults in the UK still don’t have internet access year, and since 2000 the amount of users has more at home. The irony is that the people who would than tripled. The current estimate is 1.6 billion benefi t most from new skills and job opportunities, users worldwide, with a global penetration of 23.8 cheaper goods and services, and access to new per cent. In the UK, almost 16.5 million households networks and contacts are those least likely to be had internet access in 2008 – an increase of 1.2 found online. Digital skills are now considered the million households on the year before. third basic life skill after literacy and numeracy, It is impossible to overestimate how the and the recent government report Digital Britain internet has affected our society. Worldwide, stresses the need for greater digital participation to instant access to the web has meant that people make the UK competitive in global markets. from different parts of the globe can connect Recently, we have seen in places like Iran how and communicate directly with each other. The the use of online tools such as Twitter has helped concept of a ‘global community’ has taken on people to bypass news blackouts and censorship. actual signifi cance, instead of being the preserve Many now believe that access to the internet is of political speeches and wishful thinking. The a basic human right. popularity of social networking communities such as Facebook and Twitter goes against the cliché of the isolated, solitary computer geek; the internet has the potential to bring people together, across borders and social divides. The internet has also given the people a voice – to blog, post comments, discuss or rant. Web technology has levelled the fi eld and provided a channel where everyone can be heard, not only the mainstream or major actors. It makes it easier to organise grassroots movements, poll voters, submit petitions, call for leaders to go, or demand new policies. The internet cannot create democracy in itself, but it can be used to hold governments and leaders to account. The impact is also substantial in the private sector. A whole web-based business market has sprung up, providing a raft of products and services
THE AGE REVOLUTION rather than being rocketed up there by a 2001/2002 LIFE EXPECTANCY AT BIRTH FOR particular event. In the UK the key infl uences WOMEN IN THE UK PASSED 80 YEARS have been, fi rst of all, a recognition in policy Professor Alan Walker, Director of the New Dynamics circles of the signifi cance of societal ageing, of Ageing Research Programme for example in the ageing of the workforce and the rising demand for health and social care EVERYONE KNOWS THAT Britain is an ageing services. From the late 1980s measures began society but, in fact, the growth of longevity has been to be taken to combat age discrimination in proceeding quietly across all developed countries the labour market and, in 2006, these were for around 170 years! Despite assertions that life given legislative force through the European expectancy must be approaching a limit, it is the Employment Directive. linearity of the rise that is remarkable. Ageing is Two symbolic events have captured public now a global phenomenon; in the last century it was attention; on the one hand there is the very the developed countries that aged most rapidly and, recent overtaking of the numbers of children in this one, it is the turn of the developing nations. under 16 by those of pensionable age and, on Ageing has climbed steadily up the national the other, the retirement of some of the fi rst ▲ and international policy and research agendas, post-war baby boomer generations.
SUMMER 2009 SOCIETY NOW 11 LEAVING A MARK ▲ The UK Research Councils and other TERRORISM AND SOCIETY research funders have also attempted to draw 2001 THE SEPTEMBER 11 TERROR ATTACKS attention to the rise of longevity. The ESRC’s fi rst Professor Michael Clarke, Director of the Royal United research programme on ageing took place in Services Institute the mid-1980s and, in the 1990s, four Councils each mounted their own ageing initiatives. Five TERRORISTS HAVE SOMETIMES succeeded in Research Councils have now combined to create their political aims, but they have not traditionally the UK’s largest ever research programme on been very successful in changing society. The ageing: The New Dynamics of Ageing. jihadist terrorists of the last 15 years, however, can Despite this increasing profi le, there is still claim something of a victory in seriously affecting a great deal to be done to explain the signifi cance the American and British society that they have so of the age revolution. For example, few will be assiduously targeted. aware that nearly half of the projected growth in The September 11 atrocity of 2001 was by no UK households to 2026 is likely to be among older means the fi rst jihadi attack on the US or Britain, people. The ageing of the boomer generation may but it became the iconic event of modern terrorism. help to change attitudes to later life (although there It represented a new terrorist phenomenon; new is a lot of unscientifi c speculation on this point) because it employed novel techniques, using but policies and practices, as well as attitudes, Western society’s virtues of openness, mobility tend to lag some way behind demographic and communication as weapons against itself. It is change. Thus we see the current co-existence new because it is also wilfully indiscriminate. Even of age discrimination in various walks of life counting conservatively, more than 40 per cent of with increasing numbers of active older people. the victims of jihadist terror are fellow Muslims. Not Paradoxically, therefore, when Britain needs their least, it is new because jihadi terrorists since Osama skills and experience and to sustain their health bin Laden’s fatwa of 1998 are not demanding and activity for as long as possible, many older anything that lies within the political mainstream of people still suffer social exclusion. US or British societies to grant. Nothing Britain or However, I am optimistic that Britain will America could realistically concede would assuage come to terms successfully with its own ageing. these terrorists’ demands. Nor is it largely a reaction The demographics are largely positive: increasing to western interventions. The attacks of 1993 and longevity is accompanied by increasing disability- 1997, the fatwa of 1998, the attacks of 2000 and free life expectancy – a trend that, at present, is then 2001 all predate the ill-conceived response of not as clear in the UK as some other European the US and its allies in Afghanistan and Iraq. countries. In policy terms the government It may not be surprising, therefore, that jihadi has identifi ed ageing as one of the three great terrorism has had such a big perceptual impact challenges facing the country. In society there is on American and British society; one apparently huge vitality and hunger for positive change among targeted mainly from without, one threatened older people and those representing them. Many also from within. The US rushed through the older people of various ages are busy redesigning so-called Patriot Act in October 2001, providing later life in their own diverse images. the government with a wide range of new powers
LIVING IN A NEW CLIMATE Here in the UK, this has already led to Joan Ruddock, Energy and Climate Change Minister ambitious government action. In April, the fi rst of the government’s carbon I HAVE NO doubt that the most signifi cant change budgets outlined reductions in greenhouse for our society and for future generations is the gas emissions by a massive 80 per cent on recognition that our addiction to fossil fuels is 1990 levels by 2050, as well as an interim leading to potentially dangerous climate change. target of 34 per cent by 2020. In this new Climate change will have profound, far-reaching world, every government decision will impacts into every corner of our lives – from the have to be made on the basis of whether it way we grow and source our food, our leisure and fi ts the carbon budget, whether emissions travel habits, to the design of our homes and the savings can be made elsewhere or whether future employment opportunities for our children it simply can’t be done because of its and grandchildren. carbon impact. This in itself is a revolution. Businesses and the public sector in the UK are, or will be, made to reduce their
12 SOCIETY NOW SUMMER 2009 to gather information and enhance the discretion REVEALING THE HUMAN DNA of law enforcement and immigration authorities. 200 3 COMPLETION OF THE HUMAN In Britain, a society with already tough anti-terror GENOME PROJECT legislation, no fewer than fi ve new counter- Sir Mark Walport, Director of the Wellcome Trust terrorism acts have been created in recent years. Detention without trial, replaced by control orders SCIENCE IS USUALLY an incremental process, (applied to more than 20 cases at any one time), with research building upon previous discoveries. the holding of suspects for up to 28 days without In the case of biotechnology, the pace of these charge, the criminalisation of ‘glorifying’ terrorism, increments has been extraordinary. It began in have all become features of the present legal regime the 1970s with the discovery of ways to sequence – features with which the public seems to agree in and manipulate DNA, and continued in the 1980s the present climate of anxiety. with the development of transgenic mice and fruit Around 18 serious plots have been enacted in fl ies, and the identifi cation of the mutations that the UK since 2001, only one of them becoming cause Huntington’s disease and cystic fi brosis. But successful in July 2005. The police and security arguably the biggest step was the Human Genome services have been both effective and lucky. But Project, identifying all genes and mapping the if the legal regime is draconian, the political sequence of chemical base pairs in the human approach has at least become more sensitive DNA. The project launched in 1990 and completed and sophisticated in the last three years. The in 2003 – a rare case of a single advance completely government’s counter-terrorism strategy transforming its fi eld, and much beyond. ‘CONTEST’ is designed to marginalise jihadi These developments have continued to gain infl uence in the UK while reinforcing the criminal pace; a human genome once took three years to justice approach to the problem, in contrast to the sequence, but we can now do it in a single day for notion that we should fi ght some sort of ‘war on a fraction of the cost. This genetic information has terror’. The US, too, has now moved closer to this raised the profi le of biotechnology in the public way of framing the response. The problem is long- eye, particularly for its profound implications for term and generational, but it is also containable. healthcare. The human genome sequence has Public anxieties have not greatly eased in either already been used to uncover hundreds of genetic Britain or America, though opinion surveys indicate infl uences on health and disease. Scientists can that the public is beginning to put its anxiety into use powerful ‘genome-wide association studies’ to a more informed perspective. The problem is that systematically search for gene variants that change if perceptions of insecurity are evolving, the legal our propensity to common diseases, such as ratchet tends to remain where it is. Legislation, diabetes and Crohn’s disease. Better understanding surveillance cameras, the barricades around of how diseases develop, using knowledge from Parliament; the conscious re-design of our public genetic research, is already leading to improved spaces and mass events to allow for screening drugs and treatments, which will allow doctors to and searches will probably be with us long after identify, monitor and help people at high risk. the jihadis have become unfashionable and again Other studies, such as UK Biobank, are ▲ marginal to our concerns. investigating how environmental and lifestyle
carbon use, for example through the EU Emissions and appliances will be more effi ciently designed Trading Scheme, or the forthcoming Carbon and electricity grids will be ‘smarter’, managing Reduction Commitment. But further changes are the demand in supply more effectively. We or our needed. We already have plans in place to reduce children may work in the low-carbon sector, now household carbon emissions to zero by 2050, to roll worth £3 trillion a year worldwide and growing fast. out smart energy meters to every home by 2020 We will travel in ultra low-carbon cars and make and to introduce measures that will fi nancially greater use of buses and electric trains. Energy reward householders for generating their own may cost more, but greater effi ciencies will mean renewable heat and power. This summer the UK we will use less power and there will be wider Government will publish an Energy and Climate government support for the poorest. The climate Change Strategy to outline a low-carbon future that will be different, but we will have used our skills is prosperous and energy-secure. and ingenuity to prepare and adapt. As a result of these actions, in the years to come we and our descendants will live in a radically different world. Our homes
SUMMER 2009 SOCIETY NOW 13 LEAVING A MARK ▲ factors interact with genetic factors to The advancement of biotechnology offers huge influence obesity, heart disease, cancer and other promise, but also demonstrates the capacity we, as a diseases, the findings of which could have major species, have for collaboration, and the great results implications for how we live. And we are starting it can achieve. The Human Genome Project was to uncover genetic factors that influence human one of the biggest science projects ever undertaken, cognitive behaviours like decision-making, and involving thousands of scientists from six countries. neurological conditions such as schizophrenia, More than a tool or resource, it has provided autism and depression. inspiration, giving us the belief that through We are also beginning to discover how our endeavours we have the capacity to better different – and similar – we are from each other understand ourselves and our place in the world. at the biological level. This has implications not only for future health treatments, but also our understanding of who we are. Through genetic studies we have gained insights into the mouse, chimpanzee, and many other organisms from different branches of the evolutionary tree, teaching us more about how life developed and what makes us, as humans, unique. What this knowledge can do is increase our understanding of disease, with the Cancer Genome Project, for example, hoping to identify new targets for drug therapies. What genetic knowledge cannot do is tell us in detail what our medical future is. Genetic research also raises important ethical and moral questions, and it is essential that research proceeds in a carefully regulated manner, retaining the confidence of the public.
LOSING TRUST IN CREDIT questioned, not least among funding-constrained 200 8 THE GLOBAL FINANCIAL COLLAPSE banks. Starved of bank credit, corporate distress Andy Haldane, Executive Director for Financial Stability, began to rise during the course of 2008, increasing Bank of England distrust between companies, in particular after the failure of Lehman Brothers in September 2008. THE WORDS ‘CREDIT crunch’ contain the seeds The stream of trade credit extended between firms of an explanation for both the longevity and severity to support their businesses dried to a trickle. of the current crisis, which has affected all sectors This progressive hardening of the credit arteries of society and every country in the world. In Latin, has also had effects between countries. Cross- credit means trust. Credit crunch is, in essence, a border flows of credit have reversed dramatically breakdown in trust. Between different parties at in the past six months, as a lack of trust in foreign different times, that loss of trust has been the root investments has returned with a vengeance. cause of the devastating impact felt by so many Through these successive waves, the world people since the credit crunch began in 2007. financial system has found itself with almost every The initial cause of the crisis was a breakdown link in the credit chain having been weakened or of trust between banks and households, specifically broken. The largest and most synchronous global sub-prime mortgage-holders in the United States. economic slowdown since the Great Depression As losses on these mortgages and other toxic assets has been the result. accumulated, trust between banks themselves was So how is trust, and thereby credit, to be impaired – leading to the inter-bank money markets restored? The answer to date has been to rely on seizing up from the second half of 2007 onwards. the one sector whose credit and trust has not been These funding pressures further constrained banks’ questioned: governments and central banks. There ability to lend to the real economy. has been large-scale provision of government and Damaged by losses on legacy assets and central bank credit over the past 18 months in an constrained in their ability to make profitable new attempt to ease pressures and repair breaks in the loans, this in turn raised questions about banks’ private sector credit chain. future viability and led to a loss of trust between These interventions have been unprecedented banks and non-bank investors in banks. Bank in size during peacetime, totalling well in excess failures further eroded this trust, and as banks’ of £10 trillion. Extending public sector credit on capital market funding dried up, credit conditions this scale relies on the deep pockets and prudence in the real economy tightened further. of our grandchildren. As such, it can be no more With increasingly severe cuts in credit, trust than a stop-gap – a temporary bridge – until private in the viability of some companies came to be sector trust can be restored. ■
14 SOCIETY NOW SUMMER 2009 CHARLIE JEFFERY OPINION A decade of devolution Since the Scottish Parliament opened in 1999, devolution has seen mixed results – but still enjoys broad support, says Professor Charlie Jeffery
ARELY CAN SUCH high expectations Parliament was overly idealistic. In particular it have been invested in a political underestimated the importance – and the logic – institution as the Scottish Parliament. of party competition. Political parties are central to The words Winnie Ewing MEP chose to the operation of the Scottish Parliament. Though Ropen its inaugural session on 12 May 1999 were not as ‘whipped’ as at Westminster, they generally immensely significant: “The Scottish Parliament, maintain high degrees of party discipline and, as at which adjourned on 25 March 1707, is hereby Westminster, oppose each other often for its own re-convened.” They were significant not just to sake. Convention and CSG also underestimated those who would prefer to see an independent the capacity of the ‘usual suspects’, especially Scotland, but also to the wider section of Scottish in the public sector and legal professions, to opinion that was comfortable with UK membership seamlessly establish insider status in the new but had become disillusioned with the way Scotland Scottish democracy. While new voices have been was governed within the UK. heard – through a more open committee structure, The experience of almost two decades governed including a very busy public petitions committee by a Conservative Party with, at best, fewer than – the old voices still speak loudest. one-third of the Westminster seats in Scotland None of this is meant to suggest that the had called the legitimacy of Scottish government Parliament has somehow failed in what it was into question. Devolution – the establishment of a Scottish Parliament accountable to a Scottish Public attitudes surveys show that electorate – was the response. Ten years ago, on 1 July 1999, the Scottish Parliament was the Scots firmly approve of having a officially opened. Parliament. Indeed, if anything, they The Parliament was expected to be the arena “ of a ‘new politics’, defined both positively and would like to see it do more negatively. Negatively it was about having a Parliament that was not like Westminster; too intended to achieve, but rather that the benchmark antiquated in practice, too remote and too much of a new politics was always a flawed one. But marked by a stylised ritual of opposition. there is a different benchmark, as expressed by ” In the first half of the 1990s much effort was Winnie Ewing ten years ago. That benchmark put into working out more positively how the future was about restoring legitimacy and accountability Scottish Parliament would deliver this new politics. to the government of Scotland. There is now Proportional representation was one part a Scottish democratic process (however ‘new’ of the mix, which would challenge adversary or ‘old’ its features might be) based on Scottish politics with a new brand of consensus. There was elections, and carried out through a Parliament also a commitment to see the Parliament work able to give due attention to, and assure the openly with ‘civil society’ and to open up the new legitimacy of, legislation and government action Scottish democracy to participation by others than in Scotland. Scottish voters, as recent ESRC the ‘usual suspects’ in powerful interest groups. research shows, make sophisticated judgements All this was to be hardwired into the design of the about that government action, not least the Parliament. The procedures were then worked out new and substantial Scottish statute book that in detail by a Consultative Steering Group (CSG) has built up since 1999. The ESRC-supported which aimed to put in place “a new sort public attitudes surveys show that the Scots of democracy in Scotland”. firmly approve of having a Parliament. Indeed, if These were high ambitions. The report card anything, they would like to see it do more. In this after ten years is mixed. The first years of the sense – the renewal of Scottish democracy – the Parliament were mired in controversy, in particular high expectations invested in the Parliament about the spiralling costs of the Parliament have certainly been met. ■ building. One consequence was a sharp dip in public assessments of the impact of the Parliament, i Professor Charlie Jeffery is Co-Director of the Institute of Governance exacerbated perhaps because the imagery of a new at the University of Edinburgh, and Director of the ESRC Devolution and politics raised such a level of expectation that the Constitutional Change Research Programme 2000-2005. performance of the Parliament in practice was Telephone +44 (0) 131 650 4266 Email [email protected] Web http://www.institute-of-governance.org always going to disappoint. Much of the story that Web http://www.devolution.ac.uk the Convention and the CSG created about the
SUMMER 2009 SOCIETY NOW 15 THE MICHAEL YOUNG PRIZE WINNERS 2009 Changing land policy Drylands in the Kalahari and uplands in the UK may be far apart, but both landscapes are affected by climate change. Michael Young Prize winner Dr Mark Reed tells Robert Ormerod how his research could help people adapt to a new climate
BELIEVE IT IS possible for Desertification. “They want guidance from the environmental research to make a research community on how they can better global impact and to make a difference combine local knowledge of environmental change “Ito people’s lives. When you live and with knowledge from the academic community to work in a forest for two months you gain a deep inform policy,” he says. understanding of the environment,” says Dr Reed, The UK uplands project has also constructively senior lecturer at the Department of Geosciences influenced a number of UK government initiatives. and Environmental Sustainability, University of The team’s recent review of the future of the Aberdeen. “Those have been some of my richest uplands is feeding into policy at the highest levels, and most educational experiences – impinging on and they have also been working closely with everything I do and how I relate to the world.” the Commission for Rural Communities, which Mark Reed is one of this year’s two Michael reports directly to the Prime Minister. Young Prize winners. The prize is awarded by the ESRC and the Young Foundation to an early career social science researcher whose research has the Dr Reed’s research on Kalahari drylands potential to make a far-reaching impact on society. is feeding into the UN Convention Dr Reed’s research looked into the impact of changing environments on the people who live to Combat Desertification and work in the UK uplands and the Kalahari drylands in Botswana. His work aims to help Winning the Michael Young Prize of £3,000 people monitor and adapt to future challenges in has allowed Dr Reed and his team to translate these different environments – not only protecting their findings and recommendations to the benefit their livelihoods, but also the ecosystems that they of farmers in Botswana. It will also allow them often depend on. to communicate their findings to people in UK When selecting his research area, Dr Reed uplands by producing information leaflets and an was looking for environmental issues which online video podcast to tell people how they can could bring real change to people’s lives. Local prepare for the challenges of the future. knowledge, he says, is a huge factor in the research: Dr Reed is passionate about making the “We chose our focus by asking local communities Dr Mark Reed research culture relevant to users. He is part of what the most significant problems were and what has looked into a new project on the ‘rural digital economy’. His we could most constructively work with them on. ” how climate work will look at the role of the digital economy change affects UK Dr Reed’s research on Kalahari drylands and Botswanian in supporting better decision-making and healthy is feeding into the UN Convention to Combat landscapes economies in UK uplands. “We are creating a web-based portal where it will be possible to look at how different benefits coming from a particular piece of land are changing over time” Mark says. Sensors embedded in the landscape will send real-time data to update online maps and graphs on the portal. He plans to create a ‘Hill View’ application where users can click on maps to see 360 degree landscape views, rate views and add their own photos. ■
By Robert Ormerod, freelance journalist i Preparing for the future: how can we anticipate, monitor and adapt to environmental change? Contact Dr Mark Reed Telephone +44 (0) 1224 273719 Email [email protected] ▲
16 SOCIETY NOW SUMMER 2009 The Society Now In Focus supplement gives an in-depth look at ESRC-funded research projects, programmes and activities Society ESRC STRATEGIC ■ The challenge ahead ■ Research and recover ow ■ Our strategic challenges ■ IN FOCUS PLAN The impacts of research THE CHALLENGE AHEAD Dr Alan Gillespie Chair of the ESRC
UR SOCIETIES ARE becoming more complex. Humankind is expanding, pushing the boundaries both of nature and culture. Knowledge about our world is becoming ever Omore important; the need to know – about society, about how we behave, interact and develop. Social sciences have become crucial in delivering knowledge about our man- made, ever-changing world. The breadth of knowledge that social science delivers is overwhelming, from the level of each individual to the global community, from deep studies of particular events to longitudinal studies stretching over decades. UK social science is at the forefront globally in providing new and crucial evidence, supporting policy and practice in all areas of society. As events over the last year have shown, human behaviour and interaction have a massive impact on our world. Social sciences strive to analyse and explain how society works, why we choose our particular actions and what kind of TODAY’S DIFFICULT ECONOMIC effect these actions have. Today’s diffi cult economic conditions CONDITIONS MAKE INVESTMENTS make investments in world-class social science research all the more IN WORLD-CLASS SOCIAL SCIENCE important. As well as uncovering RESEARCH ALL THE MORE IMPORTANT the causes and mechanisms involved in the collapse of fi nancial markets, research society, such as the public sector, business, voluntary can provide the means – knowledge, innovation and organisations and the research community itself. This economic impact – for moving out of the recession. is why the Strategic Plan will measure success by In order to address the issues facing our society, we looking at fi ve different impact objectives for ESRC- need a clear strategy for our social science research. The funded research – impacts through world-class social new ESRC Strategic Plan outlines the major research science research, through skilled people, world-class challenges ahead. They cover important aspects of infrastructure, partnerships and international leadership. our society – such as economy, environment, health, I believe that the ESRC Strategic Plan provides behaviour, security, innovation and social diversity. a good road map for research over the next fi ve years. In each area we aim to stimulate research and create By identifying key research areas and indicators of new knowledge with clear benefi ts to society. impact it focuses our strategic research efforts where Delivering the benefi ts of research is a core part of they are needed in these uncertain times. The world what we do. We are increasingly looking to maximise is changing. Our job is to fi nd out why, how and the impact of social science research in all parts of what it means. ■
Society Now IN FOCUS 1 Society NowIN FOCUS
TheRESEARCH Debating Matters competition is not just about winning, AND but bringing real issues RECOVER into public debate, as National Coordinator Tony Gilland tells Melanie Knetsch The time for strategic investment in social science research is now, argues ESRC’s Chief Executive, Professor Ian Diamond. He talks to David Walker about the potential of new research knowledge and its impact on the UK in times ahead
NE RESPONSE TO recession might be to pull the blankets over our head and wait for the storms to abate. But intellectual passivity isn’t really an option. Present actions shape Otomorrow’s opportunities. Retrenchment and withdrawal run the risk of narrowing future room for manoeuvre; intellectual passivity would shrink the knowledge economy. “What we will know and all that we can do on the basis of that knowledge – in economy, culture and society – depends on what today we seek to know,” muses Ian Diamond, the Chief Executive of the ESRC. We need to invest in knowledge now, precisely at the moment of economic downturn. That’s for two reasons, he says. One is to understand where we are and how we got here. “Boardroom decision-making proved inadequate in the face of the spiralling complexity of fi nancial innovation. Social scientists have to examine its results, looking at joblessness, corporate failure, international co-operation, the moves to protectionism. Then, yes, put their head on the block by suggesting remedies.” There’s another reason for immediate support of the knowledge base, and it applies not just to the social sciences. Ian Diamond joined with chief executives of the other research councils to write a letter to the Times in early June making the case for investment now. They had been quick – the letter was sent within days of the creation of the new department of business and the arrival of its secretary of state, Lord Mandelson. “A healthy and vibrant research base is crucial for responding to the economic downturn,” the letter said, “and as we emerge from these diffi culties it must remain a priority to ensure the future prosperity of the nation.” Ian Diamond’s perspective is shared by his colleagues across the disciplines. It’s not just the recession. The world
2 Society Now IN FOCUS is changing; witness the revolution in communication and government departments; social scientists talking to technologies and the rise of BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India their partners in biological, physical and technological and China) in a multipolar world. It’s the moment to fi elds and both talking to fi nance directors and company cement the extraordinary strength of UK research while chairs. Research needs to be positioned ‘further down the seizing new opportunities. innovation pathway’. The ESRC has just agreed its latest Strategic Plan, The ESRC’s plan embraces support and training for which runs from this year to 2014. It is published at researchers. It will push to apply advanced methods. It will a time of political and economic ferment, and there is create chances for social scientists to work across national more to come. Over the next fi ve years elections will boundaries, with colleagues from other countries. Its take place, for seats at Westminster, but also in 2010 investment in datasets and the infrastructure of research for the Scottish Parliament and the Welsh Assembly. will deepen. Fiscal adjustment is likely; that may be putting it mildly. “I’m going to steal a phrase from David Delpy,” Ian Debate is rife over the balance of spending, taxation and Diamond says (Delpy is Chief Executive of the Engineering borrowing. At the same time technology will advance, and Physical Science Research Council). “He said companies and families will be formed as the age structure researchers needed to be as passionate about the impact of shifts, people will migrate and the ‘deep’ currents of their research as they already are about its excellence. And economy, society and culture fl ow on. that is the space we are in. Some colleagues have said ‘you Society’s understanding of itself will also change, are pushing us to be practical, away from the science’. That as a result of the fi ndings and analyses of social science. couldn’t be more wrong. You only get impact with brilliant “We,” Ian Diamond explains, “play a part in shaping social science. and defi ning society’s self-understanding, guiding – by “Nor will this emphasis on impact disadvantage basic our grants and our identifi cation of priorities and the research, nor stifl e research creativity or scientifi c discovery. dissemination of new knowledge – with and through Excellence is and remains the primary criterion for funding. those who make policy and executive decisions in We’re not going gung ho. The research community needs business, government and the third sector.” to appreciate that we’re not going to disadvantage excellent research that doesn’t have obvious or immediate impact. That said, we SOCIETY’S UNDERSTANDING OF ITSELF need the community to work with us WILL ALSO CHANGE AS A RESULT OF to demonstrate research’s impact on society, which is why it is vital to go THE FINDINGS OF SOCIAL SCIENCE on investing in it.” And also important, Ian Diamond The Strategic Plan is at once a map, an aspiration adds, is demonstrating results – showing what the social and a prospectus. The world is dynamic and perhaps science endeavour accomplishes. The ESRC has pushed more unstable, but as Ian Diamond notes: “One of the evaluation. It has recently been looking closely, as in purposes of research is to puncture hyperbole by making previous years, at what it as a funding agency – and the cool comparisons across space and time.” The plan tries country at large – is getting from the £106 million spent to encompass this, setting out where social scientists will on research in 2007-2008. Such outputs as books, papers work and the tools they will need. and seminars add to knowledge in the conventional The promise is to deepen and expand collective sense. But in addition, wider dissemination shapes (and understanding of where the UK is and where it is heading, sometimes subverts) common understandings. Assessing of course in a global context. Much intellectual effort the impact of research on policy is subtler. Many factors will go into the ‘core’, mainstream disciplines such as infl uence decisions in ministries and parliaments, but it economics, sociology and psychology. “However, value can be done. For example, the ESRC Centre for Economic added by social science will increasingly be found in Performance at the London School of Economics clearly interdisciplinary work,” states Ian Diamond. “The natural shaped the design of the national minimum wage and physical sciences are extending the boundaries of introduced in 2001, and the ESRC Centre for Skills, what is technically possible, say in nanotechnology or Knowledge and Organisational Performance at the genomics. We need to be alongside, appraising the social Universities of Oxford and Cardiff had an unmistakable and economic implications. infl uence on the Scottish government’s skills strategy. “Hard and soft, they used to say. But we can all “Evolving empirical understanding of the socio- now see that unpacking and explaining behaviour is economic environment, informed by collaboration distinctly rugged. Take innovation, which used to refer with scientists seeking to explain the physical and biological to technological fi xes. Now we know it’s as much about world, is the only basis of sound decision-making,” Ian organisations and ways of working and attitudes – social Diamond concludes. “I am convinced, and I hope the science – as what happens in laboratories and testing analysis and examples laid out in the Strategic Plan sheds. Innovation is about connecting and transferring will bring others along.” ■ knowledge – far from ‘soft’, let me tell you.” The UK needs – it is argued – to bring discovery and By David Walker, former editor of Guardian Public magazine application closer, to shorten the ‘innovation chain’. That and Managing Director of Communications and Public means more partnerships between researchers, fi rms Reporting, the Audit Commission
Society Now IN FOCUS 3 Society NowIN FOCUS OUR STRATEGIC CHALLENGES In developing the ESRC Strategic Plan 2009-2014, the ESRC has relied upon extensive consultation to identify key strategic areas for economic and social research. Here are our seven strategic challenges for the next fi ve years – building both on current research efforts and new, emerging areas for social science
ENVIRONMENT, ENERGY AND RESILIENCE By 2030, global demand for energy and food is predicted to double. Environmental and climate change will pose important threats to food security, to health and to economic prosperity around the world. Social science has provided evidence on the costs of environmental change and the impacts of interventions to reduce emissions. Energy use, security and trade, food and water consumption and greenhouse gas emissions are all social and economic issues, for which research is needed to meet the challenges ahead. The ESRC is committed to developing research in a range of key areas, including drivers and implications of environmental change; the impact of the economic downturn and measures to combat it on long-term environmental change goals; environmental behaviours, practices and policy and how they can be changed to promote sustainability; the interdependence between GLOBAL ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE, alleviating poverty, sustaining economic and social POLICY AND MANAGEMENT development, resilience to environmental change and the The fi nancial market collapse and the ensuing recession human impact on natural systems; food security in the have created an urgent need for research and knowledge UK and globally; development of a common framework – about fi nancial markets, public intervention, for geo-spatial data to improve monitoring, simulation and unemployment and poverty. Social scientists will be development of interventions for sustainability; and new expected to examine the causes of the crisis, the resulting research capacity through studentships and fellowships at economic and social distress, and possible solutions. the interface of environmental and social science. The ESRC is committed to supporting new research in several areas: macro-economic performance and how markets, institutions and policies work together; the impact of public policy interventions on individual and institutional responses to the crisis; improvement of global economic governance; reduction of poverty among the poorest countries; investment in international datasets (such as those available from the World Bank and International Monetary Fund); access to data resources within emerging economies; and strengthened capacity in macro-economics research. HEALTH AND WELLBEING Inequalities in health and wellbeing are stark both within the UK and worldwide. In our own society life expectancy can differ over 20 years for communities just a few miles apart. Internationally, the gap widens to over 40 years. The relationship between social, economic and environmental drivers of health has been shown to operate not only within national boundaries but also, increasingly, between countries in a worldwide economy. The ESRC will support research underpinning interventions to promote improved physical and psychological wellbeing, better social care, healthy ageing and the reduction of obesity and infectious disease. It is also committed to a comparative programme on how to reduce physical and psychological health inequalities; investments in birth cohort studies; access and use of e- health records; and new research capacity through training © iStockphoto schemes at the interface of biomedical and social sciences.
4 Society Now IN FOCUS UNDERSTANDING INDIVIDUAL BEHAVIOUR SOCIAL DIVERSITY AND POPULATION DYNAMICS The success of new measures or policies tackling social Local, national and transnational communities are being and economic issues ultimately depends on the behaviour transformed by changing patterns of migration, economic and response of people themselves. However, links opportunity, environmental change, fertility, ageing and between social, biological and environmental factors new family and household dynamics. Rapid social change and individual behaviours, choices and outcomes are demands rethinking of how societies defi ne and pursue still far from clear. We need to integrate the insights collective goals. Understanding the extent and implications and methods from contemporary biology and medical of these changes will require new research contributions sciences with those of social scientists in seeking to from the social sciences. understand individual behaviour. The ESRC will support research on the global levels of Further cross-disciplinary research is needed on childbearing; on how neighbourhoods and communities behaviour with inherent risks, for example in areas enhance economic, cultural and educational opportunity, such as fi nance and purchasing, as well as criminal and on necessary interventions to achieve greater security, and antisocial behaviours; research for new interventions prosperity and a less fractured society; on the challenges of at individual, family, community and society levels to democratic renewal in the UK and beyond; on the interplay affect individual behaviour; multi-method approaches of migration, ageing, fertility and place in affecting to data analysis from panel and cohort studies to improve individual and family resilience; and research access to understanding of behaviour complexities; and new population records and linkage with other sources of data. research capacity through targeted studentships and postdoctoral fellowships. NEW TECHNOLOGY, INNOVATION AND SKILLS
Economic resilience depends on the capacity of people, © iStockphoto fi rms and governments to innovate and create new skills, products, processes and policies. Already, 40 per cent of the UK’s value added arises from knowledge-intensive services and high-tech manufacturing. The economic downturn creates an opportunity to rebalance the economy as investment moves into new areas where the UK could gain an advantage. Social scientists need more than ever to play an active role in innovation, demonstrating how social, economic and political drivers shape new technologies. The ESRC will support research and knowledge transfer on the challenges and opportunities of innovation; development and impact of key technologies including nanotechnologies, renewable energy, healthcare technologies and the next generation of the digital economy; new technologies to develop research methodology, and the application of new methodologies in order to exploit data resources and innovate e-infrastructure. SECURITY, CONFLICT AND JUSTICE Confl icts over identity and competition over resources affect the security of individuals, communities and states. Struggles over identity have torn apart countries and radicalised citizens, and confl icts over resources In each challenge area our strategic aim is to stimulate and are likely to intensify given the growing scarcity of steer the creation of knowledge that will have a tangible water, food and materials, exacerbated by the impact economic and social benefi t. We measure success by of environmental change. Research will seek greater pursuing fi ve impact objectives in each area. They are: understanding of the nature and causes of insecurity, ■ Impact through world-class social science research as well as the origins and dynamics of confl ict and the ■ Impact through skilled people role of social justice. ■ Impact through world-class infrastructure The ESRC will lead and develop the RCUK Global ■ Impact through international leadership Uncertainties Programme; support research on multi- ■ Impact through partnerships level governance of security and sustainment of human dignity, freedom from threat and opportunities to develop Each of these objectives will extend the reach of our people, potential; and on identifying any gaps in data resources their work, the tools and methodologies they apply and and research capacity to underpin work on security, their collaboration with other stakeholders in science, confl ict and justice. government, business and the community. ■
Society Now IN FOCUS 5 Society NowIN FOCUS THE IMPACTS OF RESEARCH These case studies from the new Strategic Plan show how ESRC-funded research has changed policy and practice, and made a difference to various parts of society
RESPONDING TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE theatre teams. This work is leading to the development A groundbreaking study on domestic violence has of reliable assessment tools and training interventions shaped policy and directly impacted on the lives of for surgeons’ decision-making and communications mothers and children. Professor Audrey Mullender’s skills. A method to provide individualised feedback on research from the ESRC’s Children 5-16 Research decision-making has been exploited successfully by the Programme has informed debates about legal reforms Royal College of Surgeons. to childcare legislation, resulting in amendments to the Children Act 1989. This research has also GAME TIME FOR PUPILS infl uenced policy initiatives and frameworks, such A software tool that enables teenagers to create their as the Department for Children, Schools and Families’ own computer games has been developed by Professor programme ‘Every Child Matters’. David Buckingham as part of the People at the Centre of Communication and Information Technologies PUTTING A PRICE ON NATURE Programme. Allowing pupils to use the MissionMaker Researchers from the Centre for Social and Economic application in the classroom has helped researchers Research on the Global Environment have developed identify key elements of game literacy and develop a methodology for assessing the economic value of teaching materials for the principles of game design. freshwater and marine environmental systems. The The MissionMaker is now used in over 200 schools and results of this research are now being applied by the is part of the Institute of Education’s Masters programmes. Environment Agency to the marine environment and The software is being developed further by a company the management of catchments, as required by the EU for the commercial market. Water Framework Directive. HELPING SURGEONS PERFORM SURGEONS’ SKILLS ARE BEING Surgeons’ operating skills are being honed using HONED USING RESEARCH research by Dr Nick Sevdalis at the ESRC Centre for Economic Learning and Social Evolution. He has FROM THE ESRC CENTRE developed methods to assess decision-making skills FOR ECONOMIC LEARNING by surgeons in a simulated operating theatre using high fi delity surgical mannequins and full operating AND SOCIAL EVOLUTION
6 Society Now IN FOCUS IMPROVING OLDER PEOPLE’S LIVES The charity Help the Aged has used fi ndings from Professor Thomas Scharf’s research into older people and social exclusion in its ‘Stop Pensioner Poverty Now’ campaign. The research informed the development of the campaign, as well as the charity’s work relating to fear of crime. Co-operation with the research team has also supported the charity’s engagement with Pakistani and Somali communities in Manchester and Liverpool in order to improve older people’s living conditions. REDUCED DRUG RISK An ESRC-funded collaborative CASE studentship between the University of Plymouth and Plymouth Drug & Alcohol Action Team has infl uenced local drug-related policy and practice. Research by Stephen Parkin, with supervisor Dr Ross Coomber, revealed how places produced risks, how policing and other service activities displaced rather than resolved risk, and led to new practices such as locating safe injecting outlets in places of need. DRIVE FOR SAFETY A partnership between Cranfi eld University and Arriva HELP THE AGED HAS USED Passenger Services, sponsored by the ESRC and the Technology Strategy Board, improved bus driver training FINDINGS FROM RESEARCH and safety awareness. The project led to the development INTO OLDER PEOPLE IN ITS of a simulator for new bus drivers, a psychometric driver assessment and safety guidelines at bus depots. As a ‘STOP PENSIONER POVERTY result, the company’s insurance claims were reduced by NOW’ CAMPAIGN over £1 million, staff turnover was reduced from 24 per cent to 20 per cent and absenteeism went down from 6.1 per cent to 4.5 per cent. A spinout company is exploiting CONTROLLING WITHOUT CONFRONTING the commercial potential of the Bus Driver Risk Index, the Studying behaviour at football matches has helped to psychometric assessment of bus drivers’ reactions. ■ establish why some situations spark aggression and riots. Dr Clifford Stott has shown that avoiding the use of heavy-handed tactics, such as automatically sending out a riot squad for crowd control, can help maintain control in potentially hostile situations. A less confrontational atmosphere is created if the police are wearing normal uniforms, move in pairs and interact with the crowd. Dr Stott’s research has been included in a European Union handbook on controlling violence at international football matches, and he is now helping to set up a pan-European police training programme on match safety. IMPROVING SECURITY IN WAR-TORN COUNTRIES As part of the New Security Challenges Programme Professor Paul Collier has studied security risks in post- confl ict countries. His research with colleague Anke Hoeffl er indicates that a recovering economy is a crucial element for sustained peace, while an external military force (such as the UN peacekeeping operations) can be an effective way of deterring further confl ict. Professor Collier’s work has led to signifi cant input in international policy; he was appointed senior advisor to the Prime Minister’s Africa Commission which reported to the G8 summit in 2005, as well as advisor to the World Bank and resource person for the UN Secretary-General’s High Level Panel on Security.
Society Now IN FOCUS 7 Society NowIN FOCUS STRATEGIC PLAN ONLINE Find out more about the Strategic Plan, challenges, objectives and impacts on our website
S WELL AS a print publication, the ESRC Strategic Plan is available online as a dynamic website. It offers easy access to different sections of the plan, including Athe strategic challenges and objectives, past achievements and future priorities, as well as 19 case studies illustrating impact from different types of ESRC-funded research. The website will continually develop and include new content over time, refl ecting progress in research activities. We will be presenting much of the content in multimedia formats such as podcasts, videos and animations. In this way you can follow ESRC’s strategic activities as they develop, and see how we meet our strategic challenges for the years ahead. For more information, please visit the website at www.esrcsocietytoday.ac.uk/strategicplan ■ istockphoto ©
8 Society Now IN FOCUS THE MICHAEL YOUNG PRIZE WINNERS 2009 Tackling the blood trade Contaminated blood supplies in the 1970s and 80s led to the deaths of nearly 2,000 haemophiliacs in the UK alone. Helen Pickles reports on how research by Michael Young Prize winner Carol Grayson revealed inadequate procedures and a profit-obsessed blood trade
▲ HEN CAROL GRAYSON saw the advert in known; inadequate blood provision policies; and a her local paper in 2005 – ‘MA in Gender, commercial blood trade putting profit above safety. Culture and Development’ – her world Carol’s research provided evidence for the Archer Wflipped. “I felt it could have been designed Inquiry on NHS Supplied Contaminated Blood and for me,” she recalls. Her husband, Peter Longstaff, Blood Products, whose recommendations included a haemophiliac, had died a few months earlier from substantially increasing compensation to affected hepatitis C, after being infected by contaminated UK haemophiliacs. It has also become the basis of NHS blood supplies. Carol, exhausted after 15 years BBC2 Newsnight reports and press articles, and has of caring for her husband and campaigning on been issued on CD for anyone to access. “I heard the behalf of haemophiliacs, could not face returning average PhD is read by five or six people,” says Carol. to a conventional job. The MA, at the University “I was horrified! I want this to reach as many people of Sunderland, gave her the opportunity to study as possible and have them benefit from my work.” Safeguards to protect against infectious diseases were absent or inadequate and warnings ignored
issues in which she had always been interested, plus carry out more research into the international blood trade. Her final dissertation, which examined the ethics and politics of the global blood trade and its impact on the UK haemophiliac community, caused uncomfortable reading in government circles. The importance of Carol’s research has been recognised in her winning the Michael Young Prize. During the 1970s and 1980s, the NHS imported blood products, typically from US plasma companies, Carol Grayson with Apart from the financial help, the chief benefit to top up shortfalls in domestic supplies. Some of the her husband, Peter of winning the Michael Young Prize, says Carol, is Longstaff, who original blood came from donors who were paid for died as a result of the credibility it has given her. “It’s easy to dismiss their contributions, such as prisoners; sometimes contaminated blood me as a weeping widow – which I am. But I’m also with the use of unsafe equipment. Safeguards to a researcher and an academic. It’s opened doors.” protect against infectious diseases were inadequate She has been invited to join or contribute to advisory and warnings ignored – resulting in over 4,500 UK groups, including the Coalition on Blood Safety and haemophiliacs being infected with hepatitis C and SaBTO (Department of Health advisory committee around 1,200 infected with HIV. Nearly 2,000 died. The Michael Young on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs); she is Prize was set up in Carol had begun researching while her husband honour of the late taken seriously by the medical profession; and she was still alive why such practices were allowed, but Lord Michael Young has written on blood issues for national publications. it was a 2006 UK Department of Health report that of Darlington by the Provided she can get further funding, Carol intends provided the focus for her dissertation. “It looked at ESRC and the Young to continue her research and campaigning on the blood policy from the early 70s to the early 90s, a key Foundation. It is global blood supply ‘business’, with the ultimate aim awarded to an early time for haemophiliacs. I realised it was a whitewash. career social science of making it 100 per cent non-remunerated. ■ It was more interesting for what it left out,” she says. researcher whose work Her research sought to challenge the has the potential to By Helen Pickles, freelance journalist government line that haemophiliacs became make a positive and far-reaching impact. infected through an ‘unavoidable accident’. i Blood flows not just through our veins but through our minds: How has Web http://www. the global politics of blood impacted on the UK haemophilia community? Among her findings were allegedly destroyed esrcsocietytoday. Contact Carol Grayson documents proving contamination risks were ac.uk/young
SUMMER 2009 SOCIETY NOW 17 TURNING THE TABLES Turning the tables With the next school term approaching, pupils entering secondary school face the difficult decision of school choice. But don’t place too much trust in league tables – research shows they don’t say much about future school performance, having more effect on local house prices instead. Mandy Garner reports
S A COUNTRY, England is obsessed with on schools’ value-added GCSE results, since these league tables. We have league tables for are considered a fairer way of comparing schools hospitals, for schools and for universities. than simple school average GCSE performance. AThe idea is that they make public services The value-added results take into account not only more accountable to the public and give them pupils’ test scores but other social factors when better information on which to base choices they arrive at secondary school, such as the average about those services. But what if that information level of achievement of their class. is totally meaningless? Using a representative sample of 266 schools, Research from the ESRC Centre for Market the researchers show just how unreliable schools’ and Public Organisation (CMPO) shows that current performance is as a guide to their future when it comes to choosing a secondary school performance. When that unreliability is accounted the information published in league tables is for, only a handful of schools can be separated from so unreliable that it effectively makes the tables each other ‘with an acceptable degree of precision’. worthless. The reason is that it can only show the “It is very surprising that no-one has current performance of schools, based on pupils commented on just how unreliable the figures are who have just taken their GCSE exams, whereas as guides to schools’ future performance,” says what parents are really concerned about is how George Leckie. “We all know the famous maxims schools will perform in the future when their about stocks and shares: ‘your investments may go own children take their exams. up or down’ and ‘past performance is not a reliable The research by Professor Harvey Goldstein League tables can indicator of future performance’. The same applies and Mr George Leckie is published in the CMPO only reflect schools’ to schools’ performance in league tables.” current exam working paper The Limitations of Using School performance, rather School league tables became a feature in League Tables to Inform School Choice. It focuses than future potential England in the early 1990s and, although the The important thing is for parents not to place too much weight on any single source of information – and be aware of the limitations and issues involved
government itself does not publish rankings of schools, it supplies the raw material that the media use to produce them. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have either never introduced them or have stopped publishing them. Researchers say that now seems a good time for England to follow suit. In the meantime, while the tables continue to be published, the authors say that the public needs to have a better understanding of how to interpret the figures and to be aware of their limitations. They agree that all forms of information, including Ofsted reports and word of mouth, have their flaws, but the important thing is for parents not to place too much weight on any single source of information – and be aware of the limitations and issues involved. The research has wider implications for social policy, Leckie adds. “The main message suggests
18 SOCIETY NOW SUMMER 2009 Turning the tables
that the information which is currently published Parents focus mainly into account the existence of private schools you in league tables, whether it be for schools or on exam results will misinterpret policy. Having that outside option when considering hospitals, is less reliable than implied by the school data makes it harder to reduce social inequalities.” published statistics. The government needs to do He is interested in whether extending the choice its utmost to make sure that the information it of public schools pupils can attend – for instance by publishes is accurate and reliable and useful for redesigning the catchment area policy – might push the purpose of making informed choices. Crucially, up schools’ results across the board. The debate whatever information is provided must come with over extending school choice figured prominently all the necessary ‘health warnings’.” in the recent French presidential elections. Grenet Dr Julien Grenet, a research economist from says initial results from an experiment in the 1990s the ESRC Centre for Economic Performance, showed it was middle class parents who lived in is also interested in the impact performance areas with low performing schools who benefited tables have on social policy. His ESRC-funded – not the bright children from poor families. “When research with Gabrielle Fack from the Universitat you give people choice, it’s all about who takes Pompeu Fabra looks at the interaction between advantage of that choice,” he adds. residential choice and school choice both in France Like Professor Goldstein and Mr Leckie, Julien and the UK. Dr Grenet points out that although Grenet agrees that parents focus mainly on exam the education system in France has its own results when they look at school data. “They don’t peculiarities, the research has broader implications. understand things like value-added,” he says. “It Previous research on the link between house is important to recognise that school league tables prices and school performance has focused are not the ultimate solution to improving the mainly on primary schools. Grenet and Fack’s school system.” ■ research looks at middle schools where pupils are aged 11 to 15. Not only do they compare house Mandy Garner, freelance education journalist and former prices on the borders of catchment areas, but they features editor of the Times Higher Education Supplement factor in the impact of private schools in the area – something that has not been looked at before. i CMPO working paper: The Limitations of Using School League The research shows that while a 10 per cent Tables to Inform School Choice increase in a school’s test scores raised housing Contact George Leckie Email [email protected] Web http://www.bris.ac.uk/cmpo/publications/papers/2009/wp208. prices by roughly 1.5 per cent, the existence of pdf (PDF 671 KB) private schools had a mitigating effect. Web http://www.bristol.ac.uk/cmpo “It gives another option to parents and breaks School Enrollment Policies, Housing Markets and Pupil Performance the link between housing and school choice,” says in France and the United Kingdom Dr Grenet. “It also shows that in terms of reducing Contact Julien Grenet Email [email protected] social segregation in schools, if you do not take Web http://cep.lse.ac.uk
SUMMER 2009 SOCIETY NOW 19 THE UK BY NUMBERS THE UK BY NUMBERS LEISURE AND CULTURE Here we present an at-a-glance overview of the key issues in Britain today, focusing on leisure and culture. All statistics are from the Offi ce of National Statistics unless stated
OVERSEAS RESIDENTS’ VISITS TO THE UK AND UK RESIDENTS’ VISITS ABROAD Holidays In millions UK VISITS ABROAD 80 45.4m 36% 3.6m OVERSEAS VISITS TO UK The record number of all visits abroad by UK residents in (11 per cent) of visits to the 70 of holiday trips 2007 were to either Spain or France. UK in 2007 came from 60 abroad made by Other countries that attracted an the USA – the most from UK residents in increased number of visits from UK any one country. This was 50 2007 – an increase residents included Tunisia (up 31 per followed by France, Germany, 40 of 56 per cent cent from 2006), Poland (up 26 per Irish Republic, Spain, the since 1997. cent), and Latvia (up 25 per cent). Netherlands, Italy and Poland. 30 20 “Travel makes a wise man better, and a fool worse” 10 Thomas Fuller (1608-1661) British clergyman and author
1987 1992 1997 2002 2007
Media and internet 44% 49% 87% The percentage of people aged of all those aged or nearly nine in 15 and over in Great Britain eight to 17 in the ten homes in the who read a national daily UK who use the UK had a digital newspaper in the 12 months internet had a television service to June 2008, compared with page or profi le on at the end of the 72 per cent in the 12 months a social networking fi rst quarter of to June 1978. site in 2007. 2008.
HOUSEHOLDS WITH SELECTED CD PLAYER HOME COMPUTER DURABLE GOODS, UK In per cent MOBILE PHONE INTERNET ACCESS 100
80
60
40
20
0
3
1996/7 1998/99 2000/01 2002/0
20 SOCIETY NOW SUMMER 2009 Leisure 8 out of 10 164.2m 45.3% Watching TV was the most Total number of cinema of adults attended common leisure activity for over admissions in Britain in 2008. a museum, gallery eight in ten men and women in The summer marked the or archive during England in 2006/07 (84 per cent highest number of admissions the past 12 and 85 per cent respectively). for 40 years, with more months. Spending time with family and than 50 million admissions Source Taking friends was the second most between June and August. Part: The National popular activity for 82 per cent of Source Cinema Advertising Survey of Culture, women and 75 per cent of men. Association Leisure and Sport
AMOUNT OF TIME SPENT ON ACTIVITIES SLEEP Hours and minutes per day RESTING MALE FEMALE PERSONAL CARE EATING, DRINKING
© iStockphoto LEISURE EMPLOYMENT HOUSEWORK CHILDCARE 39.9% 75% VOLUNTARY of adults used of women were WORK a public library more likely to TRAVEL service during the shop in their OTHER past 12 months. free time Source Taking – compared Part: The National with just over Survey of Culture, half of men (53 “Increased means and increased leisure are the Leisure and Sport per cent). two civilizers of man” Benjamin Disraeli
Sports 30% 14% (or three in ten) of men had played adults had not football in the “Olympics: a lifetime of participated in last four weeks training for just ten seconds.” any active sport compared to two Jesse Owens (African-American athlete) in last 12 months per cent of women, 1936 Summer Olympics during 2005/06. making it one of Source NHS Statistics the sports with the PERCENTAGE OF YOUNG PEOPLE UNDERTAKING SPORTS on obesity, physical biggest difference FREQUENTLY (10 TIMES OR MORE) IN SCHOOL activity and diet between the sexes. © iStockphoto
40 ALL YOUNG PEOPLE 35 YOUNG DISABLED PEOPLE 30 25 20 15 10 5 0
Gym
Tennis Dance Netball Hockey Cycling Cricket Walking Running/ jogging classes Aerobics Football Baseball asketball Athletics Rounders Swimming Badminton Horse riding B
SUMMER 2009 SOCIETY NOW 21 22 SOCIETY NOW SUMMER 2009 VOICES POLLY TOYNBEE
The social vocalist
Polly Toynbee, Guardian columnist and former BBC social affairs editor, talks to Sophie Goodchild about labour relations, the importance of research, the impact of recession and how she has given up being a socialist…
SOPHIE GOODCHILD Polly, I wonder if you would start The most important and illuminating stories in by outlining your career? social affairs always depend on underpinning POLLY TOYNBEE Well, I had a scholarship to Oxford by serious research. but left halfway through. It was the 60s and less essential to go to university and get a degree, so SG Were you drawn into focusing on social issues in I went to work in a factory. I’d written a novel particular by chance? [called Leftovers] and had this absurd idea that if you PT My family was very socially and politically aware, worked with your hands during the day your mind very Labour [her great-great uncle Arnold Toynbee would be ‘pure’ for writing in the evenings. But was a philanthropist and economic historian]. My not many people who work in factories are writing father became a communist and my mother was in the evenings. It’s not conducive to writing – a kind of social worker. But I think I just became it numbs the brain. very interested in the world of work itself and the After that, I got a temporary job at the Observer. nature of work. The theme of my book A Working Someone was away sick so I filled in on the gossip Life was based on the same old theme that most column. The Observer was a terrific paper in those people who do these jobs are really very bright, days. If you came up with a good feature idea and and capable of much more. Monkeys could they liked it, even if you were the most junior do these jobs. For me, it felt very comfortable person, they would tell you to go and do it. So I did writing on these issues. It was very much about a lot of feature reporting on big strikes and then exploring human social relations, about people in very fraught situations and The most important and confrontations and seeing both points of view. They were very illuminating stories in social affairs exciting and interesting times. always depend on underpinning Now there is very little about “ working lives in television drama by serious research or in reporting. they said, “Why don’t you go off and write SG What does it mean to be a socialist in today’s a book?” And off I went. The jobs I took were in materialistic society? a car parts factory in Birmingham, ”and in the Lyons PT Ah. It’s a not a word I bother using any more. cake factory, as an orderly. That got me into writing There are no real socialists left. In the early days about labour relations and to where I am now. I was regarded by my colleagues [at the Guardian] as a ‘moderate’, but now I’m classed as on the Left. Not SG During your time as a social affairs editor, did you find that I’ve moved. For a long time now I’ve defined social science research useful as a resource? myself as a social democrat. We stopped calling PT Yes, I have always used a lot of social science ourselves socialists because that implied there was research. The Institute for Fiscal Studies is an egalitarian nirvana that you were inevitably a resource no serious journalist could ever do heading towards. But the point about being a social without, always available to answer economic democrat is that you follow the Scandinavian model, and fiscal questions with facts against which to which is based on a very sound economy and where check political claims by all parties. The Centre people live much more equal lives. for Analysis of Social Exclusion is a vital reference point for any journalist interested in research on SG How will the recession affect us? Can we expect a inequality and poverty, while The King’s Fund ‘harder’, less caring society – or the opposite? and Birmingham and York Universities are PT Well, it hasn’t yet hit us fully. Unemployment indefatigable resources for health economics is due to rise again sharply and it will be a while and research. Tony Travers at the London School before a lot of people have been out of work for of Economics is everyone’s essential expert some time – a while before it becomes scary. But for research in local government and finance. if you look at British social attitudes in times of
SUMMER 2009 SOCIETY NOW 23 VOICES POLLY TOYNBEE
high unemployment, people tend to get a lot more not much we can do. Look, Labour tried hard and sympathetic towards benefits, dole – all of that stuff. they failed.” On the other hand, I have a feeling When society can ‘see it’, when it’s their father, their David Cameron will be very embarrassed if the rate daughter, their son… when they know someone of child poverty soars. who’s had their house repossessed through no fault of their own, then all of a sudden it clicks that this is SG How important is social research in reflecting the views something that just happens to people. of people and our society? But we should be cautious – there may be a lot PT People are very shocked about issues like Baby P more hardship to come. The fact is we don’t know and dysfunctional lives. They really do want to know how long the recession will last. Yet every single what they can do. We did a focus group for a Fabian prediction is that unemployment will take a very Society report, organised by MORI. They were all long time to hit, as it did last time. People have been middle-Englanders, people who had voted different holding their breath hoping that it [the recession] will go away, but it If you look at British social attitudes won’t. You’ll get some people, older people, who’ll never work again. in times of high unemployment, people You’ve already got evidence they’re “tend to get a lot more sympathetic being laid off first. The Institute for Fiscal Studies says that as ever it’s towards benefits, dole – all that stuff also the young and recently qualified and the poorest who are taking the heaviest hit. ways – real ‘middle middles’. None of them had heard about the Poverty Pledge and they all SG What are the main challenges ahead for policymakers ” thought poverty was inevitable. But when they were and politicians? presented with the figures of how much difference PT I think we’re going to go through very tough Sure Start had made, they all got quite enthusiastic. times. You have a Tory party that now says, “Oh When they heard that 600,000 fewer children look, Labour’s wildly overspent. We’re going to were living in poverty they got very engaged. It was have to make cuts”. And now they have what seems something they could perceive. Once they were to be the perfect opportunity and people seem to given the statistics, for example, on kids who had have bought into it because it’s a very simplistic not been on holidays, they were quite shocked. It Polly Toynbee (right) economic view. But it’s not as simple as that. Even makes it more real and shows the importance of with the creator Mrs Thatcher didn’t come into power promising real ‘social’ research. People’s stories, experiences, of the Atheist Bus cuts. That wasn’t until her 1981 Geoffrey Howe their descriptions about real life all matter. It’s about Campaign, Ariane Sherine, and budget, which was really ruthless and cut right in presenting true life by telling the stories of real Professor Richard the depths of the recession. people. It’s what I started out doing and have always Dawkins, author of Poverty is another issue. Tony Blair pledged to tried to do – really talking to people about their The God Delusion, halve child poverty by 2010. We’re only halfway views and perceptions. ■ in front of a London bus featuring the there, which allows the Tories to say, “It was a good campaign’s slogan idea, but the poor are always with us and there’s Sophie Goodchild, an editor on the Evening Standard PA Photos ©
24 SOCIETY NOW SUMMER 2009 The recession in view
Recession Britain is the ESRC’s forthcoming publication providing the latest research evidence on the current economic downturn. Reporting on its impact towards our labour markets, our businesses and our lives, it is an essential read for everyone.
OutOut SSeptembereptember 22009,009, fforor mmoreore iinformationnformation ppleaselease ee-mail-mail [email protected]@esrc.ac.uk
PublishedPublished byby thethe Economic andand SSocialocial RResearchesearch CCouncilouncil TOURISM: AVOIDING THE GUILT TRIPS Avoiding the guilt trips Heading abroad for the summer holiday? You might hope to contribute to the local economy into the bargain, but research shows global tourism cuts both ways – alleviating or contributing to poverty. Sarah Womack examines 21st century tourism
OR MANY PEOPLE, travelling is one of Barnett of the charity Tourism Concern summed life’s great pleasures. As the travel writer up the impact of tourism, conservation and human Bill Bryson puts it: “The greatest reward and livelihoods in the Independent. “The slogan for the Fluxury of travel is to be able to experience most environmentally friendly travelling used to be: everyday things as if for the first time, to be in a ‘Take nothing but photographs, leave nothing but position in which almost nothing is so familiar it is footprints’. How times have changed. The footprint taken for granted.” we now talk about is a human rights footprint. It This helps explain why, by 2020, three times includes the environment, the economy and the as many people will travel as they do today; that’s social and cultural impacts of tourism.” 1.6 billion people. At the same time, air prices are Figures show that tourism generates £400 plummeting. As one respondent commented on billion in trade each year, and employs 220 million the ESRC project Promoting Sustainable Travel: workers. Eleven out of the world’s 12 poorest “All of a sudden, flights are so cheap. It’s actually countries are dependent on it for a significant part cheaper for me to get that flight, go to Poland and of their foreign exchange and jobs. Yet as little as spend a week there than to go to Cornwall or visit 10 per cent of the price of a holiday can remain friends in Edinburgh.” in the local economy. From 2000 to 2005 the But is our love affair with travel and with money flowing into Africa from tourism more than tourism going to cost us the earth? It is widely doubled from £6.3 billion to £13 billion, yet poverty recognised that the way we travel has implications levels remain high. for the environment and its sustainability. What So how can we prevent our trips turning into we take from our travels might be just that – taking guilt trips? A series of ESRC-funded seminars A traditional dance as opposed to giving back, a selfish one-way put on for tourists hosted by three universities and other ESRC- relationship that benefits only the traveller. Tricia in Uganda funded research projects are looking at the key What we take from our travels might be just that – taking as opposed to giving back, a selfish one-way relationship that benefits only the traveller
issues of tourism and sustainability in a bid to inform current thinking. The seminar series Tourism, Inequality and Social Justice is coordinated by Cara Aitchison, Professor of Leisure and Tourism Studies at the University of Bedfordshire. “As the world’s largest industry, tourism is frequently celebrated as a significant process of economic, social and cultural development, but is often hidden as a site of social exclusion, inequality and injustice,” she says. Highlighting the paradox of tourism, Professor Aitchison explains that it can both contribute to and alleviate inequality, poverty and social injustice, at scales ranging from the local to the global. “Tourism studies has come of age as an area of theoretically informed applied research that can have a real impact in changing lives, communities and economies in a truly global sense,” she adds.
26 SOCIETY NOW SPRING 2009 Avoiding the guilt trips
The first seminar, at the University of the West Tourists exploring Impenetrable National Park, home to endangered of England in Bristol, focused on ‘fairly traded the ever-popular species including the mountain gorilla. Tourism souk near Djemaa tourism’ and ‘pro-poor tourism’. Fair trading el Fna Square in at Bwindi has developed to the point that several essentially means companies trying to ensure that Marrakech, Morocco thousand tourists visit each year, and lodges and the basic labour rights of their suppliers’ employees craft shops have sprung up. However, as Dr Chris in developing countries are respected; similarly, Sandbrook, ESRC postdoctoral research fellow pro-poor tourism results in increased net benefits at the University of Cambridge’s Department of for poor people. Geography found out, over 75 per cent of tourism Angela Kalisch at the University of revenue leaked out of the local area. Food for lodges Gloucestershire, former coordinator in fair trade was bought in Kampala, ten hours drive away, and for Tourism Concern, said the charity had adopted transported to Bwindi by bus. strategies to harness tourism as a means of tackling As part of his engagement in applying research global poverty. These included post-tsunami to projects on the ground, Dr Sandbrook has tourism development projects in Sri Lanka and helped to establish the Bwindi Advanced Market campaigns to introduce a fair wage for local tour Gardeners’ Association – enabling local people to guides in Nepal. But she claimed that unregulated gain cash income from the industry through the tourism development was continuing to devastate supply of food. It is going from strength to strength. environments and destroy traditional livelihoods. So tourism is changing and has to change. It is To the fury of locals, the Kerala government essential that companies and tour operators alike in southern India allocated almost £10 million consider ways of addressing, as Professor Aitchison of government tsunami rehabilitation money to puts it, tourism’s ‘triple-bottom-line’ of sustainable Kerala Tourism. The 20 projects that benefited environments, economies and societies. After all, covered areas that were not even damaged by if we continue as we are doing, nothing will ever the tsunami. The projects were labelled ‘coastal change. As Albert Einstein said, “The definition protection’ to quell local outrage, but consisted of insanity is doing the same thing over and over almost entirely of beach beautification measures again and expecting different results.” ■ to attract tourists – walkways, lamp-posts, an amphitheatre and flower pots. Sarah Womack, former social affairs correspondent Meanwhile, Dr Xavier Font at Leeds Metropolitan of the Daily Telegraph University’s International Centre for Responsible Tourism outlined findings from his recent study i Tourism, Inequality and Social Justice is a series of six seminars on the development of a fair trade label in tourism. exploring tourism and the interconnections between different forms There is a growing consensus that such a label, of inequality and the ways in which these operate. if trusted and properly monitored, could be Contact Professor Cara Aitchison, University of Bedfordshire successfully attached to holidays that benefit local Telephone +44 (0) 1234 793428 Email [email protected] communities, providing tourists with peace of Tourism, Conservation and Livelihoods: understanding the impacts of wildlife tourism in the developing world mind that they are not exploiting their hosts. Contact Dr Christopher Sandbrook, University of Cambridge Elsewhere, the ESRC is funding research into Telephone +44 (0) 1223 760563 Email [email protected] the sustainability of places like Uganda’s Bwindi
SUMMER 2009 SOCIETY NOW 27 INFORMATION & UPDATES
People
PROFESSOR PETER TOWNSEND NEW CHAIR OF THE ESRC Dr Alan Gillespie CBE has been Professor Peter announced as the new chair of the Townsend, British ESRC by Secretary of State for Business, sociologist, social Innovation and Skills, Lord Mandelson, policy analyst and who said: “I am very pleased to appoint campaigner, has died, Alan Gillespie as Chair of the Economic aged 81. His career and Social Research Council. His spanned six decades experience across business, government and he was still researching and writing and academia will contribute greatly to up until his death. its leadership and strategic direction.” During his academic career he authored Dr Gillespie has succeeded Lord defi nitive studies in each of his major Adair Turner as chair and said: “This fi elds: the defi nition and meaning of is a critical time to become involved and co-funded by France, Spain, Italy, poverty, ageing and later life, disability with the ESRC. The cost of recession, Norway, Sweden and South Africa. and health inequalities. In each fi eld the both in fi nancial and human terms, is Dr Gillespie’s experience will ensure landscapes of both the scientifi c and policy huge. The UK social science research a strong platform for future challenges debates were transformed by his work. community must ask and answer of the Council, which will see him work He was an early exponent of the idea of the profound questions which can to improve the links between the ESRC, ‘relative poverty’, which defi nes poverty in infl uence future policy in the public, the research community, including terms of the society in which an individual private and voluntary sectors. I look learned and professional institutions, lives. His defi nition of relative poverty is forward to working with the Council and other sectors. He will also work widely cited: “Individuals, families and and management at the ESRC in setting with the Director General for Science groups in the population can be said to be the agenda for policy-relevant research and Research and the other Research in poverty when they lack the resources to over the coming years.” Council chairs and chief executives on obtain the types of diet, participate in the He has an extensive background in other science policy issues. activities, and have the living conditions both the public and private sector. He and amenities which are customary, or are graduated from Cambridge University, NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES at least widely encouraged and approved, where after his fi rst degree he obtained Professor Anthony Bebbington from in the societies in which they belong.” a PhD in Economic Geography, funded the University of Manchester has been Born in Middlesbrough in 1928, he by the then Social Sciences Research elected to the US National Academy secured a scholarship at the University Council. His fi rst appointment was at of Sciences, an honorifi c society of College School in London, then a place at Citigroup/Citibank in 1976, where he distinguished scholars engaged in St John’s College, Cambridge. He undertook was eventually promoted to Executive scientifi c and engineering research, graduate studies at Cambridge and the Director. In 1986 he moved to Goldman dedicated to the furtherance of science Free University of Berlin. In the 1950s he Sachs & Co where he was made Partner and technology. Professor Bebbington was engaged in research, with posts at the and Managing Director, and from 2001 holds an ESRC professorial fellowship Institute for Community Studies and the to 2008 he was Chairman of the Ulster entitled ‘Confl icts over the countryside: London School of Economics (LSE). In 1963 Bank Group. He is currently a non- civil society and the political ecology he became the fi rst Professor of Sociology Executive Director of United Business of rural development in the Andean at the University of Essex, where he stayed Media plc. region’, and an ESRC grant: ‘Social for 18 years. In the 1980s he moved to Within the public sector, Dr Gillespie Movements and Poverty’. For further Bristol University, where he kept a post has been the Chair of The Northern details, visit http://www.nasonline.org right to the end, and, in 1998, he took up Ireland Industrial Development Board, a second emeritus chair, at the LSE. the University Challenge Venture Capital ACADEMIC BIRTHDAY HONOURS Professor Townsend’s career was Fund, the European Development Professor David Hendry, Professor underpinned by a deep moral commitment Finance Institution, Co-Chair of of Economics and Fellow of Nuffi eld to combating poverty and inequality and, in Rediscover Northern Ireland and the College and ESRC award holder, policy terms, to arguing for equality instead Chief Executive of the Commonwealth University of Oxford, has been of minimum standards. His commitment Development Corporation. awarded a knighthood for services to equality made him one of the foremost He currently chairs the International to social science in the Queen’s radical campaigners of the 20th century. Finance Facility for Immunisation – a Birthday Honours List 2009. Professor Professor Peter Townsend, sociologist, $5 billion development fi nance initiative Katharine Sykes, Professor of Sciences was born on 6 April 1928. He died on linked to the Global Alliance for and Society, University of Bristol has 8 June 2009, aged 81. Vaccines and Immunisation in Geneva. been awarded an OBE for services to It is promoted by the UK government science and technology.
28 SOCIETY NOW SUMMER 2009 INFORMATIONUPDATES & INFORMATION& UPDATES
Publications The Explanation The Exclusionary Governing of Crime Politics of Asylum Sustainability This book seeks to provide a unifi ed and The issue of asylum has become the focus of Bringing together experts on governance and focused approach to the analysis of the roles of intense debate over recent years, much of which sustainable development, this book studies these behavioural contexts and individual differences is organised around questions regarding how far necessary processes and consequences across in crime causation. Chapter topics range from and in what ways increasing numbers of asylum a range of sectors, regions and other areas of individual genetics to family environments and seekers pose a ‘problem’ or a ‘threat’ to ‘host’ concern. Arising from research from the ESRC from ecological behaviour settings to the macro- states. Dr Vicki Squire from the Open University Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, level context of communities and social systems. critiques the securitisation and criminalisation it reveals that the governance of sustainable Based on outcomes from the major ESRC-funded of asylum-seeking and analyses recent policy development is politically contested, and will Peterborough Adolescent and Young Adult developments in relation to their wider historical, continue to test existing governance systems to Development Study, it will appeal to graduate political and European contexts, arguing that their limits. As both a review of current thinking students and researchers in criminology the UK response effectively produces asylum and an assessment of existing policy practices, it and be of great interest to policymakers and seekers as scapegoats for dislocations that will interest those preparing themselves or their practitionerspractitioners iinn ccrimerime ppolicyolicy aandnd pprevention.revention. areare ccausedaused bbyy tthehe sshiftinghifting bboundariesoundaries ooff tthehe organisationsorganisations fforor tthehe ssustainabilityustainability ttransition.ransition. ■ The Explanation nation state. ■ Governing of Crime edited by ■ The Exclusionary Sustainability Per-Olof Wikström Politics of Asylum edited by W. Neil andand RRobertobert SSampson.ampson. by Vicki Squire. Adger and Andrew Published by Published by Jordan. Published by CambridgeCambridge UUniversityniversity Palgrave Macmillan. CambridgeCambridge UUniversityniversity Press. ISBN 978- ISBN 978-0-23021- Press. ISBN 978- 0-52185-707-9 659-4 (Hardback), 0-52151-875-8 (Hardback), 324pp, 240pp, £52.00. (Hardback), 356pp, £53.00. For more For more details, £45.00. For more details, visit http:// visit http://www. details, visit http:// www.cambridge.org palgrave.com www.cambridge.org
Nanotechnology, Risk Improving Working Beef: How Milk, Meat and and Communication as Learning Muscle Shaped the World Conceived out of the ESRC-funded project Improving Working as Learning from the ESRC’s Research from the ESRC’s Centre for Climate Nanotechnology and News Production, this is one Teaching and Learning Research Programme Change Economics and Policy has led to this of the fi rst major studies of the media coverage, sets out to analyse learning at work in different timely book on cattle rearing in the UK and US. In policy debates and public perceptions about settings by developing and applying a new the UK, cows have traditionally been fed on grass nanotechnology. It draws on data from two of the analytical framework. The Working as Learning and roamed freely. In the US, cattle are fed mainly fi rst studies of nanotechnology communication in Framework connects the particularities of on maize and grain, which increases the yield of the UK, contributing important new empirical and work tasks with the way jobs are organised both beef and milk, but requires more intensive conceptual analyses of the relationship between and the wider pressures organisations face for farming, with a greater effect on climate change: scientists and the media in communicating survival and growth. It will appeal to students, growing maize demands more water than grass controversial new technologies. professionals, policymakers and researchers. pasture and any shift to this system relies on a ■ Nanotechnology,Nanotechnology, RRiskisk aandnd CCommunicationommunication ■ ImprovingImproving WWorkingorking aass LLearningearning bbyy goodgood wwaterater ssupply,upply, wwhichhich iiss hharderarder ttoo gguaranteeuarantee by Alison Anderson, Alan Felstead, as the climate Alan Peterson, Alison Fuller, Nick changes. Clare Wilkinson Jewson and Lorna ■ Beef by Andrew and Stuart Allan. Unwin. Published by Rimas and Evan Published by RoutledgeRoutledge EEducation.ducation. Fraser. Published PalgravePalgrave MMacmillan.acmillan. ISBN: 978-0-415- by Mainstream ISBN 978-0-23050- 49645-249645-2 ((Hardback),Hardback), Publishing. ISBN: 693-0 (Hardback), 248pp, £75.00. 978-1-845-96438-2 192pp, £50.00. For more details, (Hardback), 256pp, For more details, visit http://www. £12.99. Visit http:// visit http://www. routledgeeducation.routledgeeducation. www.mainstream palgrave.com com publishing.com
SUMMER 2009 SOCIETY NOW 29 UPDATESUPDAINFORMATIONTES & INFORMATIONINFORMA & UPDATESTION
News briefs
ESRC NEW TRAINING FRAMEWORK The ESRC is announcing changes to the way it supports postgraduate training in the social sciences for students who will commence study from 2011 onwards. The new Postgraduate Training Framework will move the ESRC away from a system of providing training through recognised The Sussex Energy Group has won this year’s Green Gown Award for research outlets and individual courses and will instead create a national network of institutional level Doctoral Training GLOBAL UNCERTAINTIES and illegitimate violence in Islamic Centres (DTC) and Doctoral Training FELLOWSHIPS ANNOUNCED thought; and Dr Kate Cooper from the Units (DTU) providing the very best How individuals, communities and University of Manchester researching training provision. nation states form their ideas and belonging, deviance and violence in The primary purpose of the new beliefs about security and insecurity early Christianity. For further details, framework is to further enhance will form the basis for 14 new visit www.globaluncertainties.org.uk provision for postgraduate training fellowships under the UK Research in the UK by building upon the Council’s Global Uncertainties ESRC ANNUAL REPORT 2008-2009 considerable strengths that already Programme. The ESRC and the Arts The ESRC’s latest Annual Report exist across the social science research and Humanities Research Council is now available to all. It provides base. The DTC/DTU network will be has invested £5.5 million to support information on the Council’s activities established through a competitive, and integrate multidisciplinary during the previous fi nancial year, peer-reviewed application process. research on confl ict, crime, terrorism, including an analysis of the Council’s Detailed requirements of the environmental stress and global research and training expenditure, and application process will be circulated poverty. Successful applications its research portfolio. It is published to UK higher education institutions include: Professor Sir Lawrence and laid before Parliament annually in late July 2009, with institutions Freedman at King’s College London before the summer recess, covering required to submit their application who is researching strategic scripts activities of the Council from 1 April for DTC/DTU status by March for the 21st century; Professor 2008 to 31 March 2009. 2010. Successful applications will David Leonard of the Institute of The Annual Report also includes be announced in late 2010, with Development Studies, looking at a review from the ESRC chair and institutions hosting their fi rst students security in an Africa of networked, chief executive and details of our under the new framework from 2011. multi-level governance; Professor outstanding achievements of the For further details, please visit Robert Gleave based at the University year. For further details, visit http:// http://www.esrcsocietytoday.ac.uk of Exeter, investigating legitimate www.esrcsocietytoday.ac.uk ON THE WEB
GLOBAL UNCERTAINTIES new knowledge about how E-STRATEGIC PLAN from the 2005-2008 plan. Other The Global Uncertainties threats to security can be Our Strategic Plan 2009-2014 features include informative Programme brings together better predicted, detected, sets out our prospectus for case studies and objectives to the activities of the UK’s prevented and mitigated. what social science can and maximise impact in society. Research Councils across For further details, visit must do over the next fi ve For further details, please visit a wide range of disciplines http://www.globaluncertainties. years. To coincide with its http://www.esrcsocietytoday. and areas to explore the org.uk July release, we are launching ac.uk/strategicplan impacts that drivers such an online version which will as poverty, health, globalisation, enhance each of the seven beliefs and competition strategic challenges facing for resources have on social science and the ESRC. security. The website includes Click on each of the challenges a range of features such as to discover how the ESRC will current activities, news and address each area, highlighting events, and it will highlight what we have already achieved
30 SOCIETY NOW SUMMER 2009 ESRC FESTIVAL OF SOCIAL of best practice. This call is not focused SCIENCE 2010 on any particular methodological EVENTS Applictions for the Festival of Social approach and will fund high-quality Science, organised by the ESRC proposals from qualitative, quantitative 5-10 SEPTEMBER 2009 as part of the National Science and mixed methods researchers. and Engineering Week are now Training and capacity building will British Science being accepted. It will run from 12 be a signifi cant component of each Festival 2009 March until 20 March 2010. Aimed project. Applications may also The British Science Festival (formerly the at everyone from politicians to include funding for a research-linked BA Festival of Science) is one of Europe’s schoolchildren, participants can join studentship (+3 awards). The closing largest science festivals, taking place in to fi nd out about social science date will be 25 August 2009. For each September. The Festival is in a research at one or another of the further details, visit http://www.esrc. different location in the UK each year and festival’s varied events. It is expected to ac.uk/ESRCInfoCentre/opportunities/ this year it is hosted by the University of Surrey in Guildford from 5 September until take place in more than 25 UK towns current_funding_opportunities 10 September 2009, with events taking and cities, with events ranging from place across Surrey. The Festival will bring conferences, workshops, debates and ESRC AND THE JAPAN SOCIETY you the latest in science, technology and exhibitions to fi lm screenings, plays, FOR THE PROMOTION OF SCIENCE engineering. For further details, visit policy briefi ngs and more. For further The ESRC and the Japan Society http://www.britishscienceassociation. details, visit http://www.esrcfestival.ac.uk for the Promotion of Science have org/web/BritishScienceFestival agreed to collaborate on funding research seminars aimed at bringing together Japanese and British researchers on a topic of mutual interest. A competition will be held this autumn for funding for up to £15,000 and 2.5 million yen for one or two research seminars to be held in the period April 2010 to March 2011. The closing date will be 9 September 2009. The competition is open for seminars on any topic. For further details, visit http://www.esrcsocietytoday. ac.uk/internationalfunding and http://www. 7-9 OCTOBER 2009 THE MICHAEL YOUNG PRIZE 2010 jsps.go.jp/english/e-bilat/main.html Can your research change minds? ESRC Genomics Does it have the potential to impact ‘GREEN GOWN AWARD’ Network third on society? This is your opportunity The Sussex Energy Group, based at International Conference to tell the world about your research. the Science Policy Research Unit, Organised by Cesagen on behalf of the ESRC The Michael Young Prize promotes University of Sussex has won the Genomics Network, this conference, taking excellence in the social sciences by prestigious Green Gown Award for place from 7 to 9 October 2009, will provide rewarding the very best early career research. The Green Gown Awards, an opportunity to further develop the debate researchers. The prize was set up in now in their fi fth year, recognise and dialogue surrounding both current honour of the late Lord Michael Young exceptional initiatives being taken and future developments in the life sciences. of Darlington by the ESRC and the by universities and colleges across The conference will be of particular interest Young Foundation to encourage early the UK to become more sustainable. to academics working in a broad range of social science disciplines and associated career social science researchers to The Sussex Energy Group stakeholders, including natural and effectively communicate their socially is a core partner within the biomedical scientists and policymakers. relevant research to a non-academic internationally renowned Tyndall For further details, visit http://www. audience. Applications are currently Centre for Climate Change genomicsnetwork.ac.uk/cesagen being accepted for the 2010 call. Research and it also conducts an For further details, visit http://www. interdisciplinary programme of esrcsocietytoday.ac.uk/young research on the transition to a sustainable, low-carbon economy. COMPARATIVE CROSS-NATIONAL One of their key strands of research RESEARCH METHODS is informing the United Nations The ESRC welcomes applications negotiations which are seeking to aimed at generating expertise and secure a new global plan of action knowledge relevant to methodological on climate change. The awards were development in comparative cross- announced on 23 June 2009. For national research and advancing further details, visit http://www.sussex. understanding of the implementation ac.uk/sussexenergygroup
SUMMER 20092008 SOCIETY NOW 31 Know society. Society Now
The ESRC magazine Society Now aims to raise awareness of our research and its impact. Aimed at a wide range of readers from the MP to the businessperson, the voluntary worker to the teacher, the public through to the social scientist, it is published three times a year (spring, summer and early autumn). Society Now offers a readable, intelligent, concise overview of current issues concerning society. Subscription to Society Now is free. To receive your copy, visit: http://www.esrcsocietytoday.ac.uk/societynow/subscribe
ESRC also issues a bi-monthly e-newsletter aimed at the academic community, containing information on funding opportunities, corporate news, community updates and events. For more information and to sign up, visit: http://www.esrcsocietytoday.ac.uk/enews
The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) funds research into the big social and economic questions facing us today. We also develop and train the UK’s future social scientists. Our research informs public policies and helps make businesses, voluntary bodies and other organisations more effective. Most importantly, it makes a real difference to all our lives. The ESRC is an independent organisation, established by Royal Charter in 1965, and funded mainly by the Government. More at http://www.esrcsocietytoday.ac.uk Economic and Social Research Council Polaris House North Star Avenue Swindon SN2 1UJ Tel: +44 (0)1793 413000 Fax: +44 (0)1793 413001 Society Now (Print) ISSN 1758-2121 EDITOR IN CHIEF Jacky Clake [email protected] EDITOR Arild Foss [email protected] ASSISTANT EDITOR Steve Buchanan [email protected] DESIGN & PRODUCTION Anthem Publishing www.anthem-publishing.com