ESRC Society Today

The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) is the UK's leading agency for research funding and training in economic and social sciences.read more...

• What is Social Science?
• Social Science in Society
• Impact Case Studies

• Society Now - summer 2010 issue
  This issue looks at aid and long-term development in poor countries, modern fatherhood, election research, impoliteness in society, population and migration, with a supplement focusing on innovation and skills.
• Making the case for the social sciences: wellbeing
  A booklet from the Academy of Social Sciences produced in collaboration with the ESRC, showing examples of 'social science in action' in the UK focusing on wellbeing.
• All ESRC publications

Do you want to know whether your children’s friends are influencing their career aspirations? Or how many quality years you’ll have after retirement? What the risks to your health are? Understanding Society, a new survey will answer these questions and many more.

• Understanding Society website

Considering a career in social science? Or are you a teacher looking for school resources? We fund a number of activities for young people and schools.

• Current activities
• Social Science for Schools - a brand new website aimed at A-level teachers

• Professor Paul Boyle appointed as new ESRC Chief Executive
• Users of the ESRC/JISC Economic and Social Data Service (ESDS) are invited to complete a survey, the results of which will feed into the Council's current review of the Service.
• The British Academy Policy Centre launched a new booklet Past, Present and Future (external website)
• Peer Review College members list
• Forthcoming events
• Public Policy Seminar Series

The ESRC Strategic Plan outlines our strategic challenges, priorities and impact objectives for the next five years, and includes case studies of previous achievements.

Explore some of these challenges in depth, read articles and case studies, and listen to podcasts.

• Focus: Environment, Energy and Resilience
• Focus: Global Economic Performance, Policy and Management
• Focus: New Technology, Innovation and Skills

Interested in other areas of research? The Research Councils UK website is a joint portal for all Research Councils, offering access to the whole range of UK research funded through the councils.

• RCUK launch Global Food Security programme (external website)
• RCUK Energy (external website)
• RCUK Digital Economy (external website)
• RCUK Nanotechnology (external website)