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About us
Who we are
The Academy of Social Sciences is the national academy of academics, learned societies and practitioners in the social sciences. The social sciences include those subjects that concern people, society and economy.Research and education in the social sciences is essential to understanding our changing world, locally and globally - its societies, economies, communities and individual well being. The social sciences are popular in school and higher education and graduates are highly employable.
Our charitable purpose is to promote social science in the UK for the public benefit. Our membership is composed of around 1350 individual Fellows, both academics and practitioners, elected for their outstanding contributions to social science, and 46 member Learned Societies which serve individual disciplinary areas in the social sciences. As a charity the Academy exists for public benefit and, as such, serves the UKs social science community as a whole. We are independent of government and government funding and were formed some 30 years ago by the social sciences community, which remains deeply embedded in the Academy. We are a professional, unstuffy and forward looking organisation. We make modest funding go a very long way, we have clear ambitions, and we are inclusive and welcoming.
Our new strategy is in the process of being published, having been approved by the Academy's Council. Our vision is that the social sciences flourish in the UK and sustain their world leading stature. They are widely valued for their contributions to society, economy, environment and well-being; and led by confident and capable communities of academics and other professionals, learned societies and students. Our mission is to enhance and safeguard the social sciences in research, professional practice, and education; and to champion and foster the understanding and application of social sciences in policy, business and public life.
Our Campaign for Social Science is integral to the Academy and has a public facing role in championing the social sciences, promoting the vital role they play in improving decision-making, society and lives. We also engage in advocacy, lobbying and other activities to help sustain the health of the social sciences in the UK, informed by our policy work; in activities to promote the study of, and showcase employability in, the social sciences; and in fostering innovation and application of the social sciences to the challenges of our time. Through the award of Fellowship we recognise excellence in social science research and application.
