With a UK General Election drawing closer, the Campaign for Social Science has launched its summer and autumn events programme for its ongoing project, Election 24: ideas for change based on social science evidence, to facilitate and inform evidence-based policy discussions and identify potential solutions to some of the UK’s most pressing challenges.
Our series of free online and in-person events across the UK will see distinguished social scientists and practitioners highlight social science research and evidence for policy areas including housing, policing, transport, rural economies and farming, and inequality.
Our forthcoming Election 24 events include:
- Housing: is anywhere in the UK getting it right?, Wednesday 22 May 2024, 10-11am GMT, online. In this webinar, Polly Neate CBE FAcSS LLD(hc) of Shelter, Professor Glen Bramley FAcSS of Heriot-Watt University, Professor Nick Gallent FAcSS of UCL and Gavin Smart FAcSS (event chair) of the Chartered Institute of Housing will explore topics such as social housing issues, London’s massively overheated housing market, and second-home owners pushing out locals in areas like Cornwall or the Welsh coast. Our panel will discuss whether there is good practice that could be followed in the different nations and regions of the UK, and what national measures a new UK Government could take. Register now.
- (Re)building trust in the police, Wednesday 12 June 2024, 1-2pm GMT, online. In a UK context, several recent high-profile stories have damaged the public’s relationship with and perception of law enforcement. The police themselves, meanwhile, face the same funding restrictions as other critical public services and are having to rely more and more on technology to fulfil their role, often at the expense of relationship-building. In this webinar, Professor Jyoti Belur of UCL, Professor Martin Innes FAcSS of the Security, Crime & Intelligence Innovation Institute at Cardiff University and Dr Rick Muir of The Police Foundation (event chair) will discuss the challenge of low levels of citizen trust in public institutions, including our police, and identify potential solutions for policymakers. Register now.
- Transport: bridging the gap between research evidence and political/public action, Tuesday 10 September 2024, 1-2pm GMT, online. There is clear research evidence that reducing car travel delivers benefits to the climate and to public health – but there is political and public caution and scepticism. In this webinar, Professor Charles Musselwhite of the Research Centre for Transport and Mobility (CeTrAM) at Aberystwyth University, Dr Siobhan Campbell FAcSS of WSP UK, Professor Iain Docherty FAcSS of the University of Stirling and Dr Matthew Niblett of the Independent Transport Commission (event chair) will discuss how politicians can understand and shape public opinion to deliver the potential carbon, health and social benefits that can come from reduced car use, as well as what needs to happen at a population and individual level. Register now.
- Building resilient rural communities: is there a looming rural mental health crisis?, Wednesday 11 September 2024, 7-9pm GMT, in-person at the University of Exeter. If the UK wants to retain resilient food and farming systems which can deal with the demands of a changing climate and technological innovation, we need farming and rural communities which are healthy and sustainable. A steep rise in mental health problems within rural parts of the country, exacerbated by reduced access to support services, could be the biggest barrier to the next UK Government’s rural policy plans. During this event, Professor Matt Lobley and Dr Rebecca Wheeler of the University of Exeter, and Former NFU President Minette Batters (event chair) will unpack and explore these challenges, identifying the policy solutions which need to be put in place to address them. The full speaker line-up and registration page will be announced in the coming weeks.
We are also holding an in-person event on ‘What would a 2024 Beveridge programme look like, and how would it tackle inequalities?’ in partnership with the University of Strathclyde and the Social Policy Association (SPA). This will be part of the Annual SPA Conference in July. Focusing on rising inequality across the UK, our event will feature Professor Matthew Johnson FAcSS of Northumbia University, Professor Heejung Chung of King’s College London, Professor Rachel Baker of Glasgow Caledonian University, and Professor Ian Rivers FAcSS of the University of Strathclyde (event chair). More information will be announced in the coming weeks.
In addition, evidence-based commentary from Academy Fellows and other distinguished social scientists sharing research findings concerning topical issues and offering constructive policy suggestions to policymakers, will continue to be published on the Election 24 hub.
Election 24: ideas for change based on social science evidence draws on a range of social science research and evidence to suggest policy directions ahead of a UK General Election in 2024. Drawing on the expertise of Academy Fellows and other distinguished social scientists, Election 24 features events, blogs and comment pieces covering many key policy areas including the cost-of-living crisis; climate change and living standards; health and social care; immigration; and higher education, amongst others.