Social studies

UQ’s goal of addressing important societal problems with world-class research will be significantly advanced through the opening of a new institute in January

UQ’s new Institute for Social Science Research (ISSR) will highlight the burgeoning research strengths in areas of contemporary social relevance of UQ’s Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences (SBS).

SBS Executive Dean Professor Deborah Terry said the ISSR would encourage collaboration among social scientists across the University and provide a unified and strong profile to end users in both government and the private sector.

Professor Terry said the ISSR would position UQ as a major centre of excellence in social science research in Australia, and as a world leader in the area.

“The importance of being able to deliver high-quality researchoutcomes in areas of national research priority is unquestionable,” she said.

“Contemporary society is experiencing a period of unprecedented economic, political, and social change.

“Massive scientific and technological advances are being made; economic conditions, labour market forces, and demographic patterns are in a state of flux; and there are considerable threats from climate change, international terrorism, and the spread of new diseases.

“In such a complex environment, governments need to draw on high-quality social science research to build internationally competitive and sustainable economies, meet national policyimperatives, and ensure that the social fabric is both resilient and has the capacity to prosper from technological and scientific developments.”

Professor Terry said there was a growing realisation that dealing with current challenges required strong social science research that was evidence-based, problem-oriented and interdisciplinary.

“These challenges include delivering effective services, safeguarding the nation, building a sustainable economy, responding to climate change and environmental degradation, and ensuring better health within and outside Australia,” she said,

Professor Terry said a defining characteristic of the ISSR would be its strong quantitative and analytical focus, but with complementary expertise at the cutting edge of qualitative methods.

“Researchers in the ISSR will have access to methodological expertise in both quantitative and qualitative social science and the infrastructure to conduct sophisticated research using a range of techniques, creating a capacity that can readily be applied across domains,” she said.

“The ISSR will bring together social scientists in an environment where new insights in social science knowledge and application can be readily achieved.”

ISSR members will include a number of research centres currently comprising around 75 core researchers and 100 to 150 affiliate researchers.