Innovation is often understood in terms of inventions and technology, and so primarily an activity that takes place within STEM. But innovation is broader than that and something that Social Scientists are doing across the University. This can come in the form of innovation in public policymaking, organisational and institutional innovation, and social entrepreneurship; it goes beyond the context of income generation arising from new inventions and technologies.

Social Science research can enrich and inform society to create the context in which policy and technological innovations can flourish. Social Scientists’ understanding of the cultural factors, institutional relationships and power structures can be the special sauce that enables something creative or inventive to mature into a real innovation.

In the first in series of workshops taking place over 2021 join us to discuss innovation beyond STEM and how to encourage and foster innovation within Social Sciences. This will be facilitated by a panel of researchers from across the division.