The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) is one of the seven Research Councils in the United Kingdom. The UK Research Councils are government agencies responsible for co-ordinating and funding particular areas of research including the arts humanties all areas of science and The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located It is state-funded (via the Department of Trade and Industry's Office of Science and Innovation), and provides funding and support for research and training work in social and economic issues. The Department of Trade and Industry was a United Kingdom government department which was disbanded with the announcement of the creation of the Department for Business The social sciences comprise academic disciplines concerned with the study of the social life of human groups and individuals including Anthropology, Communication studies Economics is the social science that studies the production distribution, and consumption of goods and services.
The ESRC is based at Polaris House in Swindon, which is also the location of the head offices of four other UK Research Councils and RCUK. Swindon ( is a large town in the ceremonial county of Wiltshire in the South West of England, midway between Bristol (64 km / 40 miles
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The mission of the ESRC
The ESRC's mission, according to its Web site, is:
- To promote and support, by any means, high-quality basic, strategic and applied research and related postgraduate training in the social sciences;
- To advance knowledge and provide trained social scientists who meet the needs of users and beneficiaries, thereby contributing to the economic competitiveness of the United Kingdom, the effectiveness of public services and policy, and the quality of life;
- To provide advice on, and disseminate, knowledge; and promote public understanding of the social sciences.
Brief history
The ESRC was founded in 1965 as the Social Science Research Council (SSRC - not to be confused with the Social Science Research Council in the United States). The Social Science Research Council (SSRC is an independent research organization based in New York City. The establishment of a state funding body for the social sciences in the United Kingdom, had been under discussion since the Second World War[1]; however, it was not until the 1964 election of Prime Minister Harold Wilson that the political climate for the creation of the SSRC became sufficiently favourable. A funding body is an organisation that provides funds in the form of Research grants or Scholarships Research Councils Research Councils World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including James Harold Wilson Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, KG, OBE, FRS, PC (11 March 1916 &ndash 24 May 1995 was one of the most prominent British politicians
The first chief executive of the SSRC was Michael Young (later Baron Young of Dartington). Michael Young or Mike Young is the name of In politics: Michael Young (politician (1915–2002 Lord Young of Dartington British Subsequent holders of the post have included Michael Posner, later Secretary General of the European Science Foundation. Michael Posner may refer to Michael Posner (casino owner, Aruban casino owner Michael Posner (economist, British economist The European Science Foundation (ESF is an association of 77 member organisations devoted to scientific research in 30 European countries The current Chief Executive of the ESRC is Professor Ian Diamond.
Change of name
Following the election of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the 1979 general election, the Government expressed reservations about the value of research in the social sciences, and the extent to which it should be publicly funded. Margaret Hilda Thatcher Baroness Thatcher LG, OM, PC, FRS (born 13 October 1925 In 1981, the Education Secretary Sir Keith Joseph asked Lord Rothschild to lead a review into the future of the SSRC. Keith Sinjohn Joseph Baron Joseph, CH, PC ( 17 January 1918 &ndash 10 December 1994) was a British Barrister Nathaniel Mayer Victor Rothschild 3rd Baron Rothschild, GBE, GM, FRS ( October 31, 1910 &ndash March 20, 1990
It was ultimately decided (due in no small part to the efforts of Michael Posner, chief executive of the SSRC at the time) that the Council should remain, but that its remit should be expanded beyond the social sciences, to include more 'empirical' research and research of 'more public concern'. To reflect this, in 1983 the SSRC was renamed the Economic and Social Research Council[2].
Governance and management
The ESRC is managed by the ESRC Council, which consists of the Chair (Lord Turner), Chief Executive (Professor Ian Diamond) and representatives from academia, government and industry. Jonathan Adair Turner Baron Turner of Ecchinswell (born 5 October 1955 Ipswich) is a British businessman academic and chair of the Financial Services Authority The Council approves the ESRC's policies, strategy, budgets and major funding.
Boards and committees
The ESRC is also guided by four boards and four committees:
- Training and Development Board - provision of awards (or studentships) for postgraduate students
- Research Grants Board - responsible for managing the Research Grants Scheme, Research Seminars Competition and research fellowships
- Research Resources Board - responsible for developing essential resources such as data, research methods and information technology; also managing Resource Centres and Resource Programmes
- Strategic Research Board - responsible for over fifty research centres, groups, priority networks and programmes
- Audit Committee - responsible for ensuring the overall effectiveness of systems of internal control across ESRC
- Communication and Information Committee - responsible for advising and informing on Council’s behalf the ESRC’s communications, knowledge transfer and information activities
- International Advisory Committee - to provide guidance to the Chief Executive and Council on international policy, and the international and comparative content of ESRC-funded research
- Research Evaluation Committee - responsible for advising Council on the successful achievement of its corporate strategy through a combination of evaluation of policy, and research centres, programmes and projects
References
- ^ The Origins of the ESRC. Economic and Social Research Council (March 2001). Retrieved on 2007-04-12. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 467 - Anthemius is elevated to Emperor of the Western Roman Empire.
- ^ 1965-2004: Forty* years of social science research. Economic and Social Research Council (March 2001). Retrieved on 2007-04-12. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 467 - Anthemius is elevated to Emperor of the Western Roman Empire.