Lisbon Conference – Intrepid Cost

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Interdisciplinary Futures: Open the Social Sciences… 20 Years Later

International Conference, 19-20 January 2017, Lisbon, Portugal

Organised by INTREPID and TINT with support from the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation
Conference Organizers: Uskali Mäki, Olivia Bina, Marta Varanda

Keynote speakers
Immanuel Wallerstein: “Forty Years Later: Are the Social Sciences More Open?”
Björn Wittrock: “Social Sciences in Their Contexts: Five Transformative Periods”
Felicity Callard: “The social sciences, life sciences and humanities: shifting plate tectonics”
Stephen Turner “Digitalization and Disciplinarity: What Does “Open Science” Mean for Social Science?”

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BACKGROUND

The slim but remarkable volume (Open the Social Sciences: Report of the Gulbenkian Commission on the Restructuring of the Social Sciences) was published in 1996. The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation had established, in 1993, the multidisciplinary Gulbenkian Commission on the Restructuring of the Social Sciences. After three years of work, led by Immanuel Wallerstein, the Commission published its report (with Stanford University Press). The Report analysed the situation in the social sciences, its origins, and possible futures, making recommendations for improvements, largely based on ideals of openness and interdisciplinarity. These deals have gained ground more broadly since then in the academia. The report attracted attention and incited commentary and some debate within the social sciences.

This year, 20 years have passed, and it is now an opportune time to revisit the themes and suggestions of the Report. Many of them are still very timely, awaiting further examination and debate. On the other hand, some things have changed in the social sciences and their various boundary conditions. It is important to update the diagnoses and proposals accordingly. Reconsidering the Report and its messages collectively at a conference provided an opportunity to address the challenges in a way that is respectful for historical continuity and generative of novel and updated insights.

Open the Social Sciences-Keynotes

Immanuel Wallerstein. Forty Years Later: Are the Social Sciences More Open? (Video) by Instituto Ciências Sociais – Universidade de Lisboa

Björn Wittrock. Social Sciencies in Their Context: Five Transformative Periods (Video) by Instituto Ciências Sociais – Universidade de Lisboa

Felicity Callard. The Social Sciences, Life Sciences and Humanities: Shifting Plate Tectonics (Video) by Instituto Ciências Sociais – Universidade de Lisboa

Stephen Turner. Digitalization and Disciplinarity (Video) by Instituto Ciências Sociais – Universidade de Lisboa

Digitalization and Disciplinarity: What Does “Open Science” Mean for Social Science? (PDF)- Stephen Turner University of South Florida

Special Sessions

1-Invited speakers to discuss the status and challenges of SSH and interdisciplinarity in EU Funding:

Special session on SSH and ID in EU Research – Session 1 (Video)

Social Sciences and Humanities in the Framework Programmes (PDF) Dr. Peter Fisch

Liberatore-ERC Social Sciences and humanities and the issue of Interdisciplinarity at ERC (PDF) Angela Liberatore Head of Unit Social Sciences and Humanities

Interdisciplinary Futures: Open the Social Sciences 20 Years Later (PDF)- Building futures for an inclusive Society Rosário Macário (IST, Ulisboa)

2- Presentation and debate of LERU report on ID and DG R&I report on SSH in H2020

Special session on SSH and ID in EU Research – Session 2

Interdisciplinary and the 21st century research-intensive university Fostering (PDF), investing in and managing interdisciplinarity – with 66 recommendations Katrien Maes, LERU chief policy officer

The contribution of social Sciences and the Humanities to research addressing societal challenges (PDF) Dr Philippe Keraudren DG Research and Innovation Unit B6 Open and Inclusive Societies

Interdisciplinary Futures: Open the Social Sciences 20 Years (PDF) Doris Alexander Research Development Office, Trinity College Dublin the University of Dublin

3- Three break out groups from the session’s participants discuss the three topics listed above, with a view to identify questions and recommendations for the future treatment of SSH and interdisciplinarity in EU programming.