Academy of Social Sciences
Nominations for the Academy of Social Sciences
The Regional Studies Association would like to invite its membership to nominate outstanding individuals to become Academicians of the UK based Academy of Social Sciences. The Association has the right to submit 10 nominations a year and we would like our members to have a direct voice in those nominations and to have the chance to recognise outstanding achievement and contribution to the field of regional studies.
The contribution may be in any part of the regional studies and science field and can include research, teaching, professional practice, consultancy and the promotion and dissemination of knowledge. Those nominating new Academicians must provide us with brief evidence of the contribution that the Nominee has made and the ways in which this has been distinguished and significant, including their impact. The Academy has recently decided that members may also be permitted from abroad so long as they can demonstrate a strong continuing link with UK social science. This link must be made clear in the case for nomination.
The closing date for receipt of nominations for the January 2009 meeting, will be 12 December 2009. The Regional Studies Association's Board will carefully consider all nominations and will decide which five individuals to put forward in each of the two annual rounds organised by the Academy. All chosen nominated individuals will then be invited to participate in the process and to give their consent and commitment to join the Academy, if invited to do so.
Existing Academicians should note that they are entitled to make their own nominations directly to the Academy and do not need to go through the Associations' procedures. The Association is keen to learn of all nominations of scholars in our field through whichever route. Individual Academicians in good standing (i.e. subscription is paid up) may nominate 1 person per year and second two persons. Some regulations apply to nominations and seconding of persons who are close colleagues or at the same HEI or organisation.
Some guidance on what constitutes excellence provided by the Academy
The Academy of Social Sciences recognises that the assessment of excellence and whether an individual has made a significant contribution is ultimately a judgment. The Nominations Committee of the Academy will make this judgment in the context of the evidence presented to it, the recommendation of the Proposer and past decisions. It will also use standard peer review processes (such as those developed by the Research Councils). People nominating individuals for election might like to take the following into account:
- Nominees must be people of a suitable status and reputation.
- Excellent social science research and a strong publications list would be strong components of a significant contribution to the social sciences but should be augmented by contributions of other kinds.
- Reaching a senior position, such as a Vice Chancellor, Director of a Research Institute or a Company is not in itself sufficient to warrant nomination. Such a nomination would need to be accompanied by evidence of the ways in which the Nominee has made a significant contribution to the social sciences during, or before, holding this position.
- Individuals who are putting social science into practice professionally, such as Psychologists, Planners, Family Therapists and Social and Market Researchers etc could be considered to be making a significant contribution if they have developed innovative approaches and/or new research techniques, and applied these to practice.
- Being a prime mover behind a major survey, particularly a continuous or cohort survey, or a manager/administrator developing such a survey on an ongoing basis, could be considered a significant contribution.
- Individuals working in the public, commercial or voluntary sectors could be considered to be making a significant contribution if they demonstrated they were regular users of social science, advocated its use to others and enhanced public understanding or impact of social science.
- Contributions to the development of the social sciences by people funding research in government, research councils and charitable bodies could be seen as significant if they had, as individuals: taken the lead in supporting and encouraging innovative work; assisted the creation of a strong infrastructure of professional practice, such as ethical guidelines; promoted the benefits of social science to wider audiences; or helped to embed findings from or impact of social science in policy and practice.
- Communicators, in the media and elsewhere, could be seen to have made a significant contribution if they make regular use of social science knowledge, acknowledge and promote the findings of social science research and enhance the public understanding or impact of social science.
