Need for renewal in Swedish Social Science Research on Sustainability
2010-05-12
Press release from the Swedish Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning (Formas), The Swedish Energy Agency, Mistra, the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, Riksbankens Jubileumsfond and the Swedish Research Council (Vetenskapsrådet).
Need for renewal in Swedish Social Science Research on Sustainability
Swedish social science research within the area of sustainable development has much to offer international research and society. External funding within the area has increased fourfold over the last ten years, but to realise the full potential of the research new ideas, courageous initiatives and commitments are required from all of the stakeholders. These were the views of the international panel that evaluated Swedish social science research on sustainable development over the period 1998-2008.
“The rapid increase in external research funding shows that the financing agencies see the particular need for social science research on sustainable development,” says Rolf Annerberg, General Director of the Swedish Research Council Formas, who coordinated the evaluation. “It is now important that we utilise the opportunities the increased funding has created. In this we funding agencies have an important task, together with the universities, researchers and practical users of the research results. Our joint evaluation provides valuable guidance for continuing research efforts and we are now investigating the possibilities of generating new preconditions for social science researchers within the areas of the environment and sustainability.”
The panel observed an increase in funding and in the number of doctoral students, which is positive, and also saw a trend towards more interdisciplinary research. The panel also noted a rapid growth in social science research on climate, ecosystem management, environmental economics and general environmental policy tools.
At the same time the panel also identified several tensions within the research area that can threaten the area’s potential. Natural science perspectives can make the identification of important social and economic research issues more difficult. Conservative funding forms and short-term demands for immediately applicable results provide increasingly diminishing avenues for new research concepts. University career structures and a lack of dialogue between researchers and users may also threaten development. The panel recommends distinct commitments by all stakeholders and believes that new concepts and courageous commitments must be given more emphasis.
The evaluation was commissioned by the Swedish Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning (Formas), The Swedish Energy Agency, Mistra, the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, Riksbankens Jubileumsfond and the Swedish Research Council (Vetenskapsrådet). The panel that performed an independent evaluation of the research area comprised renowned researchers and representatives of users of the research from India, the USA and Europe, led by Professor Karen O’Brien from the University of Oslo.
The evaluation report can be downloaded in its entirety from www.formas.se.
Contact information:
Jonas Forare, 
Emilie von Essen, 
