Academy of Social Sciences in Australia
President's Report
Professor Leon Mann
The General Report prepared by John Beaton, Executive Director, covers the principal activities and initiatives of a very busy and successful year for the Academy. I will concentrate on several matters regarding the social sciences and ASSA in the present climate of change and reform in Australia's higher education and research systems.
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Additional resources and ASSA's enhanced role in policy development and advice
Last year I lamented a financially stretched and straitened ASSA. The situation is vastly improved at the end of 2003. Following representation to Minister Brendan Nelson and the Department of Education, Science and Training, ASSA has received an additional $115,000 per annum for three years 'to strengthen the social sciences role in the development of policy issues and advice to government'. We are grateful that Minister Nelson has provided additional support to the social sciences. Important consequences for ASSA will be the establishment of a Public Policy Committee and broadening the Research and Workshop Programs to reinforce policy development initiatives.
Another development is provision of seed funding by the Minister to establish the Council of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHASS), with a promotional and advocacy role for the sector. I admit to mixed feelings about CHASS. It is a reminder of the outmoded separation between science and technology on the one hand and social science and humanities on the other. I also worry about the potential to deepen boundaries between the two sectors at a time when the social sciences seek to build partnerships with science and technology in order to better realise the national research interest.
(An item of interest is that the two leading scientific organisations in the United States, the National Academy of Sciences and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, encompass social sciences, such as psychology, anthropology, economic sciences, and environmental sciences. Approximately 200 of the 2000 members of the highly prestigious National Academy of Sciences, which inter alia advises the US government on scientific and technical matters, are social scientists).
CHASS is intended to act as the counterpart of the Federation of Australian Scientific and Technological Societies (FASTS) which effectively represents the science and technology sector. CHASS may provide the Australian humanities and social sciences community with a stronger voice and offer a more concerted source of idea and policy advice. On balance, CHASS is a welcome development and we should lend support to its work and activities.
Locating social sciences and humanities on the innovation map A major concern is that 'innovation' is narrowly defined in Australia as essentially a synonym for science and technology. This would be a matter of some curiosity in many other advanced countries. It is a matter of concern in Australia. The social sciences and humanities can ill afford to be spectators - as occurred with the national research priority setting initiative of 2002-2003 - as government planning for Backing Australia's Ability Mark II, which will set research and innovation policy, begins to unfold. There will be valuable 'social science and humanities' enhancements to the set of national research priority goals announced in November 2002. But exclusion of social sciences and humanities expertise from the initial national research priority exercise was a painful reminder of the invisibility of social sciences and humanities to government.
In November 2002 the Prime Minister announced that DEST would undertake a mapping of Australia's science and innovation activities across the public and private sectors, 'Mapping Australia's Science and Innovation System'. The mapping study aims to take stock of such elements as Australia's ability to generate ideas and undertake science and related research and development, commercial application and utilisation of research, and the development and retention of relevant skills for science, innovation and enterprise. It is intended that the map will lay the groundwork for Backing Australia's Ability Mark II and future policy development.
The working group is due to report at the end of the year. The map has little to say about social sciences and humanities research and application. They are terra incognita in a map which purports to represent the features and surface of Australia's ability and skills, not only in science but also innovation and enterprise. Put simply, we are not on the map. Steps are being taken to urge government that a second map is required, one which draws the links between the social sciences and humanities, innovation and enterprise.
Need for independent policy advice and a stronger role for the National Academies Forum
The need for ASSA and other Academies to fill a void in independent commentary on public policy in research, higher education and related areas has never been greater. Paul Bourke during his Presidency commented on the erosion of independent bodies which provided informed policy advice to government in our sphere of activities. The independent Higher Education Council (HEC) has been disbanded. In our submissions to Senate inquiries into higher education (2001 and 2003) we continue to call for re-establishment of an independent body to resume that role, a call made also by past President Peter Karmel. There are very few sources of independent analysis and critical evaluation of national research and higher education policy in Australia.
It is therefore imperative that all four Learned Academies speak out on national policy issues, both separately and together. Despite the existence of a National Academies Forum (NAF) the four Learned Academies have become more or less accustomed to speak separately, concerned that speaking in concert on important issues might become the trigger for a forced merger. My opinion is that speaking with one voice is increasingly important. The matter of provision of adequate research infrastructure to universities is an issue on which NAF should speak with one voice. A step in strengthening the role of NAF is underway with plans for a NAF think tank in early 2004 to review and plan how the four Academies might work together to develop joint policies and activities over the next 2-3 years.
Speaking out for the social sciences
There are many reasons why social sciences and humanities continue to find it hard to gain full recognition as partners in the planning and redesign of the nation's research and innovation system. The most obvious is that many powerful and influential decision makers have a limited view of what constitutes knowledge and innovation. Another is the paucity of independent think tank advice and representation to repeat the message that complex problems often require multidisciplinary solutions drawing on both the natural sciences and the social sciences. Another is the sheer volume and pace of government program reviews (currently twelve) which trigger frenetic activity but are not conducive to a larger vision. None of the review panels and committees includes overseas experts who could ask the larger, more pointed questions about Australian national policy and direction and whether it makes sense to ignore a large segment of the national research effort. There is much to learn from what other countries can teach Australia about taking a more inclusive 'whole of knowledge' approach to what constitutes innovation.
We have in Australia at present a 'whole of government' approach to policy. While there are obvious merits to the approach it can also be inimical to good policy implementation. Consider the wisdom of linking the Government's IR reform agenda to higher education reforms! The other is the passion in some quarters for frontier technologies as the key solution to the nation's future and standard of living (despite the fact that Australia's record in commercialisation of science and technology is weak). What is both frustrating - and simultaneously encouraging - is to find that many scientists, technologists and medical researchers acknowledge a role for the social sciences as partners in the work they do and as contributors to the larger picture. Unfortunately, this message is not heard in some of the nation's loftier councils and assemblies. To some extent we as social scientists are also to blame. We do not inform public and policy makers nearly as much as we should, concerning what the social sciences are about and what they do. That message should be communicated at every opportunity. We must also provide an account of the benefits of social sciences research - and whenever possible have that record valued - in export dollars earned or money saved, number of lives saved or improved, number of new products, processes, technical improvements and adaptations. In this way, policy makers, bureaucrats, and the public have compelling data that social science has both material value as well as intrinsic meaning.
Connecting with science and technology at the agency and grassroots level
An encouraging development is the real prospect of forging links with public research agencies and institutions such as CSIRO (already progressing well), the National Health and Medical Research Council, and the Cooperative Research Centres. Most of those bodies include social scientists and the way forward is to work in partnership. This will take time, but it is a productive and rewarding initiative because it reinforces the value of the social sciences where it counts, at the level of the work and ideas of researchers and practitioners. It also is a challenge to the social sciences to broaden their understandings of the nature of the revolutionary changes occurring in science and technology and how they can be utilised. There are also opportunities to work in collaboration with state governments to ensure social/economic inclusion. This is an area where ASSA might consider future initiatives.
Outreach and partnership
ASSA, because of its bank of knowledge, expertise, and contacts, is in a strong position to make a difference to other groups. Outreach to the Indigenous community through the ASSA Summer School for Indigenous Postgraduate Students is the prime example. This is a fine achievement as not only is the project significant and worthwhile, but also because it demonstrates ASSA's capacity to engage government, the corporate sector and private philanthropy in major program initiatives. The Summer school initiative was secured with a grant of $100,000 from Government and $75,000 from individual, corporate, and philanthropic donors.
International exchange and partnership
Under Fay Gale's leadership, ASSA has moved toward refocusing and re-energising its international exchange program. The AASSREC conference, hosted in Canberra in November, will reinforce the links with our sister academies in Asia. Increasingly, ASSA's international exchange program is moving in the direction of building targeted exchanges with a select group of Academies where visits will build programmatic research and joint projects carried out by both seasoned and early career researchers.
In conclusion
As this is my final report as President, I take the opportunity to thank my colleagues on the Executive and those Fellows who serve on the Academy's panels and committees for their support. I especially thank the Executive Standing Committee (Sue Richardson, Gavin Jones and Bruce Chapman) for their helpful advice and counsel.
I am indebted to Executive Director John Beaton for his collegiality, for his ideas and counsel, and for his total commitment and loyalty to ASSA and what it stands for. I also acknowledge with gratitude the work of the other members of a dedicated Secretariat: Shirley Chapman, Jennifer Fernance, John Robertson, Mark Pinoli, and Peg Job, who contribute individually and as a team. The Secretariat has carried an enormous load this year, often working long hours to assist with papers, submissions, reports, agendas, minutes, enquiries, and servicing the many meetings, conferences, committees, and activities which occupy a busy Academy. ASSA enjoys cordial working relationships with Ministers Brendan Nelson and Peter McGauran, and with DEST officers past Secretary Peter Shergold, present Secretary Jeff Harmer, and Deputy Secretary Wendy Jarvie. Minister Nelson has supported the social sciences and ASSA in many ways, and we are very grateful for his recognition of the work we perform.
Summing up, it has been, as always, a very busy year in the Academy. There have been major achievements and a growing sense of our purpose and strength as an Academy despite the ongoing frustration of having to make the case for the place of the social sciences on the Australian map. It has been an honour and privilege to serve as President of ASSA over the past three years. I look forward to supporting the new President and Executive Committee in the important work that lies ahead.
Leon Mann
President, 2003
Last modified: 2 November 2009.