Pathways to Interdisciplinary and Transdisciplinary Research for the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences: Bridging the Research-Policy Gap

Panellists

Transformation of evaluation culture needed to enhance AHSS research integration

Jack Spaapen, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences 

The cliché that the world is changing rapidly has become a reality with the COVID-19 pandemic. Research agendas in many fields have taken a dramatic turn, medical and health research in the first place but also behavioural sciences, fields that study the economy, the organisation of work and communication. Emerging multi-level and cross disciplinary research collaborations need a different way of assessing what is worth investing in. Research evaluation needs to focus on looking ahead, mutual learning and new forms of creativity.

Dr Jack Spaapen (PhD, University of Amsterdam) received his training in sociology and cultural anthropology at the University of Amsterdam. Jack’s PhD (1995) is in science and technology studies, focusing on methods for the evaluation of research in the context of societal and policy demands. Jack is senior policy advisor at the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences with expertise in areas including societal impact evaluation, research and innovation policy, responsible research and innovation and scientific advice. Currently he is interim executive secretary of the Medical Advisory Council of the Academy. Jack has coordinated many Academy projects, as well as several EU projects, including the FP7 SIAMPI project on productive interactions between science and society (2009-2012) and Indicators for Responsible Research and Innovation (2014). Jack co-chaired a project for the OECD on the role of scientific advice in controversial issues in society (2013-2015). Jack has represented the Academy in several national and European networks on Research and Development evaluation. Jack co-designed the national evaluation protocol for publicly funded research (Standard Evaluation Protocol) and the QRiH assessment framework for societal relevance of humanities research in the Netherlands. Jack has proficiency in Dutch, English, French, German and Spanish.

Bridging the AHSS Research-Policy Gap: A Policy Maker’s Perspective

Mary Doyle, Trinity Long Room Hub

The Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (AHSS) have important things to say about every aspect of human existence yet there remains a challenge in including them in a more meaningful way in research and innovation policy and funding programmes at both national and EU level. What steps can be taken to bridge the gap between AHSS research and policy making both in general and in the specific context of inter- and transdisciplinary research? Mary will address these challenges from the perspective of the policy maker – a key partner in this conversation – considering what can lead to a more seamless and stronger linkage and how to design the architecture of the conversations needed to strengthen this dialogue.

Mary Doyle is a Public Policy Fellow at the Trinity Long Room Hub. She retired from her role as Deputy Secretary General in the Department of Education and Skills in 2018. She joined the Department in 2012 where she had responsibility for Higher Education Policy, Funding and Legislation later taking responsibility for Further Education also. Mary worked for many years in the Department of the Taoiseach, acting in a variety of roles including corporate affairs, arts and culture  and economic and social policy roles. She acted as Secretary to a range of Cabinet SubCommittees including Infrastructure, Social Inclusion, Health and the Economy and chaired the Senior Officials Groups which supported these SubCommittees. She also worked in the Departments of Health and  Department of Children during the course of her career.   She is currently a Board member of Science Foundation Ireland and of The Wheel.