Advancing Humanities and Social Sciences Research in Ireland

the values? What shapes them? What guides the subsequent
choices? These are hugely difficult, yet utterly fundamental questions.
Ultimately the answers, insofar as there are answers, will illustrate
better than anything else just how indivisible is the continuum from the
arts, humanities and social sciences through to the biological and
physical sciences
(British Academy 2004, 35).
Like other European countries, Ireland will need graduates with a highly
developed capacity to analyse and understand the values and social
characteristics of the global economy. In this sense, the strategic needs
of the HSS converge with those of Irish society generally.
Ireland needs critical and imaginative research in the HSS to
ensure that the potential of innovation can be realised fully.
Researchers in the sciences, engineering and technology (SET)
greatly benefited from the identification of priority areas in the
1999 Technology Foresight Exercise. 8 A similar exercise should
be undertaken for the HSS research community: this proposal
enjoys broad support across the HSS research community 9 and
should be developed as a matter of urgency. It is suggested that
the consultative exercise 10 should seek to identify the priority
needs of the HSS community in respect of a number of broad
issues including:
• Priority research areas with reference to existing research capacity,
future potential for research excellence and contribution to strategic policy
research;
• Appropriate balance between support for a critical mass and a commitment to individual,
investigator-led research;
• Research infrastructures;
• Research funding;
• Research dissemination and communication;
• Doctoral training and the development of research career pathways.
8
For more information on foresight exercises see Martin 1995.
9
In 2005 the IRCHSS convened a focus group on HSS national support requirements with regard to
researchers’ involvement in the then-upcoming EU Seventh Framework Programme for research. It called
for the development of a national agenda for HSS research (IRCHSS 2005).
10
In early 2006 a similar exercise was undertaken for the archaeology community. The Minister for
Environment, Heritage and Local Government requested that the Heritage Council prepare recommendations
on the research needs of Irish archaeology. Following initial consultations an interim report
was been prepared on the development of the research infrastructure and specific themes into which
current and relevant research needs can be placed.
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