SPA News Weblog

SPA annual awards 2010

info@social-policy.com (SPA) — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 17:05:50 GMT

The Social Policy Association Annual Awards

The Social Policy Association is pleased to announce the call for nominations for this year’s awards, sponsored by Cambridge University Press and The Policy Press. Winners will be presented with their awards by our President, Nick Timmins (Financial Times), at the special Gala Dinner held during the annual Social Policy Association conference at the University of Lincoln 5th - 7th July 2010. All nominators must be members of the Social Policy Association. Please read the rules and criteria for each award carefully before making your nominations. Nominations are invited for the following awards:

Awards

Lifetime Achievement

This award is limited to SPA members and must be nominated by five members of the Social Policy Association. It will be awarded annually to a person the judges feel:

Has made persistent contributions to research and organisation (of major conferences, influential reports, SPA Exec posts, etc.) that has raised the external profile of the subject; and
Has achieved recognition by non-academics with interest in social policy - journalists, campaigners and lobbyists, activists, user communities; and
Has an acknowledged international reputation, as measured in terms of translations, citations, projects, academic posts; and
Has made contributions to professional bodies and associations; and
Has had an impact on political process/discourse (advisor to government, consultant to voluntary bodies/local government etc.); and
Has achieved esteem measured in terms of journal editing/establishing, promotion of social policy within other social sciences, membership of research councils or similar bodies.

Nominations for this award must be accompanied by the candidate’s full CV.

Best Newcomer

This award will be granted to a lecturer/researcher who is within five years of their first post-graduation post, and who is judged to have made a significant early contribution to the field of social policy. They must be nominated by two members of the Social Policy Association and must themselves be members. The judges may use (but are not limited to) the following criteria in making their decision:

Evidence of a significant publications record: e.g. books and book chapters published; articles in key Social Policy journals; cited works; presentations at key national and international conferences; and/or
Evidence of a significant contribution made to the teaching of social policy: e.g. contribution to authored or edited textbooks; development of new degree courses; innovations in teaching methods; and/or
Evidence of an outstanding record in research for someone early in their career: e.g. securing of research grants; developing and leading research networks; a significant contribution to the development of research methodologies; and/or
Evidence of esteem outside the academic community: e.g. in developing links with user communities; providing advice to voluntary, private and government agencies on policy issues.

Nominations for this award must be accompanied by the candidate’s full CV.

Outstanding Contribution from a Non-academic

This award will be granted to an individual or organization who in the opinion of the judges has made a significant and lasting contribution to the field of social policy, either through campaigning, lobbying, service provision, fundraising, journalism, funding of research, dissemination of research (particularly to practitioners and other non-academic audiences) or through other non-academic means. They must be nominated by two members of the Social Policy Association and the candidates do not need to be members of the SPA (but will be strongly encouraged to join).

Best New Publication

This award is made to the author/s of any book, book chapter or article in an academic or other general periodical published between July 2008 and July 2009. It should make a significant contribution to the discipline of Social Policy as judged by the award panel. This can be in terms of advancement of theoretical or empirical understanding, or as a contribution to teaching and learning. Thus, the definitive general textbook is not excluded. Nominations can be made by any two members of the SPA and the candidate/s need not be a member(s) of the SPA (but will be strongly encouraged to join). Publishers cannot nominate publications for this award. A full copy of the publication must be included with the nomination form – this will be returned to the nominator when judging is complete.

Best Postgraduate Paper

This award is made to the author/s of any conference paper presented at a national or international social policy conference between June 2008 and July 2009 (including the Social Policy Association’s annual conference, and national postgraduate conferences) The author/s of the paper must have been studying for a recognised postgraduate qualification at the time of the presentation. The subject matter of the paper must be directly related to and promote a greater understanding of the discipline of Social Policy. The paper must be fully written up (abstracts and/or overheads are not acceptable) and be of publishable quality. The winner of this award will have their paper published in Social Policy Review, subject to the usual editorial process.

Nominations can be made by any two members of the SPA and the candidate/s need not be a member(s) of the SPA (but will be strongly encouraged to join). A full copy of the publication must be included with the nomination form – this will be returned to the nominator when judging is complete.

Festival of science: work is good for you

info@social-policy.com (SPA) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 16:39:05 GMT

Work is good for you: poverty, welfare and work

Presidential session of Sociology & Social Policy Section

The British Science Association

Festival of Science

September 2009

University of Surrey

Jane Millar, University of Bath, and 2009 President of the Sociology and Social Policy Section, organised this session at the Festival, exploring the impact of work and unemployment impact on income, identity, well-being and social relationships. Jane started by setting the scene, discussing who does, and who should, work in the context of the current ‘work for all’ policy approach. Tim Strangleman, University of Kent, explored the ways in which the experience of work and unemployment have been approached in the sociological literature, and showed how photographic records provide changing representations of work. Tess Ridge, Centre for the Analysis of Social Policy, University of Bath, discussed her current research on children’s perspectives of work and unemployment in low-wage lone-mother families. Sue Yeandle, Director of the Centre for International Research on Care and Equalities, University of Leeds, summarised a range of studies showing the major impact that work unemployment has on the family relationships, wellbeing, and identities of carers.

The session attracted an interested audience and led to a lively debate about the meaning and value of work in the UK today.

For more information about the Sociology and Social Policy Section of The British Science Association, contact Simon Prideaux (University of Leeds, S.J.Prideaux@leeds.ac.uk), who is the Social Policy Association link person.

NCRM Autumn School for early career researchers

info@social-policy.com (SPA) — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 11:03:39 GMT

This is a link to the forthcoming ESRC National Centre for Research Methods Autumn School for early career researchers. This might be of interest to SPA members.

http://www.ncrm.ac.uk/training/?action=event_details&id=2340

SPA Annual Awards 2009

info@social-policy.com (SPA) — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 16:25:25 GMT

The Social Policy Association Annual Awards

The Social Policy Association is pleased to announce the call for nominations for this year’s awards, sponsored by The Guardian, Cambridge University Press and Policy Press. This year the judges we be our President, Nick Timmins (Financial Times), Professor Marian Barnes (Brighton) Professor Gary Craig (Hull) and Professor Jan Pahl (Kent) and judging will be chaired by the Awards Officer, Professor Kirstein Rummery (Stirling). Winners will receive their awards at the special Gala Dinner held during the annual Social Policy Association conference at the University of Edinburgh 29th June-1st July.

All nominators must be members of the Social Policy Association. Please read the rules and criteria for each award carefully before making your nominations. Nominations are invited for the following awards:

Awards

Lifetime Achievement

This award is limited to SPA members and must be nominated by five members of the Social Policy Association. It will be awarded annually to a person the judges feel:

Has made persistent contributions to research and organisation (of major conferences, influential reports, SPA Exec posts, etc.) that has raised the external profile of the subject; and
Has achieved recognition by non-academics with interest in social policy - journalists, campaigners and lobbyists, activists, user communities; and
Has an acknowledged international reputation, as measured in terms of translations, citations, projects, academic posts; and
Has made contributions to professional bodies and associations; and
Has had an impact on political process/discourse (advisor to government, consultant to voluntary bodies/local government etc.); and
Has achieved esteem measured in terms of journal editing/establishing, promotion of social policy within other social sciences, membership of research councils or similar bodies.

Nominations for this award must be accompanied by the candidate’s full CV.

Best Newcomer

Evidence of a significant publications record: eg books and book chapters published; articles in key Social Policy journals; cited works; presentations at key national and international conferences, and/or
Evidence of a significant contribution made to the teaching of social policy: eg contribution to authored or edited textbooks; development of new degree courses; innovations in teaching methods, and/or
Evidence of an outstanding record in research for someone early in their career: eg securing of research grants; developing and leading research networks; a significant contribution to the development of research methodologies, and/or
Evidence of esteem outside the academic community: eg in developing links with user communities; providing advice to voluntary, private and government agencies on policy issues.

Nominations for this award must be accompanied by the candidate’s full CV.

Outstanding Contribution from a Non-academic

Best New Publication

This award is made to the author/s of any book, book chapter or article in an academic or other general periodical published between July 2007 and July 2008. It should make a significant contribution to the discipline of Social Policy as judged by the award panel. This can be in terms of advancement of theoretical or empirical understanding, or as a contribution to teaching and learning. Thus, the definitive general textbook is not excluded. Nominations can be made by any two members of the SPA and the candidate/s need not be a member(s) of the SPA (but will be strongly encouraged to join). Publishers cannot nominate publications for this award. A full copy of the publication must be included with the nomination form – this will be returned to the nominator when judging is complete.

Best Postgraduate Paper

This award is made to the author/s of any conference paper presented at a national or international social policy conference between July 2007 and July 2008 (including the Social Policy Association’s annual conference, and national postgraduate conferences) The author/s of the paper must have been studying for a recognised postgraduate qualification at the time of the presentation. The subject matter of the paper must be directly related to and promote a greater understanding of the discipline of Social Policy. The paper must be fully written up (abstracts and/or overheads are not acceptable) and be of publishable quality. The winner of this award will have their paper published in Social Policy Review.

New editor needed for Social Policy Review

info@social-policy.com (SPA) — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 16:22:46 GMT

The Social Policy Association is looking for a new editor to join the editorial team of Social Policy Review. The new editor will shadow the current team (Ian Greener, Chris Holden and Majella Kilkey) for the production of Social Policy Review 22, and join the team as a full member for Social Policy Review 23-25, with their term of office therefore ending in 2012. Applicants should be members of the Social Policy Association, have an understanding of contemporary issues in social policy and have some editing experience. Please contact Kirstein.Rummery@stir.ac.uk or Ian Greener ian.greener@durham.ac.uk with any informal enquiries about the post

Applicants should send a covering letter stating why they are suitable for the post, and a copy of their CV to the incoming Chief Editor, Ian Greener, at

Dr. Ian Greener
Reader in Applied Social Sciences/Social Policy,
School of Applied Social Sciences, Durham University
32 Old Elvet Durham DH1 3HN

ian.greener@durham.ac.uk

Applications should be received by Friday 27th March and applicants will be informed of the outcome by the end of April. The successful candidate will be expected to shadow the current editorial team from May 2009.

Kirstein Rummery

Chief Editor, Social Policy Review 21

SPA annual awards

info@social-policy.com (SPA) — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 11:50:16 GMT

The Social Policy Association Annual Awards

The Social Policy Assocation is pleased to announce the call for nominations for this year’s awards, sponsored by The Guardian, Cambridge University Press and Policy Press. This year the judges are all past winners of our prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award, Jonathan Bradshaw (York), Hilary Land (Bristol), Adrian Sinfield (Edinburgh), and Alan Walker (Sheffield) and judging will be chaired by Kirstein Rummery (Stirling). Winners will receive their awards at the special Gala Dinner held during the annual Social Policy Association conference at the University of Edinburgh 23rd-25th June 2008.

Awards

Lifetime Achievement

This award is limited to SPA members and must be nominated by five members of the Social Policy Association. It will be awarded annually to a person the judges feel:

Has made persistent contributions to research and organisation (of major conferences, influential reports, SPA Exec posts, etc.) that has raised the external profile of the subject; and

Has achieved recognition by non-academics with interest in social policy: journalists, campaigners and lobbyists, activists, user communities; and
Has an acknowledged international reputation, as measured in terms of translations, citations, projects, academic posts; and
Has made contributions to professional bodies and associations; and
Has had an impact on political process/discourse (advisor to government, consultant to voluntary bodies/local government etc.); and
Has achieved esteem measured in terms of journal editing/establishing, promotion of social policy within other social sciences, membership of research councils or similar bodies.

Nominations for this award must be accompanied by the candidate’s full CV.

Best Newcomer

Evidence of a significant publications record: eg books and book chapters published; articles in key Social Policy journals; cited works; presentations at key national and international conferences, and/or

Evidence of a significant contribution made to the teaching of social policy: eg contribution to authored or edited textbooks; development of new degree courses; innovations in teaching methods, and/or
Evidence of an outstanding record in research for someone early in their career: eg securing of research grants; developing and leading research networks; a significant contribution to the development of research methodologies, and/or
Evidence of esteem outside the academic community: eg in developing links with user communities; providing advice to voluntary, private and government agencies on policy issues.

Nominations for this award must be accompanied by the candidate’s full CV.

Outstanding Contribution from a Non-academic

Best New Publication

This award is made to the author/s of any book, book chapter or article in an academic or other general periodical published between July 2006 and July 2007. It should make a significant contribution to the discipline of Social Policy as judged by the award panel. This can be in terms of advancement of theoretical or empirical understanding, or as a contribution to teaching and learning. Thus, the definitive general textbook is not excluded. Nominations can be made by any two members of the SPA and the candidate/s need not be a member(s) of the SPA (but will be strongly encouraged to join). Publishers cannot nominate publications for this award. A full copy of the publication must be included with the nomination form – this will be returned to the nominator when judging is complete.

Best Postgraduate Paper

This award is made to the author/s of any conference paper presented at a national or international social policy conference between July 2006 and July 2007 (including the Social Policy Association’s annual conference, and national postgraduate conferences) The author/s of the paper must have been studying for a recognised postgraduate qualification at the time of the presenation. The subject matter of the paper must be directly related to and promote a greater understanding of the discipline of Social Policy. The paper must be fully written up (abstracts and/or overheads are not acceptable) and be of publishable quality. The winner of this award will have their paper published in Social Policy Review.

New SPA conference link

info@social-policy.com (SPA) — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 13:53:42 GMT

You can now find out more about the annual SPA conference to be held in Edinburgh this year and next. This is the new website.

Developing a code of research ethics in social policy

info@social-policy.com (SPA) — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 12:27:56 GMT

SPA Seminar: Developing a code of research ethics in social policy: exploring key issues

Friday January 18th 2008, 10.30-4.00

University of Manchester, The Boardroom, 2nd Floor, Arthur Lewis Building, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL

The Social Policy Association is in the process of developing its own code of research ethics. To contribute to this, we are organising a seminar to discuss the ethical issues that social policy researchers face and how these should be incorporated into a code of research ethics for the Association.

There will be a small charge (£12 for SPA members; £15 for non-members) for the seminar to cover lunch and refreshments. To book & pay on-line go to: http://www.socialsciences.manchester.ac.uk/disciplines/politics/events/spa/

Social scientists sought to help FSA meet strategic goal

info@social-policy.com (SPA) — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 16:31:18 GMT

The Food Standards Agency is looking to appoint a Chair and up to ten members of a new, independent Social Science Research Committee (SSRC).

The SSRC will play an important role in helping the Agency achieve its strategic goal of strengthening its capacity for social science research. It will advise and critically assess how the Agency gathers and uses social science evidence and advice. The Agency will rely on the SSRC to keep it in touch with relevant social science activity both in the UK and internationally, and to draw on wider expertise as appropriate to advise the Agency. Both Chair and members will therefore come from a variety of social science disciplines, be experts in their subjects, with proven academic or professional records, and have good links with a wide range of academics and research organisations.

An opportunity also exists for one lay member to be part of the Committee. The lay member will have experience of working on consumer issues and of working with others in a committee context. They will need to be able to work with the social science members to ensure that the Committee’s advice takes account of consumer concerns.

The deadline for applications is 7 December 2007. For more information or an application pack, please visit www.food.gov.uk/socialscience or call Jane Barrett on 020 7276 8263.

Edinburgh 2008, update

info@social-policy.com (SPA) — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 11:09:33 GMT

Further details of the SPA conference, to be held in Edinburgh, have now been posted on the Conferences section of this website.