SOCGEN: Combining Social Science and Molecular Genetic Research to Examine Inequality and the Life Course

Although there has been an explosion in the amount of the data in the UK that contains information that has both social science indicators (e.g., education, social status) and molecular genetic data (data with genetic markers), it has yet to be exploited by social scientists. Knowledge from social scientists about how to properly use this data to answer social science research questions and statistical tools to accommodate social science problems remains underdeveloped. Yet this new data will allow social scientists to examine fundamentally new research questions and has the potential for substantive breakthroughs. For the first time in history social scientists can uncover whether there is a genetic and biological component to many of the behaviours that have until now only largely been attributed to social factors. Increasing studies demonstrate that there is a genetic component to core social science topics such as educational level and wellbeing. There are, however, many pitfalls to conducting this type of research including lack of accessible learning and teaching material aimed at social scientists and appropriate statistical models or robustness checks of existing models.

A primary objective of this project is to bring together substantive social science researchers in the field of inequality and the life course with expertise in statistics, biodemography, and quantitative molecular genetics to develop innovative learning resources, statistical models and packages to address the specific shortcomings in this substantive area of research. Developing accessible teaching resources and tailored statistical models and packages will allow UK social scientists to become trendsetting pioneers in answering new biosocial research questions. This will allow us to convey how insights from molecular genetic data and research can be integrated into life course (and social science) research.

We have already established strong links with relevant stakeholders in the area of the life course via our FamiliesAndSocieties European Project. This includes patient groups, medical practitioners and policy makers in the UK, but also in Europe and internationally. We would invite a selected number of these stakeholders to the kick-off meeting with our Expert Advisory Group at start of the project to obtain feedback and suggestions regarding our plans. At the end of the project we would also invite several stakeholders to participate in the final workshop and provide comments and with the hope that they are able to take useable ideas back to their own peers, patients or policy forums. The input of these stakeholders was also considered at an early stage while preparing this proposal.

Since we also plan to present our results at conferences where medical practitioners are also present, our research will also impact medical doctors such as our results that examine genetic markers, GxE and understanding complex diseases. Particularly the patient groups and medical practice would be very interested in understanding the mechanisms that lead to certain unequal life course outcomes. By developing further knowledge about how lifestyle and social factors are related to genetic markers, the project can directly improve the health and and well-being of individuals. By informing medical practitioners of our results, the project also has the capacity to change organizational culture and practices.

As outlined in our proposal, our aim is to hold a final workshop at the end of this project with leading scholars in the field in order to highlight the main results of this project. In addition to academics, we will also invite several stakeholders and representatives from the media to comment and report on the event. At this time we will also distribute a summary pamphlet of the project, which will include a basic summary of the project and links to our website.

In order to attract a more general public, we will provide a summary of results in a more general form, producing graphics, but also a list of Frequently Asked Questions, which is useful for journalists and the general public.
The researchers will disseminate the results of their academic findings using several other additional social media mediums. First, our aim is to produce a bi-monthly blog that will rotate amongst the researchers in the project. It will be one that is accessible to a more general public and touches upon the main issues of the project. We will also invite questions and comments from the general public on the website, which we can respond. Second, we aim to set-up a Twitter account and send our results to the broadest audience possible.

We will work closely with the University's press office to provide accessible and timely press releases about work and any outreach activities. As described previously, this will be accompanied with a Frequently Asked Questions document for each article and material that we produce that is written in a way that is accessible to journalists and the general public. A recent blog on human fertility and molecular genetics, for instance, (http://www.openpop.org/?p=1111) gained particular interest and was praised by the journalists discussing our research with us as clear and accessible and coverage in major newspapers (Guardian, The Times, The Independent, New York Times).

Together with the Oxford Research Centre in the Humanities (TORCH) and the Ashmolean University Engagement Programme (http://torch.ox.ac.uk/ashmolean-project-portal), we will aim to develop a project around the Ashmolean's exhibition. The aim of the Oxford project is to link University research to the museum's forthcoming exhibitions. If we did receive the funding, would be able to submit an application, which they consider on a rolling basis. We would also engage in a press release and highlight this outreach activity.