The Complexity Science for the Real World Network
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Surrey
Department Name: Sociology
Abstract
The Complexity Science for the Real World Network will synthesise the knowledge gained from the four existing EPSRC projects (ENFOLD-ing, ERIE, SCID and The Care life Cycle) that have been funded under the Complexity Science for the Real World theme and disseminate it to those involved in the creation of public policy, as well as to the wider public. It will also provide channels for knowledge exchange between these audiences and the four projects.
A second objective of the Network is to enhance the communication between the four projects, providing a forum for the discussion of common tools, techniques and issues. The Network will also offer workshops and other help to the 20 doctoral students associated with the projects.
A second objective of the Network is to enhance the communication between the four projects, providing a forum for the discussion of common tools, techniques and issues. The Network will also offer workshops and other help to the 20 doctoral students associated with the projects.
Planned Impact
All the four Complexity Science for the Real World projects are committed to generating a greater understanding of 'real world' policy issues. The Network will help the projects disseminate their work to potential users and beneficiaries. Outside academia, those impacted will be:
1. Those concerned with the development and evaluation of policy (e.g. regional development, social care, globalisation, and immigration, to name just some of the main topics that are the focus of the four projects). These users may include:
- policy staff in central government
- researchers in policy institutes
- researchers and policy advisers in charities, pressure groups and NGOs
- the media.
2. The wider public, either directly or through one of the intermediaries listed under (1). In so far as policy changes will have effects in the market, there may also be impacts on business (e.g. if policy changes affect providers of social care).
As explained in the section on Pathways to Impact, the direct impact of the Network will be to magnify the impacts achievable by the individual projects. It is to be expected that these direct impacts will be achieved within the life of the Network project.
1. Those concerned with the development and evaluation of policy (e.g. regional development, social care, globalisation, and immigration, to name just some of the main topics that are the focus of the four projects). These users may include:
- policy staff in central government
- researchers in policy institutes
- researchers and policy advisers in charities, pressure groups and NGOs
- the media.
2. The wider public, either directly or through one of the intermediaries listed under (1). In so far as policy changes will have effects in the market, there may also be impacts on business (e.g. if policy changes affect providers of social care).
As explained in the section on Pathways to Impact, the direct impact of the Network will be to magnify the impacts achievable by the individual projects. It is to be expected that these direct impacts will be achieved within the life of the Network project.
Description | The network, especially its final conference, raised the profile of complexity science within government, and in particular among policy analysts and computational modellers in DECC and DEFRA. |
First Year Of Impact | 2014 |
Sector | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Government, Democracy and Justice |
Impact Types | Economic Policy & public services |
Description | Annual Network Meeting 2011 |
Organisation | Manchester Metropolitan University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Annual meeting across four projects funded under the 'Complexity Science in the Real World' initiative. Held in June 2011, included all principal investigators, Surrey, Southampton, UCL and Manchester. Project updates given and workshops held to identify and discuss common themes, including stakeholders and impact. |
Collaborator Contribution | Regular meetings and dissemination of outputs |
Impact | CSRW policy conference 2014 - see website link |
Start Year | 2011 |
Description | Annual Network Meeting 2011 |
Organisation | University College London |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Annual meeting across four projects funded under the 'Complexity Science in the Real World' initiative. Held in June 2011, included all principal investigators, Surrey, Southampton, UCL and Manchester. Project updates given and workshops held to identify and discuss common themes, including stakeholders and impact. |
Collaborator Contribution | Regular meetings and dissemination of outputs |
Impact | CSRW policy conference 2014 - see website link |
Start Year | 2011 |
Description | Annual Network Meeting 2011 |
Organisation | University of Manchester |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Annual meeting across four projects funded under the 'Complexity Science in the Real World' initiative. Held in June 2011, included all principal investigators, Surrey, Southampton, UCL and Manchester. Project updates given and workshops held to identify and discuss common themes, including stakeholders and impact. |
Collaborator Contribution | Regular meetings and dissemination of outputs |
Impact | CSRW policy conference 2014 - see website link |
Start Year | 2011 |
Description | Annual Network Meeting 2011 |
Organisation | University of Southampton |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Annual meeting across four projects funded under the 'Complexity Science in the Real World' initiative. Held in June 2011, included all principal investigators, Surrey, Southampton, UCL and Manchester. Project updates given and workshops held to identify and discuss common themes, including stakeholders and impact. |
Collaborator Contribution | Regular meetings and dissemination of outputs |
Impact | CSRW policy conference 2014 - see website link |
Start Year | 2011 |
Description | Annual Network Meeting 2012 |
Organisation | Manchester Metropolitan University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Annual meeting across four projects funded under the 'Complexity Science in the Real World' initiative. |
Collaborator Contribution | Meetings and dissemination |
Impact | CSRW policy conference |
Start Year | 2011 |
Description | Annual Network Meeting 2012 |
Organisation | University College London |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Annual meeting across four projects funded under the 'Complexity Science in the Real World' initiative. |
Collaborator Contribution | Meetings and dissemination |
Impact | CSRW policy conference |
Start Year | 2011 |
Description | Annual Network Meeting 2012 |
Organisation | University of Manchester |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Annual meeting across four projects funded under the 'Complexity Science in the Real World' initiative. |
Collaborator Contribution | Meetings and dissemination |
Impact | CSRW policy conference |
Start Year | 2011 |
Description | Annual Network Meeting 2012 |
Organisation | University of Southampton |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Annual meeting across four projects funded under the 'Complexity Science in the Real World' initiative. |
Collaborator Contribution | Meetings and dissemination |
Impact | CSRW policy conference |
Start Year | 2011 |
Description | Annual Network Meeting 2013 |
Organisation | Manchester Metropolitan University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Annual meeting across four projects funded under the 'Complexity Science in the Real World' initiative. |
Collaborator Contribution | Regular meetings and dissemination |
Impact | CSRW policy conference |
Start Year | 2011 |
Description | Annual Network Meeting 2013 |
Organisation | University College London |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Annual meeting across four projects funded under the 'Complexity Science in the Real World' initiative. |
Collaborator Contribution | Regular meetings and dissemination |
Impact | CSRW policy conference |
Start Year | 2011 |
Description | Annual Network Meeting 2013 |
Organisation | University of Manchester |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Annual meeting across four projects funded under the 'Complexity Science in the Real World' initiative. |
Collaborator Contribution | Regular meetings and dissemination |
Impact | CSRW policy conference |
Start Year | 2011 |
Description | Annual Network Meeting 2013 |
Organisation | University of Southampton |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Annual meeting across four projects funded under the 'Complexity Science in the Real World' initiative. |
Collaborator Contribution | Regular meetings and dissemination |
Impact | CSRW policy conference |
Start Year | 2011 |
Description | Complexity Science for the Real World annual conference 2010 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Type Of Presentation | keynote/invited speaker |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | The whole team wwere in attendance and utilised the event to promote ERIE among academics and to engage in discussion surrounding key themes and to develop the CSRW network. Successful engagement resulting in the successful submission of an EPSRC grant |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010 |
Description | Newsletter - including Impact case studies |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | 3 issues of printed newsletter produced, following monthly electronic updates. This was disseminated across projects and aimed at an audience of across project members (multi-discipline academics) and project stakeholders from a range of sectors. Most writing and photographs by Alison Cooper. Increased knowledge about the project |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011,2012,2013,2014 |
Description | Website |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Website structure and content redeveloped and launched, to include news pages - Feb 2013 - updates ongoing www.csrw.ac.uk. Most photos and writing by Alison Cooper. Wider knowledge of the project |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011,2012,2013,2014 |