UK Social Cognition Network
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Kent
Department Name: Sch of Psychology
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Organisations
| Description | The UK Social Cognition Network and Training Scheme (SCONET) promotes training, mobility, and networking opportunities for early career social cognition researchers in the UK. Social cognition is a 'hub' science that bridges the gap between cognitive and social sciences. Researchers in this field examine the foundations of human judgments and behaviour, as well as the reciprocal relationship between the social world and mental processes. Over the last two years, SCONET has provided a platform to support early career scientists, and has contributed to promote social cognition as a research discipline in the UK. This was accomplished through three core initiatives. First, we have organised three colloquia (2009, 2010,and 2011) involving 17 internationally recognised experts from six different countries, as well as 65 PhD students and early career researchers from 27 different institutions in the UK and abroad (Ireland, Germany, France, Netherlands, Australia). In addition, we have provided travel bursaries for 20 PhD students and early career researchers from 13 UK institutions, enabling them to attend four national and six international events. Lastly, we developed a website ( www.socialcognition.co.uk) that contains many useful features and offers a platform for exchange between academics, and with non-academic users. |
| Exploitation Route | This was a training and networking initiative, which serves as an excellent template for offering specialised training to PhD students and early career researchers in specific subject areas. |
| Sectors | Education,Other |
| URL | http://www.socialcognition.co.uk |
| Description | The activities supported by the training and networking grant advanced empirical understanding, methods, and theory. Examples include: - Clare Rathbone established collaborations, which led to the development of a new research paradigm to investigate the relationship between the self and memory - Nicolas Koranyi asserts that he made significant scientific advances as a result of applying his research to a new domain, following the advice of a consulting expert (Fiedler) - Andrea Paulus has established collaborations with a former PhD student of a consulting expert (Wigboldus). - MilicaVasiljevic has conducted a study with consulting experts from the US (Sherman) and his PhD students. - Caroline Leygue is using new priming methods in the domain of energy use. The method was developed during a consultation. - Dimitrios Xenias is now working on a new MRI project on perceptions of climate change, again stimulated through discussions with experts. - Saima Noreen is investigating both cognitive and social processes implicated in forgetting, which marks an important advancement in her field. SCONET unified social cognition research in the UK and strengthen the field's sense of identity, as evidenced, for example, by the sixty-six UK academics registered on the network website (see http://www.socialcognition.co.uk/persons). A good example for the contributions to building research capacity is the case of Clare Rathbone. Assisted by a SCONET travel bursary, Clare established a collaboration with a researcher in the US, which led to a successful bid for an ESRC Future Research Leaders Award. In terms of research tools, the SCONET website (http://www.socialcognition.co.uk/) provides a central repository of frequently updated links, articles and news relevant to research, networking and careers in social cognition. The community also continues to grow, which is evidence of the ongoing positive impact that SCONET has on the field. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2010 |
| Sector | Education,Other |
| Impact Types | Cultural,Societal,Economic,Policy & public services |
| Description | Roberts Funding - PG conference cutting edge social cognition |
| Amount | £1,007 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Research Councils UK (RCUK) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | |
| Description | Research assessments, tuition fees, and funding cuts : a situated perspective on how to get a job in academia |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Workshop on funding and career opportunities held at the BPS Social Section Conference, St Andrews University, Scotland. Students reported changing strategies in how they approach their PhD research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011,2012 |
| Description | Riding the roads to Rome : how to get a job in academia |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Lecture on postdoctoral research opportunities in Europe presented at the Graduate Student Conference of the annual meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP) in San Antonio, TX. n/a |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
| Description | Routes into academia |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Workshop on career opportunities held at the Postgraduate Research Festival, University of Kent, UK. Due to the success of the event organised in 2011 for the first time, the workshop has become part of the skills training offered through the University of Kent Graduate School. The workshop is now held every year. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011,2012,2013,2014 |
| Description | University of Kent supports new generation of scientists |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Media release organised by the University of Kent Press Office. Media release to mark the beginning of the training and networking activities. Media release to mark the beginning of the training and networking activities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009 |