Welcome to the Autumn issue of Society Now, the


ESRC’s regular magazine which showcases the impact of the social science research we fund. This issue our main feature looks at how the spread of computing into public spaces and areas such as transport and energy is making cities more efficient places to live and work. The ESRC Future of the UK and Scotland programme examined the independence referendum process and helped to inform the political, civic and public debates. Academics from the programme reflect on the meaning of the result. The words that speakers of British English use have changed radically – what does this tell us about public attitudes towards key issues? We look at food and how the economics of


mass-production may make food less safe. And we talk to Professor Jane Elliott, the new


Chief Executive of the ESRC, about how social science can tell us more about ourselves, our families and societies. I hope you find the magazine enjoyable and informative.


Nick Stevens, Editor - nick.stevens@esrc.ac.uk Society ESRC RESEARCH MAKING AN IMPACT


ESRCRESEARCHMAKI AUTUMN 2014 ISSUE 20


ow


The intelligent approach to urban life


Referendum refl ections: What the result means


Bucket brigade: Why so popular?


The views and statements


expressed in this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the ESRC


Smart cities


Voices: Increasing understanding of society


In this issue


REGULARS 3 News


14 Opinions Oz Hassan looks at President Obama’s strategy to defeat Islamic State; Kimberley Scharf and Sarah Smith examine the ice-bucket challenge.


20 The UK by numbers: Food


29 Information and updates People, publications, news in brief, websites and events.


CONTRIBUTORS


Aaron Boardley is a science writer and ESRC Press Officer


Professor Tony McEnery is Centre Director, Principal Investigator, ESRC Centre for Corpus Approaches to Social Science


2 SOCIETY NOW AUTUMN 2014


Steve Hinchliffe is Professor in Human Geography, University of Exeter


Kimberley Scharf is Professor of Economics and Research Area Director of CAGE, University of Warwick


Sarah Smith is Head of Department of Economics and Professor, University of Bristol


Dr Oz Hassan is an Assistant Professor of US National Security at the University of Warwick


24 FEATURES


10 The age of the smart city How is technology helping researchers, planners, technology experts and councils make cities more efficient?


16 Referendum reflections Academics from the ESRC Future of the UK and Scotland programme evaluate what the independence referendum result means for Scotland and the rest of the UK.


22 Safe to eat? Is food safety simply about better regulation and law enforcement or do we need to think again about the conditions under which the food we eat is produced?


24 A new world of words The words we use show what was, and is, most important to us and how public attitudes towards key issues in society are evolving.


26 Voices: Increasing understanding The new Chief Executive of the ESRC, Professor Jane Elliott, explains her fascination for research, the priorities and main challenges for the ESRC, and how social science can tell us more about ourselves and societies.


26 10 15 16 22


PLUS


Society Now FOOD AND DIET


BY NUMBERS


All Society Now photography © Alamy unless otherwise marked


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