Welcome to the Summer issue of Society Now, the


ESRC’s regular magazine which showcases the impact of the social science research we fund. This is an unusual issue in that much of it


was written before the June General Election was called. As a consequence, many of the articles have been updated to reflect the surprise result, with authors speculating at short notice on what impact the Conservative-DUP informal coalition may have on the Brexit negotiations, the impact of Brexit on Ireland’s borders, or even the UK benefits system. We have a report on the debate on the roles


of experts and politicians between Michael Gove MP and Professor Jonathan Portes. And a feature examines how linking together multiple sources of existing data brings a new dimension to research to have a positive effect on health and wellbeing.


Opinion pieces examine our relationship


with robotics and what can be done to counter fake news. And we interview Professor Louise Arseneault who explains why, with an ageing population, it is important to think about mental health when young. Nick Stevens, Editor - nick.stevens@esrc.ac.uk


Society ESRC RE


RCRESEARCH MAKING AN IMPACT SUMMER 2017 ISSUE 28


ow I


Diffi cult days ahead What future for hard Brexit?


Portes vs Gove: The real value of experts


Ireland: How can a post-Brexit border work?


The views and statements


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


Voices: Developing a new approach to mental health


In this issue


REGULARS 3 News


12 Opinion Why we need to do a better job dehyping robotics to show the potential of the technology.


13 Opinion What can be done by government and social media platforms to tackle fake news?


20 The UK by numbers: Trade and economy


CONTRIBUTORS


James Anderson is Emeritus Professor of Political Geography in the Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice


Sabine Hauert is Lecturer in Robotics at the University of Bristol


2 SOCIETY NOW SUMMER 2017


Martin Ince is a freelance science writer, media adviser and media trainer


Marina Jirotka is Professor of Human Centred Computing, Associate Director of the Oxford e-Research Centre


Tom Waters is a research economist at the Institute for Fiscal Studies


Dr Helen Parr is senior lecturer at Keele University


Helena Webb is a senior researcher at the University of Oxford


10 12 16 18


22 FEATURES


10 A question of benefits Tom Waters of the Institute for Fiscal Studies examines the changes to the employment and support allowance.


12 Ireland’s borders after Brexit Professor James Anderson examines the impact of Brexit on Ireland and the border between the north and the Republic.


16 Hanging by a thread? How could the election result lead to a change in the politics of Brexit?


18 Better knowledge better society Linking together multiple sources of existing data can have significant impact by evaluating effectiveness of existing policies and services.


22 Portes meets Gove In March, Michael Gove MP and Professor Jonathan Portes debated the roles of experts and politicians. What did they conclude?


24 Voices: Thinking ahead Professor Louise Arseneault, the ESRC’s first mental health champion, explains the importance of a cross-disciplinary approach to mental health.


24


PLUS


Society Now TRADE AND


ECONOMY BY NUMBERS


All Society Now photography © Alamy unless otherwise marked


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