Shaping Research Agenda of the Social and Human Sciences in Asia-Pacific

Context

In the framework of its Management of Social Transformation (MOST) Programme, and in response to the Call to Action by Member States related to the 2017 Recommendation on Science and Scientific Researchers (RSSR), UNESCO and the Association of Asian Social Science Research Councils (AASSREC) are organizing a regional workshop to discuss the research agenda in the social and human sciences in Indo-Pacific.

This discussion takes place in a context of profound regional societal changes in recent years.

Societies throughout the region are today facing new challenges and questions pertaining to human-environment relations; in the viability of economic models of development that have-for all their achievements-generated manifest inequalities; in the ways people teach, learn, and work in a new era of systemic digitalization; and in the socio-technical transformations coming to bear on the lives of both current and future generations.

To facilitate regional states and organisations successful navigation of these changes, a robust and localised research capability in the social and human sciences is vital to the support of forward-looking policies, to produce cutting-edge knowledge, to analyse the major trends of transformation, and to anticipate risks of harm vis-à-vis individuals and societies over the long term. Yet, the research ecosystems of the social and human sciences have remained weak in many countries in the region, as well as marginalised in the public arena and policy dialogue processes on sustainable development. This is the case despite the advent of thousands of new and expanded research centres and institutions that have been developed or adapted to national priorities,¹ as well as the and recent emergence of tens of thousands of new publication outlets that have been created for the widespread sharing of scholarly work.²

The analysis of the major challenges facing South-East Asia has framed UNESCO's Position Paper 'Harnessing the power of the social and human sciences to shape inclusive, sustainable, and just societies in South-East Asia', guiding the work that the Organization is conducting with the national and regional partners. In parallel with this development, AASSREC has launched a new programme, 'Boosting Social Sciences and their Contribution to Better Lives across the Indo-Pacific', in partnership with the Global Development Network (GDN) and with support from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC). One objective of this programme is to increase the social science research involvement and capacity in collaborative research projects on key topics of common concern-a focus that aligns closely with UNESCO's own framework.

^{[1] https://www.unesco.org/reports/science/2021/en
[2] Open Access Publishing in Asian Countries: Trends and Policy Perspectives | Frontiers Research Topic (frontiersin.org)}

Rationale and Objectives of the Workshop

On 8 May 2024, UNESCO and AASSREC will convene a closed consultation workshop to begin framing the research agenda and priorities that will be discussed during the Regional Summit on Social Science Funding and Collaboration in the Indo-Pacific, the latter scheduled for 9 through 10 May 2024, in Bangkok, and co-hosted by AASSREC and the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT), in partnership with the Global Development Network (GDN) and UNESCO, and with the support of the International Development Research Centre (IDRC).

The workshop has two objectives:

1. To shed light on and contextualise the global issues for the Social and Human Sciences that UNESCO has prioritised in its global programmes, in order to inform and align with the research agenda that the AASSREC programme, 'Boosting Social Sciences and their Contribution to Better Lives across the Indo-Pacific', will deploy through research grants, policy papers and researcher mentoring activities;

2. To articulate and understand the alignments between the different components of the AASSREC programme and UNESCO Recommendation on Science and Scientific Researchers and UNESCO Comprehensive strategy for the MOST Programme (2022-2029): and particularly revolving around three pillars at the global level: (i) Research; (ii) Intergovernmental Dialogue; and (iii) Knowledge Brokerage - with the view to ensure synergies, impacts and sustainability.

Focus Areas of Discussion

In the face of the major global challenges of the century, the 2023 MOST regional Conference in Asia-Pacific has indicated that moving forward, the social and human sciences should help societies to:

• Deconstruct, inquire, and investigate (e.g. deconstructing inegalitarian systems; unpacking the diversity of regions; interrogating the development models; documenting the changes in peoples' lives and environments); and
• Reconnect, reimagine, and repair (e.g. catalysing scientific collaboration; improving research-policy linkages; reimagining the possible futures; reforming learning and teaching; mobilising spiritual/interfaith dialogue, and accessing indigenous knowledge systems).

Following this two-fold methodology, this workshop will discuss the following topics:

1. Fostering Scientific Knowledge Production and Research Systems in a changing world with the UNESCO Recommendation on Sciences and Scientific Researchers;
2. Enacting Gender Equality with Gender Studies;
3. Advancing Ethics of Science and Technology in the Era of AI and Digital Transformation;
4. Informing Climate Action with Ethical Principles and Sustainability Science;
5. Informing the Anti-Racism and Anti-Discrimination Agenda with Social and Human Sciences Lenses;
6. Other priorities for the region as identified by participants and AASSREC members.

Who will attend?

Participation in the workshop is based on invitations made to:

• UNESCO experts from UNESCO Regional Offices and Headquarters;
• AASSREC Executive Council, Secretariat, and Program Steering Committee Members;
• Senior representatives of general and social and human science research bodies from Asia-Pacific; and
• Senior executives of regional research organisations (universities, the UN and development agencies).

Programme Overview for the Workshop

09.00 Welcome Address

• Soohyun Kim, Regional Director, UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok
• Prof. Dhananjay Singh, President of AASSREC

09.15 Programme Overview

• Phinith Chanthalangsy, Programme Specialist, Social and Human Sciences Unit, UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok

09.25 Keynote Speech

• UNESCO MOST Programme and the Global Scientific Cooperation in the Social and Human Sciences, by Gustavo Merino, Director for Social Policies, UNESCO

09.55 Overview of the Boosting Social Sciences in the Indo-Pacific Programme

• Michelle Bruce, Secretary-General of AASSREC

10.10 Q&A Session

10.30 Break

11.00 Discussion 1: Informing the Anti-Racism and Anti-Discrimination Agenda with Social and Human Sciences Lenses

• Prof. Komatra Chuengsatiansup, Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre, Thailand (TBC)
• Maxat Baibekov, UNESCO Almaty Regional Office

11.45 Discussion 2: Enacting Gender Equality with Gender Studies

• Eunsong Kim, UNESCO New Delhi Regional Office
• Prof. Rosselle Leah, University of the Philippines

12.30 Discussion 3: Advancing Ethics of Science and Technology in the Era of AI and Digital Transformation

• Prof. Zeng Yi, Chinese Academy of Sciences (online)
• Undral Ganbaatar, UNESCO Regional Office in Jakarta

13.15 Lunch

14.15 Discussion 4: Fostering Scientific Knowledge Production and Research Systems in a changing world

• The UNESCO Recommendation on Sciences and Scientific Researchers, by Carl Vannetelbosch, UNESCO (online)
• Francesco Obino, GDN Director of Programs

15.00 Discussion 5: Informing Climate Action with Ethical Principles and Sustainability Science

• Prof. Johan Hattingh, Chair of the Expert Group on the Declaration on the Ethical Principles in relation with Climate Change, South Africa (online)
• Phinith Chanthalangsy, UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok

15.45 Discussion 6: Other social sciences priorities for the Asia-Pacific region

16.15 Fostering Scientific Cooperation: Examining Synergies between MOST and AASSREC Programme

• UNESCO Programme Specialists from the Asia-Pacific region
• Michelle Bruce, Secretary-General of AASSREC

16.45 Conclusion and Ways Forwards

• Mr Chris Hatherly, AASSREC

17.00 Coffee & Tea

For more information

Contact: Social and Human Sciences (SHS) Unit, UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok: shs.bgk(at)unesco.org

For more information regarding the Social Science Funding and Collaboration in the Indo-Pacific: Regional Summit, to be organized on 9-10 May 2024, please visit AASSREC's webpage here.

#SocialTransformation #YouthEmpowerment #EthicsOfAI #EthicsOfScience #SocialInclusion #SocialDiversity

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