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New app launched to seek views on how the humanities can address the SDGs

14 July 2022

Academics at UCL are encouraged to share their views on how the contribution of the humanities to the SDGs could be further recognised and encouraged.

A photograph of text written by a child as part of a project where UCL information researchers are exploring how child social care records are recorded

A new app has been launched by a UCL project exploring why the humanities have not been as visible in work directly related to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as the arts and social sciences.

The tool enables academics across UCL to submit their ideas and suggestions of how humanities research – which covers disciplines from philosophy to modern languages and history – might develop in relation to the SDGs.

“Although people recognise that the humanities can make an important contribution to cross-disciplinary research on the SDGs, the opportunity has not been exploited to its full potential,” explained Professor Nicola Miller, Director of the UCL Institute of Advanced Studies (IAS), who is leading the project.

“Culture is an enabler and driver of sustainable development, but policymakers rarely draw on the vast reservoir of cultural expertise that is the humanities,” she added.

To understand why this is the case and to propose ways of addressing it, the project team, held a series of workshops with PhD students and discussions with academic staff at UCL. The discussions explored what is missed by not including the humanities in the debate, what could the humanities already be adding to the work on SDGs, and what more should be done to include the humanities?

To redress the balance, the UCL project has also developed a dedicated website to showcase how the humanities are helping to deliver the SDGs. Examples include research reforming the management of social records to help people brought up in care to understand their childhood experiences (pictured: a contribution to a textile piece called "the Plait", made by individuals with personal experiences of child social care records bringing a small item or piece of fabric that resonated with their experiences), which is helping to achieve SDG Target 16.10 (Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms).

“This is a very welcome project that will help to raise awareness of humanities research at UCL that is addressing the SDGs, and help shed light on how we can encourage more,’ said Simon Knowles, UCL’s Head of Coordination (SDGs).

The project was supported by a UCL Grand Challenges SDGs: Pathways to Achievement award in 202021.

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