The science of us: what lies ahead for UK social science?

The social sciences have never been more vital. But they still face challenges in terms of quantitative skills and the diversity of available funding.

By any measure, UK social science is in good shape. The recent Business of People report, international benchmarking reviews and case studies from the Research Excellence Framework demonstrate its many strengths. Sir Mark Walport, the government's chief scientific adviser, has praised its contributions, most recently in strategies to tackle Ebola.

We also have a robust infrastructure to meet the data challenges that face us. For the first time in decades, the main birth cohort and longitudinal studies have secure homes and infrastructure funding. The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) has worked hard to create its Administrative Data Research Network, and has taken innovative steps to promote the use of big data. Such investments give UK social science a real advantage in the kinds of empirical work that can be done.