Uploaded June 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
A roundtable discussion with perspectives from the social sciences and humanities.
In several Nordic countries as well as in the EU, several reports point to challenges for young
researchers in the social sciences and humanities (SSH). In this seminar, we would like to
approach two over‐arching issues.
First, over the last decades, challenge‐ and mission‐driven research has become
increasingly important. This tendency has many beneficial effects, for instance in
establishing closer connections between private and public partners or in aiding to make
research agendas more agile and flexible. However, this tendency may also be understood as
increasingly eclipsing more open‐ended, blue‐sky research. This is especially challenging—
some would say worrisome—within the SSH field.
Second, academic career paths for young SSH researchers in the Nordic countries are
under pressure from a range of sources. Such pressure includes the lack of sufficient
research funding, as well as the disconnect between an increasing number of temporary
research positions and a stable or decreasing number of permanent academic positions.
Seeking possible solutions to these problems, we ask:
• How should the Nordic countries meet this challenge to curiosity‐driven, basic research?
• In what ways can we ensure, politically and financially, that the SSH field become more
robust and thriving?
• What potential role can collaboration between SSH and other disciplines play?
• More broadly, what challenges, opportunities and risks does the future hold for young SSH
researchers?
• What new alliances can be forged within and between the Nordic countries, in order to
support young scholars within these fields?
• How can we strengthen the SSH field in Nordic research and education?
• What roles do higher education institutions play in preparing young SSH researchers for the
Nordic labour market?
More information to follow.
This event is a part of the 2022 Holberg Week, which takes place from 7 to 10 June.
holbergprize.org/en/news/holberg-prize/programme-2022-holberg-week
A roundtable discussion with perspectives from the social sciences and humanities.
In several Nordic countries as well as in the EU, several reports point to challenges for young
researchers in the social sciences and humanities (SSH). In this seminar, we would like to
approach two over‐arching issues.
First, over the last decades, challenge‐ and mission‐driven research has become
increasingly important. This tendency has many beneficial effects, for instance in
establishing closer connections between private and public partners or in aiding to make
research agendas more agile and flexible. However, this tendency may also be understood as
increasingly eclipsing more open‐ended, blue‐sky research. This is especially challenging—
some would say worrisome—within the SSH field.
Second, academic career paths for young SSH researchers in the Nordic countries are
under pressure from a range of sources. Such pressure includes the lack of sufficient
research funding, as well as the disconnect between an increasing number of temporary
research positions and a stable or decreasing number of permanent academic positions.
Seeking possible solutions to these problems, we ask:
• How should the Nordic countries meet this challenge to curiosity‐driven, basic research?
• In what ways can we ensure, politically and financially, that the SSH field become more
robust and thriving?
• What potential role can collaboration between SSH and other disciplines play?
• More broadly, what challenges, opportunities and risks does the future hold for young SSH
researchers?
• What new alliances can be forged within and between the Nordic countries, in order to
support young scholars within these fields?
• How can we strengthen the SSH field in Nordic research and education?
• What roles do higher education institutions play in preparing young SSH researchers for the
Nordic labour market?
More information to follow.
This event is a part of the 2022 Holberg Week, which takes place from 7 to 10 June.
holbergprize.org/en/news/holberg-prize/programme-2022-holberg-week
