Socially Engaged Research (SER) is a strategic research approach that aims to involve diverse societal stakeholders in the research process. The primary goal of this approach is to improve the accountability, responsibility, quality, relevance, and positive impact of research on society at regional, national, and international levels. The benefits of SER for society are numerous and far-reaching.
First and foremost, SER can help ensure that research is grounded in the realities of society. This means that research outcomes are more likely to be relevant to the needs of society and have a positive impact on people's lives. By involving diverse stakeholders, SER can help identify research gaps and priorities that might not have been identified otherwise.
SER can also lead to innovative solutions for complex societal problems. By encouraging collaboration between academia, industry, government, and civil society, SER can help to develop new knowledge and ideas that can address the challenges faced by society. This is particularly important for issues such as climate change, public health, and social inequality, where interdisciplinary approaches are required.
Another benefit of SER is that it can help to build public trust and improve the reputation of life sciences. By involving the public in the research process and ensuring that research is transparent and accountable, SER can help to create a better understanding of the value of research and its potential benefits for society. This, in turn, can lead to greater public support for research and help to attract funding for important projects.
SER can also have positive economic impacts. By developing new knowledge and innovative solutions, SER can help to drive economic growth and create new job opportunities. This is particularly important for industries such as biotechnology and healthcare, which have the potential to make a significant contribution to the economy.
Finally, SER can help to promote social justice and equity. By involving diverse stakeholders in the research process, SER can help to ensure that research outcomes are beneficial to all members of society, regardless of their background or circumstances. This is important for addressing issues such as health disparities and social inequality.
The benefits of SER for society are numerous and far-reaching. SER can help ensure that research is relevant to the needs of society and has a positive impact on people's lives. It can also lead to innovative solutions for complex societal problems and help to build public trust and improve the reputation of life sciences. SER can have positive economic impacts and promote social justice and equity. By embracing the principles of SER, life sciences can become more responsive to the needs of society and help to address the complex challenges facing the world today.
The BETTERLife Project is launching the first Newsletter to introduce the project. This edition covers topics such as:
◾️Socially Engaged Research in Life Sciences
◾️Implementing Socially Engaged Research in Higher Education
◾️European Digital Centre of Excellence BETTER Life
◾️Innovative Practices and Stakeholder Interactions
◾️Sustainability in BETTER Life and much more!
Check out the full newsletter More updates of this project
BETTER Life applied in The Falling Walls Global Call
Falling Walls representatives nominated the BETTER Life project to apply to the Global Call.
The Falling Walls Global Call is an international com [...]
Advancing Socially Engaged Research in Life Sciences through the Definition of a Framework and Standards
The EU-funded project BETTER Life aims to foster socially engaged research in life sciences as a strategy for tackling diverse societal challenges. Th [...]
Pushing the Boundaries of European Research in Life Sciences through Social Engagement
In this week's kick-off meeting, ACEEU participated in the launching of the BETTER-Life project (Bringing Excellence to Transformative Socially Engage [...]
