Hi

Further to some recent mention about 'Design' as a sub-culture  
alongside Science and Humanities, the list might find this British  
Academy report of interest (copied below). I've not seen it myself yet  
but will look with interest on how the idea of a sub-culture of  
'Design' might fit into the idea of Social Science being a third 'sub- 
culture'.

Regards, Robert.



> DRASTIC UNIVERSITY CUTS WILL IMPERIL UK’s FUTURE SUCCESS
>
> President challenges “sterile and outdated notion” of two cultures
>
> Drastic funding cuts to university and research budgets will imperil  
> the massive contribution to the UK’s economic, social and cultural  
> life made by the humanities and social sciences, the President of  
> the British Academy, Sir Adam Roberts, will warn today (17June 2010).
>
> Launching a new booklet Past, Present and Future (1.6MB PDF) in the  
> House of Commons, as part of Universities Week. Sir Adam will  
> highlight the “enormous reservoir of public value” which these  
> disciplines generate, outlining their contribution to Britain’s  
> health, wealth and international reputation.
>
> He will also challenge “the sterile and outdated notion of a society  
> of two cultures” - drawing attention to the increasing mutual  
> dependencies of the natural sciences and the humanities and social  
> sciences in responding to the major social challenges of our age.
>
> The booklet identifies some of the major national and international  
> issues such as climate change, international security, economic  
> recovery and cultural heritage, which cannot be addressed without  
> contributions from economists, lawyers, historians, linguists,  
> philosophers, critics, archaeologists, geologists, sociologists,  
> anthropologists and psychologists.
>
> Moreover Past, Present and Future shows the direct economic impact  
> the study of these disciplines has on the UK economy, revealing that  
> over a seven-year period, there has been a rise of over 60% in the  
> number of international students coming to the country to study  
> these subjects, and live (and spend) here.
>
> The booklet gives a range of examples of the impact of humanities  
> and social science research.  It shows how the Stern Review, led by  
> economist Lord Nicholas Stern, drew attention to the economic,  
> social and human impacts of climate change; how leading historian,  
> David Cesarani, a specialist in the holocaust, has influenced  
> government policy on war crimes; and how legal experts are tackling  
> the dilemmas which new digital technologies are creating in crucial  
> areas of regulation, trust and privacy.
>
> Sir Adam Roberts, President of the British Academy said:“The recent  
> increase in the number of students from overseas studying the  
> humanities and social sciences outstrips those studying other  
> subjects, so we must be doing something right.
>
> “While we all recognise the severity of the UK’s economic  
> challenges, it is worrying that  research that is so essential to  
> our country’s health, wealth and international reputation could be  
> put in jeopardy.
>
> “How can we tackle terrorism without a deep understanding of the  
> phenomenon – and how terrorist campaigns actually end?  How can we  
> slow climate change if we don’t support work on how people change  
> their behaviour?  How can we make medical and scientific advances  
> without analysing their human and ethical implications?
>
> “The inter-dependencies of science and the humanities and social  
> sciences have never been clearer in the fast-paced, technologically  
> advanced world we now live.  It is vital we make sure these  
> disciplines are sustained in order to protect our long-term  
> interests as a nation.”
>
> To request a copy of Past, Present and Future please email [log in to unmask]
>


On 11 Jun 2010, at 17:40, Terence Love wrote:

> It's obvious any  attempts to make clear distinctions between  
> cultures of
> 'Design', 'Science', and 'Humanities' are based on dodgy foundations.