Science That Studies and/or Creates Change?

Almost everyone who studies or has studied the social sciences and humanities—such as anthropology, sociology, ethnology, philosophy, and related fields—has probably encountered concerned looks from family members or friends and heard the question: "So, what are you going to do with that?" While this question often reflects a lack of awareness about these disciplines and the opportunities they offer, it is no secret that we ourselves frequently wonder how to meaningfully and purposefully apply the knowledge and skills we have gained through our studies and research.

Is the role of a researcher really limited to the university? After all, the knowledge generated by the social sciences can be put into practice and transformed into concrete action. How can we move beyond simply studying society to actively creating positive social change by applying the knowledge developed in academia?

The Idea Behind the “Social Sciences for Social Action” Project

Students of the social sciences and humanities possess the education and understanding needed to analyze today's social challenges, processes of social change, and global issues facing humanity. However, they often lack the knowledge, practical tools, or motivation to translate this understanding into meaningful action.

As a result, countless bachelor's and master's theses containing valuable insights, evidence, and practical recommendations for addressing social issues remain stored in university archives, never reaching a wider audience or informing real-world practice. University curricula often devote insufficient attention to developing the practical skills needed to turn academic knowledge into social impact.

Few students have the opportunity to learn how to design effective advocacy campaigns, communicate social issues to the public, organize protests or public demonstrations, analyze and influence political processes, or develop and implement social projects and educational programmes.

The idea for the Baltic-wide project "Social Sciences for Social Action" emerged from recognizing a common gap in knowledge about how to create meaningful social change. The project invites participants to learn how to apply the knowledge and methods of the social sciences and humanities to initiate and carry out civic engagement and activism.

While there are many programmes that support young people in starting businesses, start-ups, or social enterprises, the opportunities offered by the so-called third sector often remain overlooked. Through this project, we seek to explore the potential of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and socially engaged social scientists as important agents of change.

More broadly, the project aims to expand conventional understandings of both academia and practice, which are often shaped by neoliberal economic priorities that emphasize employability and labour market readiness. Instead, the project asks how critical thinking can be put into practice, empowering it to extend beyond the walls of the university and contribute to meaningful social transformation.

Applying the Social Sciences and Humanities

The social sciences and humanities can be applied in many different ways. In anthropology alone, several branches of applied practice are distinguished, including applied anthropology, engaged anthropology, and public anthropology.

Applied anthropology focuses on conducting qualitative research for businesses, government institutions, non-governmental organizations, and public or private sector projects. This work draws on ethnographic methods while adhering to anthropological theory and ethical principles. For example, anthropologists contribute to the design, testing, and improvement of technologies. One well-known example is Melissa Cefkin, who has worked at Nissan, researching interactions between autonomous vehicles and pedestrians.

Anthropological research is also carried out in fields such as design, urban planning, and public policy. By examining different aspects of people's lives, anthropologists help identify social inequalities and reveal how institutions, systems, and everyday practices operate. Their findings inform development initiatives, social justice and well-being programmes, and the evaluation of policies and projects.

Methods such as participant observation and in-depth interviews allow anthropologists to gain a close understanding of people's everyday lives and lived experiences. These approaches help ensure that policies, technologies, and services are designed with people at their centre, making them more responsive to human needs.

Engaged anthropology and public anthropology are sometimes used interchangeably, while in other contexts they are distinguished by their intended audiences and primary goals. Broadly speaking, both approaches seek to bring anthropological research and the issues it addresses into the public sphere, presenting them in ways that are accessible and understandable while encouraging discussion across different sectors of society.

Engaged anthropology places greater emphasis on activism and advocacy, using anthropological knowledge to support social change and address pressing societal issues. Public anthropology, by contrast, focuses more on communicating anthropological research, insights, and perspectives to wider audiences. Anthropologists working in these fields often give public lectures, participate in panel discussions, appear on television and radio programmes, and contribute to public debates as expert commentators.

One of the best-known contemporary examples is the Norwegian anthropologist Thomas Hylland Eriksen. In addition to regularly commenting on social issues in the media, he has actively shared anthropological perspectives with audiences around the world through public lectures and speaking engagements.

Anthropologists engaged in activism and advocacy frequently collaborate with civil society organizations or establish their own initiatives, projects, and non-governmental organizations. In Lithuania, one such example is Jekaterina Lavrinec, founder of the Šnipiškės Community initiative, activist, and co-founder of the NGO Laimikis.lt, which promotes creative and community-oriented approaches to urban development.

In some parts of the world—including countries in South America and Scandinavia—public engagement by social scientists and humanities scholars is considered just as important as academic output. Researchers are expected not only to produce new knowledge but also to ensure that it reaches and benefits society.

For example, in Canada, researchers are often required to develop knowledge mobilization plans. These strategies outline who can use the research findings, how the knowledge will be shared, and how the intended audiences will be reached. Through this approach, Canada's social sciences and humanities research funding system seeks to strengthen collaboration between academia, communities, public institutions, and other sectors, while fostering innovation and supporting positive change in public policy, professional practice, and civic life.

In the United States, both engaged anthropology and public anthropology are highly valued because they encourage anthropologists to raise and publicize challenging or controversial social issues. These approaches help bring anthropological knowledge beyond academic circles and into public debate. Rather than limiting scholarship to academic publications, they position research as a means of actively engaging with the major social, political, and global challenges facing contemporary society.

„ Anthropology Day 2020: Taking Social Action“

Through the "Social Sciences for Social Action" project, we invite participants to explore how the social sciences and humanities can be transformed into meaningful social action and civic initiatives that create a deeper and more lasting impact on society.

The project was initiated by the applied anthropology organization Anthropos in collaboration with the Youth Laboratory (Latvia), the Estonian Anthropological Association, and the Tartu Nefa Club (Estonia). In November 2019, representatives of all partner organizations gathered in Kaunas for a three-day workshop focused on learning how to turn social science knowledge into concrete action.

The workshops also addressed broader questions: What is the current state of the third sector in the Baltic States? What opportunities exist for anthropologists and other social scientists and humanities scholars to apply their knowledge beyond academia? What skills are needed, and what challenges can they expect to encounter?

The second phase of the project takes place across all three partner countries, where the participating organizations organize workshops aimed at developing practical skills for applied research and advocacy. The programme covers a wide range of topics, from applied research methods to the relationship between anthropology and the arts.

In Lithuania, these activities formed part of Anthropology Day 2020: Social Action, held on 19–20 August 2020. The online workshops featured Artūrs Pokšāns (Latvia), who introduced participants to applied anthropological methods, while urban anthropologist Jekaterina Lavrinec shared her expertise in advocacy. The event concluded with the panel discussion "Science That Studies Change and/or Science That Creates Change", featuring Dr. Kristina Jonutytė (Vytautas Magnus University and Vilnius University), Associate Professor Jekaterina Lavrinec, urban anthropologist and activist, and Professor Roberto Barrios (Southern Illinois University, USA).

Preapred by "Anthropos"
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