Supporting & Recognizing Research Excellence: Internal Committees
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Committee
SSHRC scholars engage in activities that support different aspects of the research process, including writing retreats to support grant and publication writing, quarterly social events to support interdisciplinary networking, speaker series to spark dialogue and new research ideas, interdisciplinary meet-ups to support conversations across disciplines that lead to new collaborations, ‘how-to’ grant writing seminars to gain skills in grant submissions, and participate in SIGS (special interest group) to learn new research methods in partnership with their Drexel colleagues.
The first ever annual SOCRATES event, The Future of Social Science Research, was held on May 29, 2025. It was a successful hybrid gathering that brought together approx. 60 participants both in person and online. Co-hosted by SOCRATES, the Office of Research and Innovation, the Center for Science, technology and Society, and the Justice Collaborative at the Drexel Center for Public Policy, the event featured a keynote by Dr. Erin McNamara Horvat, a panel discussion with interdisciplinary faculty, and a series of lightning talks showcasing diverse research across Drexel University. The lightning talks covered a wide range of topics including justice system fines and fees, multispecies justice, autism intervention across the life course, transdiagnostic risks in mental health, human rights in UN development planning, diversification in games research, cryptocurrency regulation, and the role of generative artificial intelligence in epistemic welfare.
These presentations reflected the breadth and depth of social science and humanities research at Drexel, with contributors from various colleges and institutes. Notable topics included using network science to combat autism stigma, exploring gender integration in sports, and examining the societal implications of emerging technologies. The event concluded with closing remarks from academic leaders and a well-attended happy hour at Board and Brew, where 20 participants continued networking and discussing future directions for social science research. The collaborative energy and interdisciplinary engagement throughout the event laid a strong foundation for SOCRATES’ five-year strategic planning efforts.