The Academy of Social Sciences and its Campaign for Social Science have published a briefing note addressing the consequences of the prolonged period of uncertainty in the three months since the Brexit vote on June 23. The note makes recommendations about immediate steps the government should take to support UK science and ensure the long-term health of research is kept to the fore during the negotiation process.

The recommendations include:

The government should ensure the participation in the negotiations of a representative of the UK higher education and science community. Additionally, The Academy and Campaign would welcome the inclusion of a proposed Deputy Director for Research Innovation and Higher Education within the newly-created Department for Exiting the European Union (DExEU).

• As the UK is a net beneficiary of EU funds, receiving an estimated €3.4 billion more than it paid into the EU in terms of funding for research, development and innovation activities, the government should announce that it will protect and replace EU funds for research after Horizon 2020.
• The Department for Education and BEIS should collate evidence of cases from universities where collaborations have been put at risk in the shadow of Brexit, and actively raise them with the EU Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science.
• The government should recognise the importance of EU and other international staff in UK universities and the research sector, and develop appropriate visa policies for UK universities and research should that be necessary.

Read the full briefing Making the best of Brexit: Supporting UK Science, Higher Education and Research for the Future

Read ‘EU Referendum – Leave: What next for UK social science?’

Watch our panel discussion ‘After the EU Referendum – where next for social science?