City of London Survey Wins Prestigious Sociology Prize
In a proud moment for the City of London, the European Social Survey (ESS), headquartered at City St George’s, University of London, has been awarded the highly regarded Kohli Foundation Infrastructure Prize for Sociology 2024. This annual prize celebrates outstanding infrastructure that advances sociological knowledge, and the ESS has been recognised for its commitment to excellence in research and methodology.
The award was presented last Wednesday, 13 November, at a ceremony hosted at the Berlin Social Science Center (WZB). Accepting the prize on behalf of the ESS was its Director, Professor Rory Fitzgerald, who expressed his gratitude for the recognition, stating, “It is a real honour for us to receive this prize in recognition of our infrastructure’s collective work to deliver high-quality survey data to European social scientists.”
What is the European Social Survey?
The ESS is a cross-national, academically led survey conducted every two years across Europe. Its goal is to capture the attitudes, beliefs, and behaviours of people across the continent on a diverse range of topics. Since its inception in 2003, the ESS has been a cornerstone of social science research, producing high-quality, accessible data that has contributed to a wealth of academic publications.
Based in the School for Policy and Global Affairs at City St George’s and linked to the Department of Sociology, the ESS is also part of the European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC), a legal entity funded by participating countries. With backing from national governments, the ESS has become an indispensable resource for understanding societal shifts and trends across Europe.
Why the Kohli Foundation Chose the ESS
The Kohli Foundation, a private organisation dedicated to advancing the field of sociology, praised the ESS for its rigorous data collection methods, relevant and impactful questionnaire content, and user-friendly data access. The Foundation also highlighted the project’s significant contribution to academic research, noting the large volume of publications that rely on ESS data.
The €10,000 prize will be reinvested into the project, specifically to reward the contributions of National Coordinators across participating countries. This reinvestment underscores the collaborative effort behind the ESS’s success and its ongoing commitment to innovation at the national level.
A Major Win for City St George’s
The recognition also shines a spotlight on City St George’s, University of London, which has been home to the ESS since 2003. Professor Sir Anthony Finkelstein, President of the university, commented, “We are extraordinarily proud of our role hosting ESS and of our part in sustaining this critical research infrastructure. The Kohli Foundation Infrastructure Prize is a great recognition of the vital work of ESS.”
This award not only cements the ESS’s reputation as a leader in sociological research but also reinforces the City of London’s position as a hub for groundbreaking academic work. By continuing to provide high-quality, accessible data, the ESS ensures that sociologists have the tools they need to understand and address the challenges facing Europe today.
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