From bustling cities to regional towns, Social Sciences Week 2024 sparked curiosity and discussion across the nation. Through over 80 events, people from schools, universities, and the broader community gathered to explore new ideas, engage in debates, and celebrate the social sciences. 

 For the second year in a row, our Parliamentary Breakfast saw social science champions gather to acknowledge achievements and create connections across the academic and policy spheres. Social Sciences Week founder Professor Dan Woodman spoke about the intention of the week, Principal Sponsor RMIT University’s Professor Lisa Given shared the value of SSW, and Parliamentary Friends of the Social Sciences Co-Convenors Senator Barbara Pocock and Dr Carina Garland MP highlighted the importance of the social sciences in informing policy.  The Academy’s 2024 Rechnitz Award recipients, Dr Sheelagh Daniels-Mayes, Professor Corinne Sullivan, Dr Bep Uink, and Ms Jacinta Walsh, were also honoured for their work and research supporting knowledge and understanding of the society, languages and cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. 

 We would like to thank the invaluable sponsors of the week whose support made it possible for more people in more places to connect and engage. Special thanks to RMIT, our principal sponsor, gold sponsor UNSW, silver sponsors ARDC and the University of Sydney, and bronze sponsors Deakin Business School, the University of Technology Sydney Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, and Western Sydney University.  

 In the next few weeks, recordings of many events will be available to view online at Social Sciences Week On Demand. 

 Mark your diaries for 8-14 September 2025 and be sure to subscribe to our newsletter to stay in the loop for SSW 2025.