Cinema marquee which reads 'The world is temporarily closed' Photo by Edwin Hooper on UnSplash
This month’s episode of the LSE IQ podcast asks the question, ‘What’s the point of social science in a pandemic?’.
On the 23rd March 2020 Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the country’s first national lockdown. In the months since, there has been a seismic shift in all our lives. As we embark on 2021 and, hopefully, the latter stages of the pandemic, this episode reflects on how we’ve got to where we are. While the scientific community has taken centre stage in the fight to overcome the virus, how have social scientists helped us navigate – and evaluate –the UK’s response?
In this episode we talk to anthropologists Professor Laura Bear and Nikita Simpson, Economic historians Professor Patrick Wallis and Professor Joan Roses, Assistant Professor of Global Health Policy Dr Clare Wenham and behavioural economist Dr Adam Oliver.
Listen to this episode on the LSE player. Or search for LSE iQ on your favourite podcast app. We're also now available on Spotify.