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More than 50 sociologists from all over Germany founded the "Akademie für Soziologie" (academy of sociology) at the University of Mannheim this July. The aim of the academy is to pool social-scientific expertise in the area of empirical-analytical research and thus answer questions on science policy and social policy. More than one hundred researchers supported the call to found this institution in order to gain appropriate expert representation. Professor Thomas Hinz, professor of empirical social research at the University of Konstanz, was elected as chair of the managing board.

"Empirical-analytical sociology – in contrast to traditional sociology – generates scientific analyses that are as precise and empirically sound as possible. The "Akademie für Soziologie" aims at spreading socio-scientific findings in the general public and sparking off controversial debates, and will thus contribute to a scientifically founded, evidence-based political consulting", explains Thomas Hinz. He adds that the academy will organise conferences and will publish statements on subject-specific questions and questions on science policy and social policy. The issues addressed will include: will the advancing globalisation and digitalisation destroy more jobs than it creates, will it widen the division of societies and promote more populist policies? Will the social media, which were expected to open up new ways of direct citizens' participation, have quite the opposite effect and weaken democracy? Will new technologies, gains in prosperity, education and medical progress fuel inequalities or improve the quality of life of an increasing number of people?

The topic of the first congress of the “Akademie für Soziologie” will be the causes and the implications of social injustice. The event will take place in April 2018 in Munich. It is titled "Wachsende Ungleichheit – gespaltene Gesellschaft? Aktuelle Beiträge der empirisch-analytischen Soziologie“ (increasing injustice - divided society? Current input from empirical-analytical sociology). Managing board members, elected on 14 July 2017, are: Thomas Hinz (Konstanz), Cornelia Kristen (Bamberg), Josef Brüderl (Munich), Peter Preisendörfer (Mainz), Katrin Auspurg (Munich), Anette Fasang (Berlin), Holger Lengfeld (Leipzig) and Sebastian Schnettler (Oldenburg).

For further information see: www.akademie-soziologie.de

Facts:

• The "Akademie für Soziologie" was founded as a platform of empirical-analytical sociology on 14 July 2017.
• Chair of the academy is Professor Thomas Hinz, professor of empirical social research at the University of Konstanz.
• The first congress will take place at the Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich in April 2018 and will deal with the causes and the implications of social injustice.

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