David Bowkett
davidbowkett.bsky.social
David Bowkett
@davidbowkett.bsky.social
Head of Productivity and Growth at ESRC. I am interesting in new technologies, how they are used, how people interact with them, and how they lead to economic growth. I like also happily talk to you about cricket, bikes and heat pumps He/him. Views my own
I am looking forward to reading it back-to-back at lunchtime with this report from yesterday, which also had great contributions from social science researchers.

www.gov.uk/government/p...
Barriers and Enablers to Advanced Technology Adoption for UK Businesses
A study to understand the ecosystem of factors influencing the business decision to adopt a new technology.
www.gov.uk
June 3, 2025 at 9:01 AM
There are also lots of people who are doing great work on how we develop and use digital technologies @digitalgoodnet.bsky.social, @sociodigfutures.bsky.social, and @digitcentre.bsky.social who might know an ECR interested in this.
January 16, 2025 at 9:35 AM
I can imagine that this is something the @productivity.bsky.social and @poid-lse.bsky.social might be interested in, as well researchers interested in how businesses use AI in R&D at @e-r-c.bsky.social.
January 16, 2025 at 9:31 AM
This will likely be of particular interest to those working in STS and innovation studies, but the opportunity is open to researchers from all disciplines.
January 16, 2025 at 9:28 AM
Reposted by David Bowkett
One of my aims for the new year is to write more about our strategy and our funding decisions.

In the spirit of our anniversary, I'm starting with some reflections on what our history & structure implies for how we fund, and our role in the soc sci ecosystem.

open.substack.com/pub/magicsmo...
Strategy, history and structure
Some reflections at the start of ESRC's 60th anniversary year
open.substack.com
January 6, 2025 at 12:06 PM
There is a great photo of the Clydach Gorge in this piece. This is home to the village of Clydach were I grew up - and where my family has lived for generations. The gorge was one of many incredible engineering challenges of building this new road.
January 6, 2025 at 11:02 AM
I strongly recommend East West Street by Phillippe Sands. It's a brilliant book and it covers the origins of 'genocide' and 'crimes against humanity' as legal terms, as well as the live stories of the two men who came up with them.
December 5, 2024 at 8:48 PM