Covid-19 has had a profound impact on all countries in Asia, as it has in the rest of the world. The sudden and dramatic changes in domestic and international mobility, trade, tourism, education and work let alone the public health challenges and response have fundamentally transformed society across the region. In doing so, they have transformed our universities, our research agencies and councils, and our social sciences disciplines as well.
From the outset of the pandemic, social science graduates, researchers and professionals have been at the forefront of the domestic and regional COVID-19 response. From new models of delivering rapid economic stimulus at scale, to modelling and prediction of infection spread, to new methods of digital educational delivery and academic collaboration, the role of social sciences in navigating the crisis has been visible and paramount like rarely before.
The focus of this AASSREC Biennial conference is to provide members with an opportunity to share information on their efforts and creative thinking in dealing with the pandemic. It will also provide an opportunity for social scientists to engage with policy makers and other stakeholders from the region to showcase the valuable insights and capabilities of our disciplines in dealing with complex social, economic and environmental challenges.
Photo by Jérémy Stenuit on Unsplash
