Program Showcase: Boosting Social Sciences in the Indo-Pacific

Online Event   |   6 & 7 May 2026

Since 2023, the Association of Asian Social Science Research Councils (AASSREC) has implemented the “Boosting Social Sciences and Their Contribution to Better Lives Across the Indo-Pacific” program, supported by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC). The program has strengthened social science research capacities, fostered regional knowledge collaboration, and supported innovative, policy-relevant research aimed at improving well-being across the Indo-Pacific.

As the 2023–2026 funding cycle comes to a close, ASSREC will convene a high-level online showcase event to highlight the program’s achievements, promote the work of emerging and established scholars, and demonstrate the program’s value to partners, donors, and regional institutions. The event will also act as a platform to catalyse future investments in the continuation or expansion of program activities beyond 2026.

The online showcase aims to:

  • Highlight the achievements of AASSREC’s 2023–2026 program and its contribution to social science research for development in the Indo-Pacific.
  • Feature research outcomes from the:
  • Promote evidence-based insights generated by the program and their implications for policy and practice.
  • Engage regional and global partners to demonstrate the value, relevance, and impact of sustained investment in social science systems in the Indo-Pacific.
  • Lay groundwork for future program iterations, partnerships, and funding pathways.

Register for the online event through this button:

Register for the Program Showcase

The theme of the program showcase is “Social Science Research for Development: Insights, Innovations, and Impact Across the Indo-Pacific.”

The event will be grounded in the role of social sciences in addressing pressing development challenges in areas such as:

  • Inclusive economic development
  • Climate resilience and environmental governance
  • Social protection and well-being
  • Gender equality and community empowerment
  • Governance, trust, and civic participation
  • Digital transformations and societal impact
  • Post-pandemic recovery and resilience

This thematic lens will ensure coherence across presentations while showcasing the diversity and policy relevance of the funded research.

 

The format is a two-day virtual showcase event (around 3 hours per day) on 6 & 7 May 2026. The programme will include an overview of the key milestones and achievements of the Boosting Social Sciences program, presentations from and discussions with grant recipients and policy paper contributors, and a roundtable discussion with research leaders, funders, and counterpart organizations.

A provisional programme and is accessible through the button below:

View the Event Program

 

The event will engage:

  • Social science researchers and institutions across the Indo-Pacific
  • Policy makers, development practitioners, and civil society leaders
  • Representatives from international funding agencies and philantropic partners
  • University networks and regional research councils
  • Think tanks, advocacy organizations, and media engaged in development issues

Register for the event through the button below:

Register for the Program Showcase

 

Contact 

AASSREC Secretariat
info@aassrec.org
+61 2 6103 9940