The Institute for Culture and Society, the University of Navarra’s humanities and social sciences research center, has launched the second edition of its social science essay contest. The prize consists of a 50% scholarship applied to ICS’s Master of Social Science Research (during the 2018-2019 academic year) and 500 euros.

The contest aims to encourage students interested in research in this area to develop and share innovative proposals that respond to challenges in today's world.

Participants must submit, by April 6, 2018, an essay related to one or more questions addressed by ICS projects, including the following:

• Emotions and identity: Why do emotions have so much weight in contemporary culture? Emotions, advertising and consumption: What moves us to consume?

• Communication in the public sphere: Are politicians still convincing? New political parties and their new rhetoric / Media and digital society: Does the written press have a future?

• Religion and contemporary society: Religion and civil society: Does religion have a place in the public sphere? Is coexistence between religions possible?

• Poverty and development: Policies for the development of poor countries— how to formulate and implement them / Solidarity and justice: Proposals for a more equitable distribution of wealth

• Education and adolescence: Challenges in the education of contemporary adolescents / Adolescents, the internet and social networks: risk or opportunity?

• Technology and sustainable development: Progress and challenges in a technified world: What will we leave to our children? Public policies for sustainable development

A jury composed of representatives from the University of Navarra will evaluate the submitted essays and will announce the winning essay on April 20, 2018. Second and third place awards will also be announced and will be eligible for the grand prize if the winner cannot accept the scholarship or did not comply with the admission requirements.