At the heart of social science research is the ability to look at social questions and discover solutions from a multitude of perspectives. We believe that the key to creating a socially aware, thinking population is making debating and researching current affairs a fun and accessible activity - starting with our young people. This is why the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) is delighted to sponsor Debating Matters. We believe that Debating Matters encourages young people to address current issues from new angles and challenges them to think outside of their prescribed format, which in turn helps them develop skills which will remain with them throughout their careers. The ESRC are the competition’s Social Science Champion.