Making an impact

Michael Buraway, the President of the International Sociological Association (ISA) argued that sociology had a duty to engage with the public, and went on to describe the academic subject and its 4,000 representatives in Buenos Aires, as a new social movement. Hyperbole indeed. Had he take the trouble to walk out of the bubble that was the conference venue, and across the road to the city hospital he might of noticed sociology fails completely to impact on the patients and visitors lives. The sons and daughters of the surgeon's and doctors might have done a course at University. So the the conference banner alerting these attending the hospital that the sociologists were in town was somewhat poignant. Academics could have an impact on ordinary peoples lives but it will take more than words.