Sharing = multiplying? Exciting times for sociology

At present, sociologists have exciting opportunities to gain an even better understanding of complex social issues. I describe three of these opportunities using the concept of ‘sharing’. I also address the question of whether that sharing involves ‘multiplication’. The first form of sharing is through multidisciplinary collaboration. Such collaboration requires complicated communicative, relational, and substantive efforts. If there is a foundation of trust, these efforts can generate innovative scientific returns in addition to collateral happiness. The second form of sharing involves the joint use of data. Access to large-scale data and computational methods enables a renewal of the research agenda, while access to government data increases the possibilities to underpin policy with empirical knowledge. The third form of sharing materializes in evidence-informed policy advice. The effectiveness of scientific advice is greater if policymakers and scientific experts engage in deliberative dialogue over the course of the advisory process. For a variety of topics, such as food from the oceans, microplastics, car emissions, plant protection products, cybersecurity, and pandemic preparedness, the incorporation of a sociological perspective has been crucial.