Iain Borden, “Thinking About Architecture,” Jonathan Bate (ed.), The Public Value of Humanities, (London: Bloomsbury Academic, 2011), pp. 142-54. AIMS (1) provide an overview of humanities research recently undertaken in the field of architecture (2) provide a conceptual schema by which to understand that research’s contribution to society. QUESTIONS (1) What are the different kinds of humanities research that have been recently undertaken in the field of architecture. (2) In what ways does this research contribution to society? What is its value? METHODS Two main research methods: (1) empirical and interpretive historical enquiry into architectural research using academic journals, conference papers, reports, research council websites and other published sources; (2) review and assessments of previous work done into the value of architectural research. CONTEXTS The research projects sits within the context of the AHRC - who originally commissioned the essay in 2008 (commission won through invited competition) in order to (a) assess the scope of humanities based research in architecture (b) provide evidence and arguments for its budget negotiations with Whitehall. DISSEMINATION This has included, besides the publication of the book chapter itself, the circulation and use of the original essay by the AHRC both within the AHRC itself and in Whitehall, and a slightly different version published in ARQ (Architecture Research Quarterly), v.12 n.3-4 (2008), pp. 216-21. A public debate including Lord Robert Winston, Baroness Onora O’Neill and government minister David Willets was held at Tate Modern in February 2011.