The Social Sciences Council provides advice on the practice of behavioural and social sciences. This includes fields such as anthropology, administrative science, communications, demography, economics, educational science, pedagogy, urban planning, political science, psychology, sociology, social geography, and the social scientific aspects of health, legal, and historical sciences.
The council suggests topics for advice and plays a part in the peer review of KNAW advisories. Moreover, the Social Sciences Council arranges plenary conferences.