As part of our Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Impact Acceleration Account, the University is a partner and contributor to the Festival of Social Science, an exciting opportunity to showcase our leading social science research.
Find out more about getting involved in some of our activities and how we can support you in running your own public engagement event this autumn. The theme for 2025 is Our Working Lives*
*not all events need to connect to this theme.
Get involved
Following the success of our contribution to the Festival of Social Science in 2024 the Public Engagement Unit and the Festival Steering Group are currently working on the 2025 edition happening between Saturday 19 October and Saturday 9 November. We would like to invite you to get involved.
The Festival offers a fantastic opportunity to create engaging activities that showcase the quality and breadth of the research happening across the Faculty of Humanities and Social Science and School of Management and join a national platform of events highlighting our research.
There are several ways to contribute, depending on your availability and the time you can commit.
Digital engagement
Share your research with a global audience without leaving your office or sofa (delete as applicable) with our chat-based questions and answer events I'm a Social Scientist - Ask Me Anything event on social news platform Reddit.
All you need to do is log in on a day of your choosing and spend an hour responding to questions about your work with Reddit users.
Research Assembly
This year’s Research Assembly will focus on the WHO Age-friendly Cities domains - transportation, housing, social participation, outdoor spaces & buildings, respect & social inclusion, civic participation & employment, communication & information. If you're collaborating with, or would like to collaborate with, a public partner on any of these topics please share your work at the Assembly at the Percy Community Centre, Wednesday 22nd October 2025.
Propose an event
Do you have an idea for a public engagement activity or event that could take place between Saturday 18 October and Saturday 8 November 2024? We can offer help and advice on making the event happen, as well as a small amount of funding and event marketing support.
The Festival of Social Science
Since 2002, the Festival of Social Science has been a UK-wide celebration of the social sciences supported by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). Across four weeks in the autumn (Saturday 18 October to Saturday 8 November 2024), social science researchers have the opportunity to deliver activities and events that engage audiences with their work and highlight the value that social science research brings to our everyday lives.
Need inspiration?
You can find out more about previous events here and here
Interested?
Please complete this expression of interest form and we will be in touch soon.
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