The ESRC Festival of Social Science is an annual celebration of the social sciences and a key element of ESRC’s commitment to promote awareness of UK social science research to new audiences.
This year the festival is being held from 19 October – 9 November and features exciting and creative events run by 41 institutions, 10 of which will be run by University of Southampton researchers. We are pleased to announce we have partnered with Bournemouth University to run an extended programme of events, which adds a further five events.
The events shaping our world, from climate change to geopolitical tensions and civic protests, reveal how social science is more important than ever to understanding the world. From big ideas to the most detailed observations, social science affects us all every day – at work, in school, when raising children, within our communities, from the personal and local, to the national and global level. The ESRC Festival of Social Science offers a fascinating insight into some of the country’s leading social science research and how it influences our social, economic and political lives – both now and in the future. Discover how it shapes public policy and contributes to making the economy more competitive, as well as giving people a better understanding of 21st-century society.
There will be a mix of virtual and face-to-face events, held across Southampton and Bournemouth, which will allow everyone to take part in, and hear about, social science research at the festival’s many engaging events. This year a number of our events will focus on ‘Our Digital Lives’, highlighting the relationship between humans and digital technology.
For more information and to sign up to local events please head to our website: http://esrcfestivalofsocialsciencesouthampton.org/
To explore events across the UK please visit: https://festivalofsocialscience.com/
Event Timetable – UoS
Make Your Place: Innovating For Sustainable Futures
26/10/2024 10:00 – 15:00
09/11/2024 Hosted as a part of the Arts and Humanities Day
The Donkey Sanctuary, Isle of Wight, Lower Winstone Farm, Ventnor PO38 3AA
Free – Booking not required – Drop in Activity
Envision the future of your community by brainstorming sustainable ideas and building them with LEGO in this interactive, five-hour drop-in activity focused on the Isle of Wight or Southampton.
Our Changing Environment: Harnessing The Power Of Maps And People
23/10/2024 15:30 – 18:00
Southampton Geospatial Computing Facility, Building 44, Highfield Campus, University of Southampton, SO171BJ
Free – Please email Sarah Ryles at [email protected] for more information or to sign-up your GCSE students.
The More than Maps project aims to inspire secondary school children of the power and importance of finding out more about our changing environment. We welcome you to join us in the Geography computer lab and lecture theatre to better understand local floods in Southampton and Somerset Levels.
Explainable AI: What Is It And Why Should You Care?
21/10/2024 19:00 – 20:30
Room 135/2063, Sir James Matthews Building, 157-187 Above Bar St, Southampton SO14 7NN
Free – Click here to book
Join a salon-style discussion on explainable AI, featuring a multidisciplinary panel of experts, with an overview of key concepts followed by audience Q&A.
Raising Our Voices: Skills For LGBTQ+ Digital Storytelling
02/11/2024 12:00 – 16:00
John Hansard Gallery 142-144 Above Bar Street Southampton SO14 7DU
Free – Click here to book
This hands-on workshop will introduce you to creative media storytelling using everyday materials like mobile phones and simple art supplies. You’ll learn how to craft compelling stories about your experiences and passions, making the most of the tools and resources you have at hand.
Oh Honey! A Work-in-Progress Puppetry Performance About Infertility
07/11/2024 Performance Times: 12:00, 14:30 and 16:00
09/11/2024 Hosted as a part of the Arts and Humanities Day
John Hansard Gallery, 142-144 Above Bar St, Southampton SO14 7DU
Free – Booking not required – Drop-in Activity
A work-in-progress installation of elements from “Oh, Honey,” a puppetry performance about bees and infertility. The piece will last 20 minutes, followed by unstructured group drawing activities where attendees can express and share their reflections on the performance. You are welcome to come and go as you like during this time.
Additionally hosting a display as part of University of Southampton’s Hands-on Humanities Day on 09/11/2024.
Discovering The Digital Humanities: Hands On Learning And Exploration
09/11/2024 Hosted as a part of the Arts and Humanities Day
Southampton Cultural Quarter
Free – Booking not required – Drop-in Activity
Drop in to see examples of 3D-printed projects, podcasts, VR experiences, and data feminist analyses of AI platforms. Staff from the Southampton Digital Humanities Hub will be on hand to demonstrate the equipment, explain the research behind these projects, and answer any questions you may have.
Find Your Tranquil Routes: Tranquillity Mapping For Urban Greenspace Access And Healthier Journeys In Southampton
09/11/2024 Hosted as a part of the Arts and Humanities Day
Southampton Cultural Quarter
Free – Booking not required – Drop-in Activity
A 15-minute talk followed by an interaction with the public to highlight potential dynamic routes based on origin and destination points defined by the audience.
Improving Private Renting In Southampton
09/11/2024 Hosted as a part of the Arts and Humanities Day
Southampton Cultural Quarter
Free – Booking not required – Drop-in Activity
Join us to hear from experts and key stakeholders about ways to improve private renting conditions and affordability in our city. After their insights, we’ll open the floor for an engaging debate where you can share your views and contribute to finding solutions.
Co-hosted UoS and BU Event Timetable
Social Media And Politics: Research In Democracy In The Digital Age
01/11/2024 10:30 – 15:30
Business and Intellectual Property Centre Southampton, Central Library, Civic Centre, Southampton SO14 7LW
Free – Click here to book
This event will explore how social media can be a powerful tool for democracy. We will consider two core themes in research in social media and democratic politics in the digital age – electoral campaigns and participatory politics.