Festival of Social Science

cartoon images of people working together

Running from 27th October-8th November 2024

The Festival of Social Science is an annual celebration of research and knowledge about humans and society. It’s an opportunity for everyone to explore the social sciences, from health, nutrition and wellbeing to psychology, sports and exercise, crime, equality, tech, education and identity, through events run by researchers from UK universities.

The 2024 festival is taking place 19 October 2024 - 9 November 2024 with hundreds of events delivered by 41 universities. This year the festival theme is ‘Our Digital Lives’, with varied events also covering other social science topics.

Events will include live shows, quizzes, screenings, guided walks, participatory events and fun workshops. Each event listing includes the date, time and venue (in-person or online).

Swansea University’s activities will run from 27th October, during the October half-term until 8th November , in multiple locations including Swansea Grand Theatre, Oriel Science (Castle Street), Freud Museum London, Gower Heritage Centre, and Noah’s Yard (Uplands). There will be drop-in activities throughout the week, as well as workshops with bookable spaces

All events are free and everyone is welcome (event listings include advice on age restrictions for some events). Event tickets can be booked via the Festival website link.

The festival is led and funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), which supports research and training in social science subjects.

Upcoming activities

Sunday 27th October, Gower Heritage Centre, 10.30am-2pm

Exploring the Food on our doorstep: Foraging in the Gower

Food and spending time in nature both contribute to our health and wellbeing, especially when enjoyed as a shared experience. Join us for a group foraging activity that will introduce you to the world of edible plants in the Gower. During an immersive nature walk to Three Cliffs Bay we will collect local, seasonal and wild ingredients before returning to the Gower Heritage Centre where we will make a delicious group meal over an open fire. Fully funded transport is available from Swansea bus station (return trip). Parking and other facilities available at the Heritage centre throughout the activity.

Foraging by Gower Unearthed will provide a safe space for local people to come together to spend time in nature, understand the plants around them and how to collaboratively cook nutritious meals from the items foraged.

Event topics: Food, heritage, foraging, local Wales, nature, health, plants, nutrition

Event type: In-person activity; transport will be available for those unable to access bus/ car service

Audience: 18+ with interest in foraging and/or heritage

Event lead: Ally Fraser

Wednesday 30th October, ORIEL Science, 11am-1pm

Design Your Perfect Neighbourhood, ORIEL Science

We will engage in uplifting activities for parents and their children to get involved in designing their 'ideal neighbourhood' in the spirit of community collaboration and learn how we can tackle big challenges like climate change and health by working together.

Please be prepared to let your child get messy or bring a change of clothes if required. As you can drop in and out, parents will please stay with their children throughout the event.

Event topics: Climate change; health; eco design; local Wales; architecture; create; family; science

Event type: In-person activity; drop-in

Audience: Families

Event lead: Rebecca Pedrick-Case, Environment & Health Research Centre

Saturday 2nd November, Swansea Grand Theatre

Toddlers, Tech, Talk

Sunday 3rd November, Noah's Yard, Uplands 2pm-5pm

Live from the Freud Museum: The Science and Art of Dreaming – A Dream Salon with Live Painting of a Dream

Our Dreams Salons are unique, they are a multisensory experience, a happening, during which attendees engage with the discussion of a dream, obtain empathy and understanding towards the dream sharer, and watch live on a large screen the simultaneous creation of an artwork that depicts the dream and returns it to visual form. This will be a fun, educational, engrossing, and moving experience.

Event topics: Psychology; Freud; London; museum; dreams; nightmares; art

Event type: In-person and online

Audience: Open to all

Event lead: Professor Mark Blagrove

Tuesday 5th November, Swansea Grand Theatre, 1.30pm-3pm

Match made in Cyberspace? You and your digital life

Digital literacies have become an essential part of modern life. Many people feel held back by their lack of confidence in using new technology, inhibiting their engagement in education, employment, and citizenship. Our hands-on activity takes only ten minutes and is a simple and accessible way of gaining a more positive digital identity.

The importance of being human and not an artificial intelligence

How does AI become integrated in goods, services, and in everyday activities? What are the opportunities and vulnerabilities for human beings in an ever-increasing AI environment? Do we really think there is importance in being human in an AI world? Come and explore these thought-provoking questions through our interactive simulation workshop – AI versus human competition.

Event topics: Digital skills; confidence; Wales; science; future; technology; AI; Artificial intelligence

Event type: In-person activity; drop-in; workshop

Audience: Open to all, particularly young and older adults

Event leads: Dr Rebecca Pratchett; Dr Alison Walker; Dr Annie Tubadji

Friday 8th November, Swansea Grand Theatre, 5pm-7pm

Going with the flow: An art workshop exploring environment to achieve wellbeing

Join in our fun and engaging art workshop exploring the rewarding psychological experience of ‘flow’ – a state of intense immersion in an activity. Learn how to boost your wellbeing during this informative and artistic workshop, which is designed to help you reflect on the places where your experience flow by creating art.

Event type: In-person activity

Audience: Open to all

Event Lead: Dr Amy Isham

Previous festivals

We were pleased to be joined by Bangor and Cardiff Universities to host the ESRC's offering a pan-Wales day of fun, informal and interactive events on wellbeing as part of the 2023 Festival of Social Science.

Swansea University hosted activities and workshops provided by researchers across the three Universities, following themes including mental health, behavioural change, artificial intelligence, dementia, environmental conservation, mental health, climate crisis, gender and identity, and social inequalities.

Check out our 2023 festival here!