A pop-up play café and free, online ‘cookalong’ are just some of the Herts activities for the ESRC Festival of Social Science 2024
For the second year running, the University of Hertfordshire is supporting the national ESRC Festival of Social Science 2024 with a host of free, interactive public events showcasing some of the social science research being undertaken at the University.
Running between Saturday 19 October and Friday 9 November, the ESRC Festival of Social Science 2024 celebrates social science research and knowledge through public engagement activities run by its university partners across the country. This year’s main theme is ‘Our Digital Lives’, with many activities aimed at exploring the relationship between humans and digital technology.
In Hertfordshire, researchers from the University are running a packed programme of in-person and online activities, ranging from a pop-up play café and online cookalong, to events focused on how we can better tackle plastic pollution; how everyday digital technology can transform the lives of older adults; how digital transport services can be more inclusive; how new healthcare models can help the NHS and what can be done to support the emotional work of parents with autistic children on family holidays. All events are aimed at showcasing important research findings that have an impact on real life, as well as knowledge and guidance to help us all live better lives.
Herts’ flagship event this year will be the Switch Off, Play On! pop-up play café opening in The Galleria in Hatfield for five days during the October half term. Developed to promote healthy digital use linked to research on the Problematic Use of the Internet (PUI) by Naomi Fineberg, Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Hertfordshire, the café will be filled with games, toys and puzzles aimed at encouraging families and friends to switch off their phones and rediscover the joy of connecting over a traditional board game or simple play experiences
Another highlight, the Hertfordshire Full of Beans Cookalong, is a collaborative event between the University of Hertfordshire, Stevenage Football Club Foundation and The Let's Cook Project. Between 12.30-1.30pm on Thursday, 31st October, families are invited to join a free, livestreamed, one-hour cookalong with University of Hertfordshire Business School PhD researcher of food insecurity, director of The Let’s Cook Project and all-round cooking wizz, James Shepherd, to learn how to make some quick, tasty and affordable meals using beans. The first 25 families to sign up for the event will even be sent a free recipe box with all the main ingredients required for the cook up.
On 6 November, in the University's Law Court building, Dr Laura Abbott, an Associate Professor in Research at the University of Hertfordshire, will be leading a talk and exhibition on The Lost Mother’s Project. A groundbreaking research project highlighting the emotional and complex challenges faced by pregnant and postnatal women in prison, especially those separated from their newborns, the exhibition will feature a series of emotive illustrated posters, while the talk, supported by a lived experience member, will aim to foster a deeper understanding of these issues and advocate for more compassionate care and support.
Dr Francesca Gagliardi, Reader in Institutional Economics and co-organiser of the University of Hertfordshire’s Festival of Social Science said:
“Social science is a field that may be unfamiliar to many people, but as the field of research and knowledge that can help explain how our society works, it is perhaps the most relevant to people’s everyday lives. And in our increasingly digitally reliant world, this year’s Festival of Social Science theme feels particularly pertinent.
“We have put together a programme of events that both explores our relationship with digital technology - from highlighting some of the dangers to celebrating its many benefits – and showcases other important social science research taking place at the University of Hertfordshire. All our events are led by academics, often in collaboration with people, groups and organisations outside of the University, and aim to both educate and stimulate.
“The mantra of the Festival of Social Science is Exploring Society Together – so we hope as many people as possible from the local region will come along and get involved in these events to learn something new and to share their own experiences.”
The full University of Hertfordshire Festival of Social Science programme is as follows:
Switch Off, Play On! Pop-Up Play Café
Tuesday 29 October – Saturday 2 November
An exclusive, week-long, pop-up event, come and join us at our friendly play café to explore our library of games, puzzles and toys aimed at encouraging families and friends to switch off their phones and rediscover the joy of connecting over a traditional board game or simple play experiences.
Hertfordshire’s Full of Beans Half-Term Family Cookalong with Stevenage Football Club Foundation
Thursday, 31 October, 12.30-13.30
A one-hour, livestreamed cookalong to promote healthy nutrition based on Herts research.
Plastics and People: Understanding the Impact of Plastic Pollution and How You Can Make a Difference
Friday, 1 November, 11.00-13.00
An interactive, face-to-face event on the consequences and impacts of plastics pollution on the environment and people. Discussions on the topic will be led by researchers from the University of Hertfordshire, the University of Northampton, Kelpi, and Potentially Blue Skies Ltd.
‘Superheroes’ - Understanding the emotion work of parents with autistic children on family holidays
Tuesday, 5 November, 13.00-14.00
Join us for this 60-minute, interactive, face-to-face event - that will also be live-streamed - by University of Hertfordshire and Swansea University academics, highlighting research findings around the challenges faced by parents of autistic children in planning their holidays - and their recommendations to the tourism industry on what can be done, to make things better.
Technology Try Out: How Everyday Digital Technology can Transform the Lives of Older Adults
Wednesday, 6 November, 10.30-15.00
A drop-in technology day organised by researchers from the University of Hertfordshire and the Alzheimer’s Society in Peterborough, offering people with dementia and their carers the opportunity to make the best of their devices.
How can digital transport services be more inclusive?
Friday 1 November and Saturday 2 November
A face-to-face presentation and discussion on Mobility as a Service, a transport service which can help achieve zero carbon personal transport, and how it can be made more accessible for disadvantaged groups.
The Lost Mother’s Project: an exhibition and talk with Dr Laura Abbott
Wednesday, 6 November, 18.30-20.00
This ground breaking exhibition showcases illustrated posters specially commissioned to highlight the emotional and complex challenges faced by pregnant and postnatal women in prison, especially those separated from their newborns, based on Herts-led research. It will be followed by an emotive talk in the University's law court by Dr Abbott and a lived experience member, that aims to foster a deeper understanding of these issues and advocate for more compassionate care and support.
How new healthcare models can help a health service under pressure
Thursday, 7 November, 14.00-15.00
A 60-minute online presentation, exploring new healthcare modelling methods to enhance care for our health services. Discussions on the topic will be led by researchers from the University of Hertfordshire Business School.
The ESRC Festival of Social Science has been running for more than 20 years, and made possible thanks to funding from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), which is part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). For 2024, it will see 41 universities deliver over 200 exciting, creative and free events across the UK in October and November, encompassing many areas of the social sciences: economics, psychology, sociology, business, economic and social history, politics and human geography, among others.
Stian Westlake, ESRC Executive Chairs, said:
"The ESRC Festival of Social Science offers a unique insight into UK social science research and its relevance to individuals, society and the economy. There are hundreds of free events taking place across the UK and online, including at the University of Hertfordshire. We hope you enjoy the events and finding out more about social scientists’ work."
Visit the Festival of Social Science, University of Hertfordshire events page to find out more and book your free tickets. Visit the Festival of Social Science page for general information.