Social Science Research Will Be Celebrated In A Week-Long Festival This November

Cardiff University’s pioneering social science research will be celebrated in a week-long festival this November. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The first Cardiff Festival of Social Science aims to raise awareness of the outstanding social science research at Cardiff – research that informs the development of policies, services and innovation, and addresses major societal challenges in Wales, the UK and internationally. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Taking place between 5-12 November 2016, events during the week include: Mam-gu, Mam and Me: feeding our babies, a hands-on exhibition of historical artefacts and images related to the history and sociology of infant-feeding; Belonging: Happiness in the city which invites asylum seekers and refugees, together with other members of the public, to reflect on what it means to belong; and Watching you, watching me: CCTV surveillance in democracy, which debates the implications of state and private surveillance for democratic societies. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Researchers will also share their work on issues such as coma and consciousness, emotions in Hollywood and science, disability at work and the changing system of mental health care. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Professor Gillian Bristow, Dean of Research, College of Arts Humanities & Social Sciences said: “We are delighted to host the first Cardiff Festival of Social Science this November and showcase the strength and breadth of social science research here at Cardiff University…” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“To this end, we are undertaking an ambitious new initiative to build the world’s first Social Science Research Park (SPARK). During the festival, we’re running an event so people can find out more about how the Social Science Research Park will foster a new way of conducting research that will provide innovative and effective solutions to pressing, global, societal problems.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

More information about the festival is available here. Events are free and take place at the University and venues across the city centre. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The festival is supported by the Economic and Social Research Council, as part of their national Festival of Social Science. The national festival provides an opportunity for anyone to meet with some of the country’s leading social scientists and discover, discuss and debate the role that social science research plays in everyday life. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​