Over four weeks each autumn, researchers from across the University of Bath share their research as part of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Festival of Social Science events programme. The University's contribution to the Festival is funded by the ESRC Impact Acceleration Account award 2023-2028 (ES/X004651/1).

Our approach

Since 2002, the Festival of Social Science has been a UK-wide celebration of the social sciences supported by the ESRC. Each autumn, social science researchers deliver activities and events that engage audiences with their work, highlighting the value that social science research brings to our everyday lives.

As part of the University of Bath's ESRC Impact Acceleration Account award, the University is an official partner of the Festival. Working with academic colleagues, the Public Engagement Unit manages the University's contribution to the Festival. Through this work, the team aims to:

• support researchers to develop their skills and abilities to engage public groups with their research

• enhance researchers’ knowledge and increase understanding of public engagement with research

• raise awareness of the diversity of nature of social science research activities taking place at the University of Bath

Programme of events

The Public Engagement Unit has been working with researchers and partner organisations such as museums, libraries, sports centres and cultural venues to develop a range of activities and events.

Festival of Social Science 2023

For the University's inaugural contribution to the Festival in 2023, the team produced a programme of 18 in-person and online/digital events. These included participatory workshops, talks, film screenings, exhibitions, and panel discussions. 5,784 people attended these events and engaged with 38 researchers from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Science and the School of Management.

Check out the Festival of Social Science 2023 report for full programme details.

Festival of Social Science 2024

The University's programme for the 2024 Festival of Social Science comprised nine in-person and online/digital events. 3,339 people attended these events, which included film screenings, exhibitions and panel discussions, engaging with 44 researchers from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Science and the School of Management.

Check out the Festival of Social Science 2024 report for full programme details.