Science festivals have proved a popular day out for years – but what about social science festivals?
The University of Stirling is putting on a host of exciting events – all of them free – to spread the word about social science to the local community in Clackmannanshire.
The Festival of Social Science runs over two days - Thursday, 9 November and Friday, 10 November 2023 - at Forth Valley College in Alloa and includes interactive live theatre, storytelling animations and a panel discussion.
The University of Stirling is world-renowned for its work in social science, ranked in the Top 5 in the UK for education, 1st in Scotland for Criminology, and in the Top 10 for Social Policy*. It is also an international hub for research in healthy ageing, and hosts the Dementia Services Development Centre, which provides design and architecture guidance for people with dementia.
Dr Hannah Graham, Senior Lecturer in Criminology at the University of Stirling, said: “This is a first for us and we are really excited to share the world of social science with our local community with such an exciting, fun and free series of events. The aim of the Festival of Social Science is to celebrate and explore the world of social science and let people see for themselves how it makes a difference to people’s everyday lives. From interactive theatre to design hacks for healthy ageing, there is something for all ages.”
Senior Lecturer in Criminology
The aim of the Festival of Social Science is to celebrate and explore the world of social science and let people see for themselves how it makes a difference to people’s everyday lives. From interactive theatre to design hacks for healthy ageing, there is something for all ages.
Highlights include:
- Listen to refugee stories through their ideas with Young Refugees: Telling our stories, 9 November, 1.30pm to 5pm. Through a series of storytelling animations, photos and drawings, refugee children who arrived here during the COVID pandemic share what it’s like to live in Scotland, through their eyes.in
- Be part of a theatre audience that can change the outcome of the play with The Truth About Ageing, 9th Nov 1-3, 10th Nov 1 to 3.45. Edinburgh based community theatre group Active Inquiry uses a technique that enables the audience to intervene and change the action.
- Learn how a few design changes can create a home that supports you to live the life you love with Design hacks for ageing well, 9th November, 10.30 to 4 and 10th November, 1.30 to 4.
- How can football memories help people connect? Meet the researchers behind a University of Stirling project into sports-based reminiscence for people with dementia.
The event is part of the UK-wide Festival of Social Science, coordinated by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). The theme of this year’s festival is lifelong wellbeing, exploring mental and physical health at all ages and celebrating the 75th anniversary of the NHS.
The Alloa events are supported by the Stirling Social Science Impact Acceleration Account and were made possible thanks to the funding from the ESRC, which is part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
For a list of all events and more information visit ESRC Festival of Social Science | About | University of Stirling.
*Sources: Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023.