2023 Festival of Social Science returns to Leicester

The University of Leicester will host a series of events as part of the UK’s biggest celebration of social science research.

The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Festival of Social Science is an annual celebration of the importance and value of economics and social science.

The festival will run from Saturday, 21 October until Friday, 17 November.

Leicester will host a variety of free public events which will be held both online and in person.

The theme for this year’s festival is ‘lifelong wellbeing’ with many of the University’s events focusing on exploring mental and physical health at all ages and celebrating the 75th anniversary of the NHS.

Events will include:

  • Criminology Film Season – American History X (15) – 26 October, 7pm-9:45pm
  • Well-being at the End: Time to reform the law on assisted dying – 28 October, 10am-4pm
  • Mast Khana, Swasth Khana (Eat Well, Eat Health) – 1 November, 1pm-4pm
  • Criminology Film Season – Dirty God (15) – 2 November, 7pm-9:45pm
  • Criminology Film Season – Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (15) – 6 November, 7pm-9:45pm
  • Revisiting Harms of Hate: Film premiere and live podcast – 8 November, 6pm-8:30pm
  • Nacho, Nacho (Dance, Dance) - 9 November, 10:30pm-1:30pm
  • “We know all about you”: how are teenagers commercially influenced online? – 11 November, 11am-3pm
  • Joe Orton’s Leicester by Bike, 11 November, 11am-2pm
  • Bodies That Matter: Celebrating the Social History of the Body in the Viking Age - 12 November, 10am-4pm
  • EmpowerED: Shaping Healthcare Research Together - 15 November, 12pm-2pm

Stian Westlake, ESRC Executive Chair, 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 University of Leicester. We hope you enjoy the events and finding out more about social scientists’ work."

More information about all of the events being held by University of Leicester can be found on the 2023 Festival of Social Science website.