Description: The ESRC Festival of Social Science is an annual celebration of the social sciences. In 2011 an estimated 17,500 people attended over 130 different events across the UK.
Target Audience: Everyone – from schoolchildren to politicians – can take part in and hear about social science research in the Festival’s many engaging events.
Who Gets Involved: Social Science Researchers
What Could I do? The variety of activities includes public debates, secondary school level events, film screenings, theatrical performances, and hands on events. Interactive activities included exploring technologies around transport past, present and future; woodland walks; sharing memories and showing how research influences fashion and design. The options are endless.
What help can I recieve? The ESRC offers help with funding, use of conference firm, branding/publicity material, media relations, venues, advice and guidance.
The Beltane network can also offer assistance and local contacts to help you develop your ideas.
Timescale: The festival is an annual event in November each year, but preparation begins a long time before that.
ESRC funded projects should receive a letter by April inviting participation in the Festival. The Festival will be running from 5-12 November 2016.
Organisations external to the ESRC are also welcome to participate in the festival, and the ESRC will be delighted to publicise your event in their print and online programme (please fill in online form). The full programme of events appears online in September.
Benefits: The Festival is an excellent opportunity to get your latest research in front of diverse audiences, including opinion formers as well as the general public. In addition the ESRC co-ordinated press campaign offers you a unique opportunity to get your research into local and national press, radio, and even television.
To Find Out More: www.esrcfestival.ac.uk or on Twitter @ERSC
