This is the first time the flagship festival has gone digital, against the backdrop of the current COVID-19 pandemic, meaning most events are open to all, instead of only to those who can attend physically.
The festival, now in its 18th year, will run from 7 to 15 November and includes panel debates, webinars, and interactive activities. These events will offer an insight to some of the country’s leading social science and economics research and how it influences everyone’s lives at work, in school, when raising children, in businesses and the public sector, and across our communities.
A digital-first event
Professor Jennifer Rubin, ESRC Executive Chair, said: "The Festival of Social Science is one of the largest coordinated endeavours undertaken by a science community and is indicative of ESRC’s commitment to public engagement.
"This year, with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 festival will be a digital-first event featuring exciting and innovative events run by our 34 partners.
"Many economic and social researchers value the opportunity to share how their work helps us to better understand people, businesses, institutions, communities and wider social phenomena, and to inform decisions that can affect millions of lives.
"We hope these events raise awareness about how research can improve outcomes across society, inspiring some to pursue careers in research, and others to draw on research to understand people and the world around us."