Public engagement
The ESRC Festival of Social Science and AHRC Being Human Festival enable researchers to showcase their work, engage diverse publics, and strengthen their reach and impact. The festivals run annually and the FABSS IAA team support researchers throughout the year with public engagement training, event planning, marketing and operational delivery. Find out more below!
The ESRC Festival of Social Science explores the world of social science, from how society has shaped our local areas to behaviours that help fight climate change. The festival is an opportunity for anyone to explore topics relating to social science, from health and wellbeing to crime, equality, education and identity, through events run by researchers from UK universities. There’s no cost to attend, and most are open to everyone, though some are aimed at specific groups. There are over 300 events across the UK, delivered by 41 universities and include talks, performances, exhibitions, participatory events and panel debates. Details of the 2026 festival will be shared very soon.
The AHRC Being Human Festival is a celebration of arts and humanities research through public engagement and ran from 6 – 15 November 2025. Last year’s festival theme was ‘Between the Lines’. Running across multiple venues across Surrey, the ‘Between the Lines: Surrey’s Hidden Histories’ programme invited local communities to uncover aspects of Surrey’s past — from forgotten artists and suppressed musical legacies to LGBTQ+ fashion histories and the experiences of displaced young people. More details on the Being Human Festival 2026, how to apply and key dates, will be shared very soon.
