Welcome to the 2023 Festival

A very warm welcome to everyone who will be joining us for Cardiff University’s Festival of Social Sciences 2023. Our theme this year is Lifelong Wellbeing.

Together with Bangor University and Swansea University we will be holding events across Wales that celebrate how the social sciences inspire and enrich our everyday lives and contribute to wellbeing.

Our Festival of Social Sciences is aimed at connecting and engaging communities and individuals with our research. To do this, we will be hosting 17 events that showcase the latest social science research relating to wellbeing that is being carried out by colleagues at Cardiff University. These will include a range of workshops, in-person and interactive events including school engagement sessions on health law and ethics, living with drought, and exploring the Welsh food system. There will also be a public panel discussion on Lifelong Wellbeing in Wales which will bring together experts from Cardiff, Swansea and Bangor Universities to offer thought-provoking discussions and share actionable insights that illuminate the symbiotic relationship between social sciences and lifelong wellbeing.

The festival is running throughout October and November so that as many people can engage with us as possible. The festival provides an exciting opportunity to celebrate and raise awareness of the outstanding social science research that addresses wellbeing and health challenges. All our events engage researchers and broader communities in making a difference; in thinking and acting as advocates for change – here in Wales now and for the future – and setting agendas. In the rapidly shifting times in which we live, social sciences research has never been more important for the betterment of our local and global communities.

I hope you enjoy the festival!

Dawn Knight