Climate change, virtual reality and the inner-workings of society will be brought to life in a free festival complete with hands-on activities and thought-provoking talks hosted by the University of Warwick.

With the launch of the 2024 Festival of Social Science from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), this autumn’s Resonate programme will see accessible, eye-opening activities head to locations across the region, offering visitors the chance to discuss key issues facing society today with leading experts.

A series of free events, from family-friendly activities to in-depth talks, will take place across Coventry and Warwickshire, with free tickets available to be booked on the website. 

On Saturday, October 26, Resonate will head to the Royal Pump Rooms in Leamington Spa, featuring a wide range of exciting activities exploring important societal themes from law to language. 

Hosted by the University of Warwick and Leamington Spa Art Gallery and Museum, the day will feature hands-on experiences including Lego towns and creative crafts catering to visitors of all ages, but mainly aimed at younger visitors.

Paul Roberts from the Royal Pump Rooms Team said: “We are incredibly excited by the activities planned for this event and cannot wait to see how visitors help us explore some of the most pressing issues in society today”. 

For adult audiences, two special "Resonate Lates" events will discuss pressing topics from responding to climate change to the effects of living in an increasingly digital world.

On Monday, October 21, Resonate Lates: The Politics of Climate Action will take place at Temperance Café in Leamington Spa from 6.30pm to 9pm, inviting the audience to put their questions to the experts and engage in discussions with academics from the University of Warwick’s Politics and International Studies Department.

Resonate Lates: It’s All Digital will take place on Tuesday, November 5 from 6.30pm to 9pm at Coventry Cathedral Chapter House, exploring the impact of digital services on various sectors, including democracy and healthcare. 

Regional events for the ESRC Festival of Social Science, which runs from October 19 to November 9, will also include talks from other teams across the University that range from discussing David Bowie’s cultural impact to the ethics of Responsible AI and the power of poetry. 

For those interested in the biological sciences, Science on the Hill returns with a new theme of Mysterious Microbiomes on Tuesday, October 22 at the Gibbet Hill Campus, inviting all ages to explore the hidden world of microbiomes and hear talks from Warwick researchers about the role microorganisms play in human, plant, and insect health alongside a series of interactive activities.

Dr Kerry Baker at the University of Warwick Institute of Engagement said: “The ESRC Festival of Social Science is an opportunity for everyone to engage, interact and maybe even get hands on with topics and ideas that are fundamental to how we live as individuals and as communities. 

“Delivered by staff and students with a passion for these subjects, each event of the Festival offers participants something engaging and something unique to explore"