Free public events explore ‘Our Working Lives’ as ESRC Festival of Social Science returns to Manchester

This year’s theme, Our Working Lives, invites people of all ages to discover how social science research is shaping healthier, fairer and more prosperous ways of working. 

From LEGO® workshops for families to debates on artificial intelligence (AI) and workplace safety, from sound-healing sessions to innovation labs for entrepreneurs, the festival offers something for everyone. Events will take place on campus, in the Salford community and at venues across Greater Manchester, with a mix of in-person, online and hybrid formats.  

Professor Francine Morris, Festival lead for the University and Associate Dean Knowledge Exchange for Salford Business School, said:  

“Driving the importance of positive working lives benefits everyone, not just in the UK, but across the world. This is a fantastic opportunity for our researchers to showcase their work to businesses, employers, policymakers and the wider public.”  

Explore the themes 

Healthy lives: how working conditions affect people and planet 

Examples include: 

• WOW@Work_GM: ageing women’s wellbeing at work – policy brief launch (22 October) 

• Gaming as a form of stress relief – developing a good working-life balance (28 October) 

• The art of pause: sound healing and restorative yoga workshop (6 November) 

Diverse lives: how race, gender, class and ability shape working lives 

Examples include: 

• Swimming upstream? Imagining a fairer platform economy for musicians and listeners (22 October) 

• Class in the workplace from New Jerusalem to the present (24 October) 

Prosperous lives: creating more equitable and sustainable modes of work 

Examples include: 

• Shifting landscapes – the changing world of work in accounting and finance (20 October) 

• Work greener, live better – energy simulations for a sustainable future (29 October) 

• AI on the job: how computer vision is shaping the future of the workplace (30 October) 

• Business and social enterprise start-up innovation lab (3 November) 

Find out more and book:  

The full programme, including event descriptions and booking links, can be found here: festivalofsocialscience.com 

All events are free to attend, but advance booking may be required.