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School of Social Sciences Birkbeck Social Sciences Festival

Bringing together academics, students and activists with talks and films

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2025 festival

Social Sciences Festival

About the festival

The Social Sciences festival is a celebration of all of our research and work across our specialist areas. There's a whole series of exciting events bringing together academics, students and activists, with talks, films and opportunities to get involved.

Come and celebrate and see what we do!

Waiting Times Book Launch - Professor Lisa Baraitser: 3 June

Waiting Times: Time, Care and the NHS in Crisis explores how waiting structures healthcare and challenges crisis-driven responses to NHS care. The authors argue that waiting is a fundamental and ethical part of how care is delivered.

Traversing Boundaries - Research Impact in the Social Sciences: 3 June

The conference explores how social science research shapes policy, practice, communities, and public discourse, alongside themes of inequality, ethics, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the PhD journey.

Turning Tides of Development: 9 June

Public lecture on the future of international development, examining how cuts to overseas aid and shifting global priorities are transforming the sector.

Disability and Access to Justice in the Tribunal: 9 June

Talk by Dr Alex Murray and District Tribunal Judge David Chrimes on disability and accessibility in the UK Tribunal Service.

Politics Society Panel Discussion: 10 June

This panel discussion is hosted by Birkbeck’s Politics society and will feature a panel of students talking about contemporary issues and events.

The Bonnart Lecture 2026 with Professor David Scott: 10 June

Lecture by David Scott (Columbia University) exploring how Stuart Hall’s Jamaican upbringing shaped his thinking on race, culture, and Cultural Studies.