Birkbeck Social Sciences Festival 2026 to explore borders, justice and social change

Birkbeck will host its annual Social Sciences Festival from 27 May to 11 June 2026, bringing together researchers, students, alumni and practitioners from across a wide range of disciplines for a series of talks, panels, workshops and collaborative discussions.

The programme reflects the School of Social Sciences’ commitment to critical debate and public engagement, with events exploring themes including migration, international development, disability and justice, political culture, research impact and collective care.

Through conversations, creative sessions and expert-led discussions, the festival offers opportunities for audiences to engage with current research and contribute to wider conversations about the social challenges and transformations shaping the world today.

Festival Highlights

Wednesday 27 May

• The festival opens with “Currents of Change: Lived Histories of Liverpool’s Waterfront”, a presentation sharing work from a participatory photography project exploring how water shapes everyday life in Liverpool.

Tuesday 2 June

• “From Birkbeck to Beyond: Careers in Social Sciences” will bring together alumni from the School of Social Sciences to discuss their career journeys and the diverse pathways available to graduates.

Wednesday 3 June

• The festival will host the launch of Birkbeck Professor Lisa Baraitser’s book: “Waiting Times: Time, Care and the NHS in Crisis”. The launch will explore how waiting structures healthcare and challenges crisis-driven responses to NHS care, with authors exploring how waiting is a fundamental and ethical part of how care is delivered.
• The student-led doctoral conference, “Traversing Boundaries – Research Impact in the Social Sciences”, will provide an opportunity for PhD researchers to share ideas, connect with peers and explore how social science research can create meaningful impact in policy, practice and communities.
  
• The symposium “Migration, Creativity, Radical Care: Practising Care Beyond and Against the Hostile Environment” will bring together researchers, creative practitioners and activists to explore collective approaches to care through discussion, manifesto-writing and creative activities.

Monday 8 June

• Mary Morgan, PhD researcher and founder of Bloody Mary Film Club, will bring her cult screening series to Birkbeck with “Bloody Mary Film Club”, exploring avenging women on screen.

Tuesday 9 June

• “Turning Tides of Development: The New Landscape of International Cooperation” will examine how changing approaches to overseas aid and development are reshaping international cooperation, with reflections from experts and practitioners working in the sector.
  
• The festival will also host “Disability and Access to Justice in the Tribunal”, a discussion exploring disability and accessibility within the UK Tribunal Service.

Wednesday 10 June

• Birkbeck’s Politics Society will host a student panel discussion on contemporary political issues and current events.
  
• The Bonnart Lecture 2026, delivered by Professor David Scott of Columbia University, will explore how Stuart Hall’s Jamaican upbringing shaped his thinking on race, culture and Cultural Studies.

Thursday 11 June

• The festival concludes with the symposium “How do we deal with London’s Borders?”, bringing together geographers, planners and political scientists to discuss the challenges and political tensions surrounding borders in London.

Professor Matthew Davies, Executive Dean, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, said:

“The Social Sciences Festival is an opportunity to showcase the richness and diversity of research taking place across the School and to engage wider audiences in conversations about the major social and political issues shaping our world today. We are proud to bring together students, researchers, alumni and the public for a programme that reflects Birkbeck’s commitment to critical thinking, collaboration and social engagement.”

All events are free and open to the public, although registration is required. For more information and to book your place, visit the Social Sciences Festival webpage.