Women as criminals and women as victims of crime, a fair education for all and the golden age of retirement – just some of the topics up for discussion at a series of events hosted by the University of Essex for this year’s ESRC Festival of Social Science.

The role research using big and complex data is starting to play in driving social change will also feature, as will an introduction to social science experiments and their use.

The national Festival is a week-long celebration of social science research and will take place from 5 – 12 November. Run by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), it aims to increase awareness of the contributions the social sciences make to the wellbeing and the economy of the UK.

Executive Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Professor Sasha Roseneil said, “The University of Essex is one of Britain’s leading social science universities, a place where researchers are investigating the most important social issues that we face in the 21st century, and where we are equipping the next generation of social scientists with the knowledge and skills to make a real difference in the world.

“The ESRC Festival of Social Science provides us with a fantastic opportunity to celebrate and share our research with new audiences.”

The programme of Essex events features:

•  Not the Golden Age of Old? New research on older people living in the UK
• Women and Criminal Justice: why should we care?
• Education for all: looking beyond the classroom
• Talk Big Data: Changing Lives through Research
• A friendly introduction to social science experiments

See more details on all Essex hosted Festival events.

This is the 14th annual Festival of Social Science and is set to feature over 250 events nationwide.

The Faculty of Social Sciences at Essex is ranked 4th in the UK for research excellence.

To follow all Festival events use #esrcfestival