Exploring money matters at the ESRC Festival of Social Science 2026
13 November 2026
The annual ESRC Festival of Social Science returned this year with a timely theme – ‘Money, Finance and the Cost of Living’ – as researchers from the University of Oxford and Oxford Brookes University brought social science research to life through a wide-ranging programme of engaging, interactive events.
The programme opened with a special episode of the What Economists Really Do webinar, in which researchers Michael McMahon and Mathias Jensen explored what economists can tell us about work and everyday life in a changing world. More than 130 people participated in the interactive session, with overwhelmingly positive feedback highlighting the relevance of social sciences research to our daily lives.
Liz Adams, ESRC Senior Strategy Manager: Engagement, and Festival Family Day attendee"It was fabulous to see so many kids and parents enjoying themselves in the museum, getting stuck into hands-on activities devised by researchers to engage visitors with social science in a fun and family-friendly way.”
The Festival Family Day at the Pitt Rivers Museum offered children and adults alike the chance to explore a range of social science-based activities throughout the galleries; from uncovering the hidden costs of everyday purchases to understanding the sustainability of our clothes and toys.
Hundreds of visitors engaged with the researcher-led activities, including:
- Who wants to be an entrepreneur? – Our creative studio provided everything needed to make a ‘zine, and by folding, drawing and writing entire mini-mags were created about work, rest and play. With Jeremy Zwiegelaar and team (Oxford Brookes).
- The secret life of objects – Visitors followed clues around the museum to solve the Mystery of Hidden Costs. With Darshini Nadarajan (Department of Education).
- Sustainable style studio – The amazing creations by Cherwell Collective told stories of recycled toys and food packaging into clothes, and built a fashion photo wall. With Rebecca Beech and team (Oxford Brookes).
- Your money, your future – The ‘truth or myth’ budgeting quiz was a big hit with stickers and notepads, as well as photo opportunities. With Nafisa Salsamin Zaman (Oxford Brookes, and Local Policy Lab fellow).
- How would you invest £100,000? – Participants explored investment ideas and tried their hand at Green Skills Bingo – with Khin Thazin (Department of International Development, and Local Policy Lab fellow).
- Too hot to shop – Visitors learned how climate change and hotter summers are impacting our food costs, and made origami pumpkins to take home. With Chloe Brimicombe (Department of Social Policy and Intervention).
Parent of two attending the Family Festival Day“Great to have academically focussed activities for children.”
The programme concluded with a hands-on, historical coin collection handling session at the Ashmolean Museum, where children and adults had the opportunity to hold coins from antiquity as they learned how these early forms of money impacted societies long ago.
Our thanks to all the researchers, colleagues at the Pitt Rivers Museum and Ashmolean Museum and colleagues in the Social Sciences Division for bringing these research events to life for so many appreciative participants, and we look forward to another ESRC Festival of Social Science next year.
More photos from the event
All photos by Szabolcs Mathe.
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About the ESRC Festival of Social Science
The ESRC Festival of Social Science is an annual celebration of the social sciences and a key element of ESRC's commitment to promote awareness of UK social science research to new audiences. The Festival offers a fascinating insight into some of the country's leading social science research and how it influences our social, economic and political lives - both now and in the future. For more information visit the Festival of Social Science website.
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