Social Sciences Impact Conference 2026

Today’s rapidly-changing world is full of uncertainty – political shifts, rising global tensions and conflicts, the advance of AI and cybersecurity threats, the climate crisis, health and biosecurity risks, societal and cultural shifts, and changes in international aid, energy and supply chain systems. This uncertainty brings new challenges – but it also provides many opportunities to work together, to build resilience and enable meaningful change. Social sciences can provide robust approaches, evidence and understanding to inform responses and reimagine futures for the better.

This two-day social sciences impact conference (24-25 March 2026, St Anne’s College, Oxford), supported by the University of Oxford’s ESRC Impact Acceleration Account, will explore how collaboration, openness, innovation and inclusion can help us move forward positively to address some of the major challenges we collectively face.

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Delegate pricing information:

No delegate fee will be charged to researchers and professional services staff from University of Oxford and Oxford Brookes University. Delegates must register with their institution email address, discount applied at the end of the booking process.
The standard delegate rate will be £100 for one day or £150 for both days (i.e. discount if attending both days).
Accommodation at the venue (St Anne's college) will be charged at £93 per night (single en suite, bed and breakfast). Other hotel options are available nearly.
The optional conference dinner on Tuesday evening will be an additional cost of £65 for all attendees

For those who are unable to attend the conference in person, an online alternative is available with access to 10 fantastic live sessions across the two days. Please note that, due to high demand, this is the only option available to students. Access to this option will open soon at this link Online Registration Form.

Our diverse conference programme includes speakers from organisations such as the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office, UNHCR, the British Academy, ESRC, BBC Ideas, the Scottish Parliament, Northern Ireland Assembly and the Senedd, and researchers from more than 20 universities, including University of Oxford, Oxford Brookes University, University of Cambridge, University of Manchester, UCL, Queen's University Belfast, University of Exeter and Jagiellonian University, Poland.

The full programme will be announced shortly. In the meantime here's a preview of some programme highlights:

Social Sciences in Motion: Power, Pressure and Potential

At a time of political change, rising expectations and mounting pressure, the social sciences face a defining moment. This opening plenary brings together leading voices from the sector including Dame Julia Black and Will Hutton, President of the Academy of Social Sciences, to explore what’s at stake — and how the social sciences can strengthen their impact and visibility value in a rapidly changing world.

Impact at a Crossroads: Research and Action Amid Global Change

Between rising global tensions, the landscape of international research and aid has changed dramatically. In this plenary, hear from researchers, policymakers, and international organisations as they discuss how their work has had to adapt, how they navigate highly polarised environments, and how we can continue to deliver impact.

How the Social Sciences are Meeting the Climate Change Challenge

Featuring researchers from University of Cambridge, University of Southampton and University of Oxford.

Leveraging collaboration and technology to drive impact at scale: Experiences from the Global Parenting Initiative and Parenting for Lifelong Health

Professor Jamie Lachman and Dr Isang Awah (DSPI, University of Oxford) share their experiences working with governments and NGOs to advocate for and implement evidence-based parenting programmes to improve the lives of children and families around the world.

Plus sessions on creative methodologies for engagement, inclusive innovation and commercialisation and navigating international policy spaces and much more.

Social sciences research is essential in helping us understand and positively influence the world around us. Delivering scalable, inclusive and responsible impact – turning ‘Hope into Action’ – was the theme of the second Social Sciences Impact Conference, which took place in Oxford 20-21 March.

The first conference, back in 2018, focused on the impact that social sciences research has beyond academia and how it can make a significant difference to societies and people's lives around the globe.

The unprecedented challenges of the past four years have put this to the test in the starkest terms imaginable. From a global pandemic and economic uncertainty to the energy crisis and the war in Ukraine, as well as the ever-present threats of climate change, these seismic changes had highlighted how social scientists play a crucial role in bringing a deeper understanding not only of these challenges, but also of the world around us.

What have we learned so far? What does it take to deliver impact in different and challenging contexts? How do we scale and sustain impacts? How do we deliver impact responsibly and inclusively? The ‘Hope into Action’ conference examined these questions and – through a variety of voices from academia and beyond – explored how social scientists continue to offer unique insights.