Society matters LIVE

Academic insights into real world matters

Society matters LIVE is an in-person event series organised by Aston University in collaboration with Café Artum at Hockley Social Club.

The events, which are held at Café Artum in Birmingham, showcase some of the fascinating research taking place by academics within the College of Business and Social Sciences.

These events are free to attend and open to all members of the public. As there is limited capacity at the venue, tickets will be given on a first come, first served basis.

What I Choose Birmingham says about us:

"Aston University, always at the forefront of Brum's iteration of Pint of Science (when scientists teach you a little while you're sat in the cradling surrounds of a pub) have stepped up to the plate again to give learning a lick of lovely with lessons in a wine bar. Welcome to Society Matters: Live, for the intellectually curious. The emphasis is very much on a chinwag rather than a lecture and you're encouraged to join is as much or as little as you like.”

Society Matters LIVE shows how research really matters and makes enormously positive changes in the everyday. Academic research is not an impermeable concept and we're here to prove that.

Upcoming events

Why do some people misbehave in their workplace?

Thursday 23 May 2024, 17:30 – 19:00 BST, Café Artum

Unethical behaviors like theft, bullying, harassment, and corruption are unfortunately common in workplaces worldwide. A recent survey found that 65% of employees have witnessed some form of unethical conduct at work. What leads to such behaviors? And how can organizations create environments that prevent them? Join Prof. Roberta Fida for an interactive and participative session where we explore these questions.

Online Dating: Romance or Fraud?

Thursday 27 June 2024, 17:30 – 19:00 BST, Café Artum

Do you use online dating apps? Or do you know someone who uses them? Are you interested in finding out how online dating apps work, and how to watch out for fraud? If yes, join Dr Rasha Kassem (Senior Lecturer, Aston University) for an enlightening event that uncovers the intricate world of romance fraud, where emotions can be manipulated

Past events

Is net zero worth fighting for? Climate change in the age of emergency

Thursday 23 June 2022, 17:30 – 19:00 BST, Café Artum

Dr Graeme Hayes will talk about what net zero means and what it doesn’t mean, what it tells us about climate change and what it leaves unsaid, why calculating carbon footprints is helpful and also why it isn’t, and will argue that net zero is a terrible idea which could probably only be made worse by abandoning net zero.

75 Years On: The Partition of India in a Global Perspective

Thursday 25 August 2022, 17:30 – 19:00 BST, Café Artum

Dr Volker Prott will invite you to take a step back and explore the partition of India from a global historical perspective. The partition of India has become a synonym of tragedy and unimaginable human suffering. The British decision in June 1947 to grant independence to its colony by creating two separate states caused the displacement of over ten million people as well as hundreds of thousands of casualties.

Who is doing the household work and why does it matter?

Thursday 29 September 2022, 17:30 – 19:00 BST, Café Artum

Dr Emily Christopher discusses the value of unpaid work around the home and the wider consequences of how it is divided. Who cooks the meals in your household? Who puts the clothes away or takes out the bins? Who does the DIY or organises birthday cards and presents for family and friends? Who makes sure the bathroom cupboard is stocked with toothpaste or is the one to organise childcare at the last minute? Why does this even matter?

Refugee solidarity – how much can individuals and organisations do?

Thursday 27 October 2022, 17:30 – 19:00 BST, Café Artum

Dr Gaja Maestri, Dr Katie Tonkiss and Dr Amanda Beattie (Centre for Migration and Forced Displacement) will reflect on how individuals and organisations engage with refugee support and will share examples from Australia, Greece and the UK.

Nativity plays and school prayers: religious practice or cultural heritage?

Thursday 1 December 2022, 17:30 – 19:00 GMT, Café Artum

Dr Céline Benoit will reflect on the place religion occupies in today's multicultural society exploring questions such as: Why is religion, which is often considered a taboo topic in the public sphere, compulsory in state schools? What do pupils and teachers think about it? And why do these questions really matter?

Was the pandemic response ethical? How prepared are we for the next one?

Thursday 26 January 2023, 17:30 – 19:00 GMT, Café Artum

Dr Lauren Traczykowski will ethically analyse some key actions and decisions made during the pandemic and other recent emergencies through a disaster ethics lens. Instead of focusing on the public health side of the emergency, this session will unpack general response and recovery issues so that participants are empowered to ask the right questions and understand certain answers – even if they are uncomfortable to us as individuals.

Tackling the cost of living crisis: what can we do?

Thursday 23 February 2023, 17:30 – 19:00 GMT, Café Artum

Professor Andy Lymer and Dr Hayley James will explore the impact of the cost of living crisis on people’s financial wellbeing, and will bring together their insights with insights from the audience to identify, develop and evaluate possible solutions.

The science of swearing

Thursday 30 March 2023, 17:30 – 19:00 BST, Café Artum

Swearing is a common part of day-to-day conversation for many people. But why do we swear and how have our favourite swear words changed over time? Dr Robbie Love will explore the science of swearing, from what happens in the brain when we swear to tracking how often we swear with the help of corpus linguistics.

Lab made meat on the menu?

Thursday 27 April 2023, 17:30 – 19:00 BST, Café Artum

Dr Eirini Theodosiou and Dr Jason Thomas will explore what cultivated - or lab-produced - meat is and what factors can influence consumers on buying it and eating it.

Should I let a robot drive my car?

Thursday 25 May 2023, 18:00 – 19:00 BST, Café Artum

It is predicted that machines in the future will replace humans for specific given tasks. Such a shift requires machines to be programmed with control and AI algorithms so that they are safe and ethical – behaving in a human-like manner. Dr James Pickering will discuss the issues surrounding the safety and ethics of self-driving vehicles.

Managing Sports Concussion - How we can make the right impact?

Thursday 28 September 2023, 17:30 – 19:00 BST, Café Artum

Kris Lines will explore the new rules, the myths, and where there are still legal uncertainties going forward in relation to the Government's new policy to preventing concussion and brain injury in sport.

Digital remains and digital reincarnation - What happens to our digital self when we die?

Thursday 26 October 2023, 17:30 – 19:00 BST, Café Artum

98% of UK adults were internet users in 2022. All of them will leave behind data and digital remains when they die. Dr Edina Harbinja will consider key conceptual, technological, ethical, and legal issues surrounding digital remains and digital reincarnation.

Political Football – Why has the ‘beautiful game’ become so political?

Thursday 30 November 2023, 17:30 – 19:00 GMT, Café Artum

Join Dr Danny Fitzpatrick as he explores the reason why football is becoming more political in the 21st century. Instead of focusing on the right and wrongs of each individual debate, this session will analyse how political theory can help us answer this question.

Reality Television: Who cares?

Thursday 29 February 2024, 17:30 – 19:00 BST, Café Artum

Professor Helen Wood and Dr Mhairi Brennan will share insights from their AHRC research project entitled ‘ReCARETV: Reality Television, Working Practices and Duties of Care’ - which considers policy, production and participation in the UK ‘unscripted’ television sector.

Accountability: the cure for a toxic workplace?

Thursday 28th March 2024, 17:30 - 19:00 BST, Café Artum

The contemporary workplace is evolving as a result of rapid digitalisation, human rights movements, and socio-economic turbulence. The post-#MeToo society pays greater attention to organisational accountability for workplace environment and culture motivating employees to seek workplaces free from bullying, harassment, discrimination, and other toxic behaviours.