Evolving Society

Join an Uncomfortable York walking tour and hear untold histories and diverse stories highlighting the impact of women, people of colour and LGBTQIA+ individuals from York's past.

What does York history mean for its residents? Whether you have lived in the city for a few months or many generations, why not drop by our workshop and share what York means to you?

Explore the hidden history of a remarkable hovercraft that whizzed passengers directly between Hull and Grimsby in the late 1960s. Join Paul Drury-Bradey of the Humber Hovercraft project.

Enjoy a walking tour around the riverfront of the Ouse as we showcase York’s highlights and illustrate the role of the river in York’s World Heritage bid.

Join retired US Marine Steve Van Riper as he discusses the cultures of the US military services - Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines - through some rather interesting analogies.

How can the design of parks be more welcoming for women and girls? Find out more and share your ideas at an interactive Make Space York pop-up exhibition.

Take a behind-the-scenes look at the legendary British Vogue magazine as author Julie Summers presents a beautifully illustrated talk about its fascinating and glamorous history.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is making waves and changing the world around us. Join us for an exploration of how Christian faith is affected by AI within the context of Choral Evensong.

From the first printed ‘Strange Newes’ sheets of the 16th century to the sensationalism of today’s digital age, author Terry Kirby reveals the seedy history of tabloid journalism.

Join David Trousdale, Principal Advisor for Climate Change and Net Zero at Newcastle City Council and hear how he and his team are successfully driving change in the city.

Discover how to communicate with clarity and confidence with BBC presenter and journalist Ros Atkins, creator of the viral 'Ros Atkins on...' explainer videos.

Award-winning barrister Charlotte Proudman highlights the troubling biases and shocking prejudice that underlie our legal system, putting forward her own inspiring vision for long-term change.

What makes the perfect British pub across the four seasons? Find out with journalist and beer-expert Adrian Tierney-Jones.

Hear the incredible story of how globally renowned motorcycle track instructor Andy Ibbott turned adversity into opportunity after suffering a life-changing stroke.

How can those in higher education work together to address the challenges of a global climate crisis? Our expert panel discusses some unique new approaches.

Get ready to shine bright at York Cares Summer Sparkle - a fun-filled event celebrating summer with music, cake and, of course, lots of sparkle!

We're living in the technological future, but is it the one we want? Join in the discussion as we explore if digital technologies are solving the right problems of the modern age.

As the epidemic of male violence towards women and young girls reaches new heights, women’s rights campaigner Jess Davies provides a toolkit to understand and tackle online misogyny.

Learn how churches have developed over the centuries and enjoy a guided tour around one of England's most important ecclesiastical buildings.

Join leading UK geographer Danny Dorling as he unpacks polling data and shows that our global crises are often very different from what’s in the headlines.

Writer Anna Sulan Masing explores what it means to be East and South East Asian in Britain today and celebrates the varied experiences that make up ESEA identity.

From emojis to like Hello Kitty, philosopher Simon May explores the worldwide obsession with cuteness and what it reveals about our age.

Sociologist Mikael Klintman offers a toolkit for exposing and analysing the rhetoric that saturates our everyday lives in today's chaotic media landscape.

In a time of global geopolitical instability, rising energy prices and changing Government spending priorities, our expert panel examines the impact of economic growth on households’ financial resilience.

Join in the discussion as our expert panel examines the economic forces shaping our lives and the intersecting challenges of inequality, health, social relations and the planet.

From medieval times to the 2008 financial crash and the present day, economist Martin Slater explores the central role and changing fortunes of the National Debt.

Join us at the Interactive Media Showcase and enjoy the phenomenal work created by students from the University of York’s School of Arts and Creative Technologies.

Join us at the Interactive Media Showcase and enjoy the phenomenal work created by students from the University of York’s School of Arts and Creative Technologies.

Join us for a challenge against the clock as competing finalists each have just three minutes to outline the power of their research in the annual York Three Minute Thesis competition.

Join our expert speakers as they look back over 200 remarkable years of rail history and assess its transformative impact on the city of York and the wider region.

Learn about the latest trends in European literatures and languages, give voice to your crafty self and contribute to our multilingual wor(l)d-map with a word, a sketch or a drawing at our interactive event.

Come along and join the fabulous Pride Parade March through the city centre streets to the Knavesmire.

Why does the burden of housework still fall on women? Sociologist Emma Casey offers a powerful call to challenge the prevailing myths around housework.

Writer Pippa Stacey guides you through the key things you should know about non-visible disabilities in 2025, sharing her own lived experiences of managing a chronic illness and non-visible symptoms in everyday life.

York Pride returns to the Knavesmire with a vibrant afternoon of entertainment and family-friendly activities. Why not come along and celebrate inclusivity and diversity?

Discover how the major changes taking place in the heart of our city centre, driven by York’s Masterplan and the ambitious York Central regeneration scheme, will drive economic, social and cultural growth.

Find out how the data revolution in sport is influencing decision making in areas such as tactics, strategy and recruitment with statisticians from the University of York.

Explore real-world stories of community-led projects that are making a difference by combining environmental action with social equity. Join Dilay Celebi Gonidis of CITY College, University of York Europe campus.

Enjoy a Playback Theatre performance which takes its inspiration from the histories of disabled people in York and encourages attendees to share their own stories from 2025.

From the beauty of floodlights to the glorious moment when a referee falls over, join author Daniel Gray as he lyrically celebrates the simple joys of the beautiful game.

As we celebrate 200 years of the modern railway, our expert speakers reveal how the spirit of invention and innovation of rail’s early pioneers lives on, driving a new future.

Join us at the Interactive Media Showcase and enjoy the phenomenal work created by students from the University of York’s School of Arts and Creative Technologies.

Are the deep splits in society being created and maintained by disinformation? What can be done to rein in big tech? Our expert speakers discuss if democracy can survive in these circumstances.

Learn about the latest trends in European literatures and languages, give voice to your crafty self and contribute to our multilingual wor(l)d-map with a word, a sketch or a drawing at our interactive event.

With Trump’s second presidency, are we returning to an era of Great Powers and ‘might means right’? What are the implications for the so-called ‘global rules-based order’? Join in the discussion with our expert panel.

Join us for StreetLife's Queer Walk of York, an LGBTQI+ heritage trail of sites of significance to the city's queer communities, and a post-walk conversation on Spaces of Queer Activism in York.

Join Heather Conway, an expert on death law, as she explores some of the complex legal questions about the disposal and post-mortem fate of the dead.

There is serious possibility the US might withdraw its security guarantees for Europe, in place since 1945. Our expert speakers review the options and consider what the future of Europe might look like.

Celebrate the comedic genius of Ray Galton and Alan Simpson (Hancock’s Half Hour and Steptoe and Son) at an event showcasing the archive acquired by the University of York in 2024.

Modesty, flamboyance, filth. Join writer Nina Edwards as she unravels the intimate narratives woven into the fabric of our most personal garments.

Historian Eleanor Barnett charts the ingenious ways people have sought to extend the life of food and reuse leftovers from the 16th-century kitchen to the present day.

Discover what linked York and Münster historically, the background to the cities’ twinning, and how links are ongoing today.

Discover how trees contribute to our sense of place within urban communities and explore how a space-based approach could colour a green-print for York as a White Rose Forest city.

Celebrating the 200th anniversary of the modern railway, rail historian Roger Backhouse examines how railway posters developed from the mid-19th century.

How do we solve the housing crisis? Take part in an innovative online workshop focusing on shared goals. Role-play different perspectives and explore solutions in York.

Join Emma Waring and Donna Yates of the York Maastricht Partnership as they explore some of the ethical dilemmas surrounding T-Rex fossils, controversial art and human remains in museums and galleries today.

Isabel Berwick, host of the award-winning Financial Times Working It podcast and Simon Gilbody of the University of York discuss loneliness at work and offer some practical advice and solutions.

Join Deneal Smith, Head of Bootham School as he examines the core values of Quaker action through the lens of education in the 21st century. What should schools be doing for their students and local community?

Love it or hate it? The Willow Disco was an infamous part of York’s nightlife culture for 42 years. Join us to mark the 10th anniversary of the Willow's closure and the launch of the Willow Community Digital Archive.

Join our expert speakers from France and the UK as they discuss whether we should fear or embrace the introduction of AI in the workplace.

Love it or hate it? The Willow Disco was an infamous part of York’s nightlife culture for 42 years. Join us to mark the 10th anniversary of the Willow's closure and the launch of the Willow Community Digital Archive.

Love it or hate it? The Willow Disco was an infamous part of York’s nightlife culture for 42 years. Join us to mark the 10th anniversary of the Willow's closure and the launch of the Willow Community Digital Archive.

Love it or hate it? The Willow Disco was an infamous part of York’s nightlife culture for 42 years. Join us to mark the 10th anniversary of the Willow's closure and the launch of the Willow Community Digital Archive.

Come along to St Olave’s Church to celebrate all things time related. Enjoy a series of short talks during the day, and poetry and music presented by Navigators Art & Performance in the evening.

Come along to St Olave’s Church to celebrate all things time related. Enjoy a series of short talks during the day, and poetry and music presented by Navigators Art & Performance in the evening.