Social Sciences Discover Programme

Digital death 

We spend so much of our everyday lives engaging with digital media, but what happens to all this ‘stuff’- our comments, profiles, pictures, and posts - when we die? In this session students will learn about how social media and new technologies are changing the ways in which we can plan for our own deaths and ‘stay connected’ to loved ones when they die.  Students will discuss the social and ethical implications of these changes and consider questions such as: is it ethical for a parent to access their deceased child’s social media account? Is it creepy or comforting to have a Twitter account that can tweet on your behalf after you have died? 

Email: discoverprogramme@hud.ac.uk

The psychology of illusions

We all know that our eyes can sometimes fool us, things are not always what they seem, and our perceptions of the world are not always accurate. This lecture will demonstrate various perceptual and visual illusions and explain the psychology behind them. The implications of this for practical areas such as eyewitness testimony, film and visual effects, and magic will be explored. At the end of the session, you will have the opportunity to take part in a practical demonstration surrounding the phenomenon of phantom limb syndrome.

Email: discoverprogramme@hud.ac.uk

Detecting deception in criminal contexts 

In this session through a series of role plays and discussions, students will be invited to consider how individuals successfully use their ability to lie in order to commit crimes or to evade prosecution. For example, those who assume a false identity to illegally cross borders and how the authorities might be able to detect when someone is not being entirely truthful.

The obsession of cyberspace

Have we become too obsessed with the complexities of cyberspace? Over time the internet has become more powerful as different age groups in society are interacting with a range social media tools which are used to communicate and access information. Through this session students will explore the issues and debates around the usage of communication technologies in everyday lives.

Email: discoverprogramme@hud.ac.uk

What is social work?

This interactive session will show students what it is like to be a social worker and provide an insight into the important work that they do in their communities. Students will learn about the skills and knowledge needed to support individuals and their families and help to ensure that vulnerable people, including children and adults, are safeguarded from harm. 

Email: discoverprogramme@hud.ac.uk 

The realities of imprisonment 

During the session you'll consider the impact of imprisonment on offenders, the cost of imprisonment to society, before asking the question, is imprisoning offenders really necessary?

Email: discoverprogramme@hud.ac.uk 

Catching criminals 

In this session, you'll explore with an ex-detective how some of the UKs most serious criminals are caught and the key challenges faced by criminal investigators today.

Email: discoverprogamme@hud.ac.uk