MDPI Subject Workshop: Social Sciences
MDPI UK invites you to attend an exclusive Social Sciences Subject Workshop, bridging the areas of Psychology, Education, and Society and exploring their intersection.
Hosted by Prof. Dr. Palitha Edirisingha and Prof. Dr. Brett Bligh, this event brings together leading academic researchers, early-career academics, and key industry professionals working across the Social Sciences to share new work and exciting developments throughout the field.
The day will comprise two sessions: the first focusing on research bridging Psychology and Education, and the second focusing on research on the convergence of Psychology and Society.
Topics will range from an exploration of the application of emerging technologies in the field of education to considerations of the power of collaborative practices in developing and building social futures and the role of identity and personality in sports and social life.
Through this event, we aim to encourage interdisciplinary contact between researchers and students across the field and to spark discussion and collaboration across the full spectrum of the Social Sciences. It will also provide a chance for attendees and MDPI staff to exchange perspectives on the development of MDPI's journals in this area and to explore how MDPI can best support the Social Sciences research community in the UK.
Event Details
Date: 14th October 2026
Location: The Hyatt Regency Manchester, 55 Booth St W, Manchester, M15 6PQ
Cost: Free to attend
About Our Hosts
Prof. Dr. Palitha Edirisingha is an Honorary Fellow in the School of Education at the University of Leicester. Previously, he was an Associate Professor in the same School and led two distance learning programmes: MA International Education and Post Graduate Certificate in Learning Technologies, and contributed to the MA International Education (Campus-based) and International PGCE programmes as a module convenor and a seminar tutor. He was also a Co-Director of the PhD programme in the School and a member of the University Ethics Committee. His current research and PhD supervision interests include AI in Education, Technology-Enhanced Learning, Open Educational Resources, Internationalisation of Higher Education, and Distance Learning from a Global South perspective. Palitha has edited two Special Issues in Educational Sciences, and serves as an Editorial Board Member of Trends in Higher Education.
Prof. Dr. Brett Bligh is a Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) and Deputy Discipline Lead for Educational Research at Lancaster University. His research interrogates issues of technology and institutional change in post-compulsory education. He prioritises Activity Theory conceptions of human practice and interventionist methodologies such as the Change Laboratory when addressing these issues. He is Director of the PhD Programme in E-Research and Technology Enhanced Learning at Lancaster, an Executive Board member for the International Society for Cultural-historical Activity Research (ISCAR), and a member of the Scientific Council for the Centre for Activity Theory at University West, Sweden.
Confirmed Speakers
Dr. Alan Marvell, University of Gloucestershire: “Optimisation in Doctoral Education: Automation, AI, and Student Experiences in an Evolving Global Landscape”
Dr. Maria Limniou, University of Liverpool: “Working in Partnership with Students to Build Digital, Employability and Research Skills and Strengthen Research Outputs”
Dr. Mark Thompson, London Metropolitan University: “Stress is a Trait of Mind—How Personality May Direct the Stress Process Within Athletes”
Dr. Palitha Edirisingha, University of Leicester: “The Hidden Costs of Generative AI: Rethinking the Academic Writing Process”
Dr. Brett Bligh, University of Lancaster: “The Change Laboratory: A Methodology for the Collaborative Envisioning of Social Futures”
Prof Dr. Katerina Strani, Heriot-Watt University: “Identity, Belonging and the Rise of Digital Hate”
Why Attend?
Discover cutting-edge research and developments from researchers working across the Social Sciences
Engage in conversations looking to bridge gaps between research areas and disciplines
Discover connections between research in psychology, education, and society
Network with academic researchers, early-career academics, and industry professionals working in your field
Connect with the MDPI UK team in person
Join us on the 14th October at The Hyatt Regency Manchester for a day of engaging discussion bridging psychology, education, and society.
