Will Hutton to address Wales’ flagship social science conference

Wales' largest social science conference is taking place at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium this week

Now in its sixth year, the Wales Institute of Social & Economic Research, Data & Methods (WISERD) Annual Conference brings together practitioners, policy-makers and social scientists to discuss and debate themes including health, social care, wellbeing, education, culture & values, environment, labour markets, devolution and civil society.

This year, Will Hutton, political economist and former editor-in-chief of the Observer newspaper, will deliver a keynote address at the event.

Established as a key event in the social science calendar, academic and non-academic researchers from a range of disciplines will share their research at the conference.  Topics under discussion this year include the UK gender pay-gap, the future of the Welsh language in Wales, palliative care for people with dementia, labour market experiences of young people and e-cigarette use among young people.

The event is aimed at anyone concerned with social, economic and political issues in contemporary Wales, with more than 120 papers, posters and panel sessions being presented this year.

Other keynote speakers to join Will Hutton will be Ann Keane, Former HM Chief Inspector at Estyn, and Karl Wilding, Director of Public Policy at the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO).

WISERD Director, Professor Ian Rees Jones, said: "Over the years we have steadily grown in size and this, our sixth conference, marks our first three-day event. It is a delight therefore to see over 120 papers, posters and panel sessions on the programme and I am looking forward to hearing from our keynote speakers and taking part in an exciting range of discussions.

"WISERD conferences provide an opportunity for colleagues from the academic, policy, public and third sectors to come together to discuss cutting-edge research. They also provide an opportunity for us to learn about the broad range of exciting PhD research being undertaken across Wales."

Cardiff University's Vice Chancellor, Professor Colin Riordan, who will conduct the welcome address, said:"The WISERD conference provides an excellent opportunity to engage with the latest and most topical research being carried out in the field of social science. This conference is an excellent method of promoting networking and stimulating debate across a multitude of sectors, and Cardiff University is proud to be associated with WISERD - which continues to inspire and drive forward research collaboration and engagement."

The WISERD Annual Conference 2015 will take place from Tuesday 30th June until Thursday 2nd July at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff.