Join researchers for a fun, family-friendly programme exploring two topics that shape our daily lives: food and digital information. In the first session, discover the stories behind what we eat through interactive talks on food, health, technology and culture, from virtual flavour technology to festive food traditions. Then become a Digital Detective and Conspiracy Cook, investigating how we decide what information to trust online and why misinformation can be so persuasive.
This event is designed for ages 8+ and includes discussion of online scams and misinformation. Some light refreshments will be available - please see the booking form for more details.
Talk Schedule
10:00am to 12:00pm - Food for All: Community, Consumption & Wellbeing
Food shapes our lives in ways we often don't notice, influencing our health, culture, communities and environment. Through a series of engaging talks and interactive activities, explore how technology, history, philosophy and science are changing the way we think about what we eat. From virtual flavour and digital food apps to family recipes and festive traditions, discover the many stories behind our food choices. Come curious and leave with plenty of food for thought - read more about the talks below!
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What if the apps we use to order groceries and takeaways could also help us make healthier and more sustainable choices? In this interactive session, Professor Thijs van Rens will introduce research that uses digital tools to study what people buy in online supermarkets and food-delivery platforms to answer the bigger question: how could online food environments be designed differently to help people choose food that is better for their health and for the planet? The session will explore ideas such as changing prices, raising awareness, suggesting alternatives and redesigning food packaging and presentation. Join us in our effort to help make healthy and sustainable eating more accessible and realistic!
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What could be more traditional than Christmas dinner? Food historian Professor Rebecca Earle walks us through the surprising histories of Christmas pudding and other staples of the festive season.
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Over 10 million tonnes of food are wasted in the UK every year, of which 22% is wasted because people buy something, don’t like the taste, and simply throw it away. Not only is this food wasted, but so too are the enormous resources used to produce the food. Virtual flavour provides an authentic simulation of real flavour experiences, using UK Food Standards Agency approved food-safe chemicals. Because it is an authentic simulation, Virtual Flavour can provide a way for you to know in advance whether you would like something, allowing you to “taste before you waste”.
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A simple salad made with English-grown ingredients will provide a backdrop for conversation about the future of our food environment. The star ingredients are colourful new varieties of URbeans (short for UK Registered Beans, developed at the University research farm). Professor Holub will use a dinner placemat to reveal how these beans are entering our food supply chain, and how an URbean cooking community in the midlands could soon change food culture of an island nation.
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Meals are about much more than simply eating food. They are opportunities to connect, celebrate, negotiate, remember, and share experiences with others. But what is it about eating together that makes all these things possible?
This interactive session invites participants to reflect on their own experiences of family meals, celebrations, and everyday dining. Through small-group discussion and conversation, we will explore the many social roles that meals play in our lives and communities. Drawing on a family recipe and insights from social science research, the session will uncover the significance of shared meals and consider why eating together remains such an important part of human life.
Workshop
12:00pm to 12:40pm - Digital Detectives and Conspiracy Cooks
Which shells does an octopus like to live in? Who discovered antibiotics? Can you discover the correct solution on these websites? Be careful! How do we know whether information online is trustworthy? And what makes conspiracy theories so convincing?
Join psychologist Dr Michaela Gummerum for this family-friendly session where you’ll become both a Digital Detective and a Conspiracy Cook. As a Digital Detective, you'll investigate websites to uncover the answers to intriguing questions, while deciding which sources can be trusted and which may be misleading. Then, step into the Conspiracy Kitchen, where you'll discover the ingredients that make conspiracy theories persuasive by creating your own theory from a selection of characters, actions, and motives. Suitable for curious minds 8+, this hands-on activity explores how we evaluate information, identify misinformation, and make sense of the world around us.
In the Foyer
Explore, Discover and Connect All Day!
Explore four interactive exhibits, displays and drop-in activities running throughout the day. Discover how research helps us understand real-world issues – from nutrition misinformation and food heritage to gender, housing and access to justice.
This event is part of the ESRC Festival of Social Science 2026 and was made possible thanks to funding from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), which is part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). It has been organised by Research and Impact Services at University of Warwick and Shared By Resonate.
Resonate supports the United Nations Global Sustainable Development Goals. The symbols below indicate which of the 17 goals this event aligns with.
