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The mental load

Leah Ruppanner

Thursday 14 May 2026, 17:30-18:30, on campus (10 East 0.18)

Sociologist Leah Ruppanner examines the persistent imbalance of the ‘mental load’, the often invisible cognitive and emotional labour required to keep households functioning and thriving. She explains that although women who earn and work more tend to do fewer physical domestic tasks, these gains rarely reduce the responsibility for planning, organising and anticipating family needs. This hidden burden affects wellbeing, limits economic opportunity and reinforces structural inequalities.

Drawing on findings from her research and her new book, Drained, Ruppanner discusses how the mental load operates as a barrier to equality and why it remains resistant to change. She explores the broader policy landscape, including measures that support shared caregiving, such as well-paid parental leave for fathers, flexible work arrangements and public awareness efforts that challenge traditional norms. She highlights how policy design can redistribute responsibility and promote more equitable family and work environments.

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Why populists are winning: and how to beat them

Liam Byrne

Thursday 30 April 2026, 18:00-19:00, on campus

Authoritarian populists now govern one-quarter of the world's democracies. But is this peak populism, or the populists' tipping point? Liam Byrne exposes the forces propelling the populist surge and reveals how to stop it. He outlines populism's five tribes and shows which voters can still be won back. He traces the millions of pounds flowing into Britain's populist media-political complex, and maps the rhetoric that populists use to weaponise fear and nostalgia. He explains why simply shouting louder from the political mainstream never works and instead makes the case for rebuilding a confident, values-driven radical centre – one that tackles inequality head-on, restores economic dignity and reconnects with communities who feel unseen.

How the Blair governments reshaped the country

Glen O'Hara

Tuesday 5 May, 12:30-13:30, on campus (Chancellors' Building 3.5)

Between 1997 and 2007, New Labour sought to reshape Britain into a more cohesive and forward-thinking society. The decade saw the rise of socially liberal attitudes and flourishing public services under a government committed to rebuilding and investing in them. Yet New Labour's track record was far from flawless and its legacy remains complicated and contested. Glen O'Hara, Professor of Modern and Contemporary History at Oxford Brookes University, examines both the intentions behind New Labour's policies and their real-world effects, and traces the lasting impact of the Blair years.

Can this be the century of the citizen?

Danny Sriskandarajah

Tuesday 19 May, 17:30-18:30, on campus (10 East 0.18)

Civic space is under attack in many parts of the world, democracy feels fragile, economic inequality is rising and the digital tools that were supposed to connect and empower us are weakening the social fabric. Yet Danny Sriskandarajah, an experienced civil society leader and author of Power to the People, believes that this can and will be the century of the citizen.

He presents his manifesto for change, designed to inspire citizen action around the world. He explores how we, as individuals, can make a difference through greater community engagement, and how we can reimagine our democracy and democratise our economies to deliver as a society that works for the many and not the few. From public ownership of social media spaces to democratising share ownership, and from re-energising cooperatives to creating a people’s chamber at the United Nations, he shares ideas for how we can reclaim our power and change the world.

In association with the Centre for Development Studies.

Some events in this series will be held online and some will be held in person.

Specific venue and access information for each event can be found on the booking pages. If you have any questions, please contact us.

For events held at the University's Claverton Down campus:

• First Bus runs services between Bath and the University's Claverton Down campus. Visit the travelling by bus page to find out about the bus services you can take to and from the campus.
• Visit the cycling and walking page for more information about getting to the campus by bike or on foot.
• You can drive to the campus but parking is limited. Visit the parking section on the website for information on parking at the campus.
• View a map of accessible parking and wheelchair access routes on campus on campus. Visit the on AccessAble for more information.

The work we need

Hilary Cottam in conversation with Margaret Heffernan

October 2025

For decades, work has been debated and discussed as a narrow economic category. Instead, Hilary Cottam presents work as a cultural force at the heart of good lives, strong communities and a sense of a shared national destiny. She explores how we can shape this force to meet technological change, our ecological crisis and the challenges of the world’s deep injustices.

Drawing on a fascinating range of sources – historians, trade unionists, business leaders, philosophers and hours of her imaginative workshops with workers – she poses a critical question: how can we redesign work?

In conversation with author and business leader Margaret Heffernan, Hilary shares ideas for how we could work differently and live better.

Gender equality at work: Where are we now?

Penny East in conversation with Sue Milner

November 2025

2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the UK’s Sex Discrimination Act, as well as the coming into force of the Equal Pay Act 1970. Fifty years later, how much progress has been made? Penny East, CEO of the Fawcett Society, joins us to examine key milestones, persistent challenges, and the path forward for creating truly equitable work environments. Drawing on insights from Fawcett’s flagship campaign, Equal Pay Day, she explores the structural barriers still in place, the impact of policy shifts, and what it will take to achieve lasting equality in the workplace.

Tackling modern slavery

Andrew Wallis in conversation with Andrew Crane

January 2026

The Modern Slavery Act 2015 was hailed as a world-leading piece of legislation, when it was introduced. But a 2024 review by the Modern Slavery Act 2015 Committee concluded that developments since – both in the UK and globally – have led to the UK falling behind internationally. The number of people identified as victims of modern slavery has been rising year on year, with over 19,000 people referred to the authorities in 2024.

Andrew Wallis is CEO of Unseen and chaired the landmark Centre for Social Justice report , widely acknowledged as a catalyst for the 2015 Act. In conversation with Andrew Crane, he discusses the current landscape of modern slavery in the UK. They explore what has changed over the past decade, where the gaps are, and how the UK can strengthen its approach once again.

Living precariously: The challenge of insecure work

Rebecca Florisson in conversation with Fran Bennett

January 2026

The 2024 UK Insecure Work Index estimated that 6.8 million people living in the UK (over 20% of the workforce) are in severely insecure work. Rebecca Florisson is Principal Analyst at the Work Foundation at Lancaster University and leads a research programme on insecure work. In conversation with Fran Bennett, she discusses the realities of low pay, unpredictable hours and poor protections, and the steps that can be taken to transform the labour market to improve access to secure jobs. What is the potential impact of reforms in the Employment Rights Act? Does the Act go far enough?

The hidden human labour powering AI

James Muldoon in conversation with Aida Garcia-Lazaro

March 2026

James Muldoon explores the unseen workforce and global supply chains that make artificial intelligence possible.

Drawing on more than a decade of research, hundreds of interviews and thousands of hours of fieldwork, he reveals the lives of the lives of the workers often deliberately concealed from view and the systems of power that determine their future. While Big Tech promotes AI as a frictionless technology that will bring wealth and prosperity, he exposes a different reality hidden beneath this surface: a precarious global workforce of millions that make AI possible. He examines the power structures that govern digital work and explains what we need to do to build a more just digital future.

The work of care

Kate Hamblin, Emily Kenway and Diana Teggi

March 2026

Millions of people throughout the UK provide unpaid care for family members and friends who are disabled, older, or who have a chronic health condition and need support. While the economic value of this care exceeds £180 billion a year, it often comes at a significant personal cost, particularly when adequate support is lacking.

Drawing on research and lived experience, Kate Hamblin and Emily Kenway examine the social and economic pressures faced by carers. They consider the policy challenges surrounding unpaid care and outline the steps needed from government, employers and public services to improve recognition, protection and support for carers, and to address the growing pressures shaping the future of care.