Social and cultural challenges Our track record for research excellence is underpinned by our creativity and imagination. We’re exploring identity and cultures to tackle social challenges. Find out more about how our research shapes our world. You are here Home Research Social and cultural challenges The power of language in a plastic waste crisis Only 9 per cent of plastic in the UK is successfully recycled. With over half of UK households choosing to put one or more items in the general rubbish, researchers at Sheffield are taking a linguistic approach to change the nation’s throwaway culture. A multidisciplinary project Bridging cultures in mental health 1 in 4 people will experience struggles with their mental health in the course of a year. But cultural sensitivities and language differences put up barriers for many patients. Sheffield researchers have developed a training course to deepen the cultural understanding of healthcare professionals. Improving intercultural communication Sex lives in over 50s: Ending the stigma The sex lives of the over 50s have long been ignored. The University of Sheffield is leading in bringing the conversation back to the table and developing the UK's first ever sexual rights charter. Tackling discrimination Filling the silence: the powerful music of Afghanistan's exiled musicians On the morning of August 15 2021 the flourishing musicscape of Afghanistan fell silent. As the Taliban regime came back into force, musicians disappeared and fled. Dr Cayenna Ponchione-Bailey is working with Afghan musicians now living in exile to create new platforms to share their work. The Orchestras of Afghanistan Closing the language development gap in preschool children In England almost a quarter of children start school without the language skills needed to flourish. Research by Dr Danielle Matthews is supporting the creation of accessible materials to help parents with their child’s language development at home. Tiny Happy People Elevating underrepresented voices in Sheffield The restrictions of the pandemic affected our sense of place, space and community, distancing us from others. One Sheffield-made project overcame this adversity with a digital project that explored the place-based heritage of North Sheffield. Roots and Futures How the psychoactive revolution shaped society Research from the Department of History explores how intoxicants such as coffee and tobacco were trafficked into Western Europe and how they influenced today’s public spaces. Intoxicating Spaces Creating a safer global environment for journalists Journalists face serious kinds of human rights abuse simply for trying to keep the public informed. We're developing a framework to improve data collection on the full range of violations against journalists and track trends to prevent future attacks. Streamlining data Mozart: Music’s greatest freelancer Remembered as a child prodigy, how did Mozart craft the masterpieces that would remain well known over two hundred years after his death? Research from the Music Department has unearthed a new side to the musician that involves re-working pieces to please all audiences. Discovering Mozart as a performer Putting Broadway under the spotlight: how disability was erased from a popular musical Research by Professor Dominic Broomfield-McHugh reveals that producers removed a lead disabled character from one of the most popular musicals in Broadway history. His findings have sparked a debate about disability representation in musicals, both in the past and today. The Music Man Tackling gender inequality in Latin America Gender equality is a human right. But how do you shift societal views of women in one of the most unequal regions in the world? Research at the University of Sheffield is at the forefront of promoting gender equality in Latin American schools by celebrating women who helped shape the region. Making women's stories heard Co-developing a city-wide strategy for peace People in Buenaventura face ongoing violence from armed organisations. Researchers at the University of Sheffield and their partners at Javeriana University, CINEP and CORMEPAZ have been awarded the Economic & Social Research Council’s Societal Impact Prize for the coproduction of a peace strategy. Improbable Dialogues Sheffield Castle: Excavating the Past; Building the Future A film exploring the Castlegate project and what it means for our conception of Sheffield's heritage Building Sheffield's future A guide to the contemporary arts Are you one of the many that tried new artforms, as theatre, music and art galleries offered digital content during lockdown? If this piqued your interest to try something new, our guide to the contemporary will help you enjoy new arts experiences. Discover the contemporary arts How researchers are challenging complex Japanese stereotypes Researchers at the University of Sheffield are challenging Japanese stereotypes, changing the way we think about Japanese culture and our own. Breaking down damaging stereotypes A narrative approach to mental health For centuries, storytelling has been used as a tool to communicate ideas and understanding about the world. Research at the University of Sheffield has adapted this tool to give those struggling with mental health a voice and a community. Influencing global health policy Apprenticeships - German precisions and changing perceptions The number of people starting apprenticeships has almost tripled since 2007. But with a government target of three million new apprentices by the end of the decade, how can more young people be encouraged to see them as a viable pathway? Breaking down preconceptions European everyday life around 1800 The end of the eighteenth century was a time of upheaval. Dr Seán Williams explores the birth of the properly political citizen, the powerful customer, the popular philosopher, and above all: the self-made, self-educated subject in life around 1800. A time of upheaval Frivolous spending, private parties and grumpy governesses With its picturesque estate, filled with beautiful flowerbeds, waterworks and sculptures, illustrating nearly 500 years of changing styles, Chatsworth is believed to have inspired one of the world’s most-loved writers, Jane Austen. Understanding Chatsworth Joining The Baby Club - designing children’s television How do you design a children’s programme that’s also for adults? That’s the challenge for new BBC television programme The Baby Club, which aims to develop adults’ skills as much as those for toddlers. Nurturing child parent relationships Approaching uncertainty using SHELF When it comes to making difficult decisions, how honest are we with ourselves about what we don’t know? Researchers from the University of Sheffield have developed SHELF to combat the uncertainties that can arise when making a decision. Better decision making Changing the course of justice for victims and offenders After being on the receiving end of a criminal offence you might find it uncomfortable to talk to the perpetrator. But what if you could use that opportunity to get answers and explain the impact the offence had on your life? Reducing the frequency of reoffending Fact or fiction: how a world of misinformation can be challenged through philosophy In a world of misinformation and fake news it can be challenging to discern fact from fiction. But by introducing philosophical education into the curriculum from a young age, children could be armed with the tools to do just that. Sorting fact from fiction How did luxury become a necessity? The general consensus is that wealth equals luxury, but is that actually the case? To coincide with his BBC Radio 3 Documentary, The Deluxe Edition, and guest feature in The Observer, Dr Seán Williams provides an insight into the surprising story of luxury and what it means for us today. The contentious nature of luxury A cuppa reality: The truth behind your brew It’s estimated 25 million men, women and children across the world are affected by forced labour. Professor Genevieve LeBaron from the University of Sheffield explores why it is prevalent in supply chains and how we can all help to put a stop to so-called modern day slavery. The missing link in the supply chain Millicent Fawcett: A statue to suffrage When the statue of suffragist Millicent Fawcett was unveiled in 2018 it broke Parliament Square’s granite ceiling to become the first representation of a woman in the city’s seat of power. Professor Julie Gottlieb’s advice and collaboration helped carve this place in history. Making the list Where is the dignity in justice? When someone is arrested and detained by the police they are innocent until proven guilty. But does our police custody system treat them as such? And how can notions of dignity improve police custody practices? How does our custody system worK? Reshaping our understanding of British history We've opened up a new perspective on women's impact on foreign policy between the wars. Excluded from formal diplomacy The undercover geographer Our research is transforming employment health support. Adam Whitworth is a geographer attempting to map a new way through employment and health support for those most in need. His approach? ‘Go native’... Better social policy Protecting social media users from harmful content *Trigger warning: this article includes descriptions of harmful content relating to mental health issues, including but not limited to suicide, self-harm and eating disorders* Safeguarding social media users Help! I'm scared of the dentist Many people are scared of the dentist. For children, it can appear to be a strange environment full of unusual tools and unfamiliar smells. Our research gives children control during dental procedures to reduce anxiety. Ending dental anxiety Trapped: the truth behind narco-trafficking in Mexico Few would choose to spend their day in the London Immigration Tribunal Chambers, but for those who have to, it’s often a matter of life and death. This was the case for Peter. Except for him, it's a matter of the lives of Mexican nationals he helps to save. How knowledge saves lives Analysing the roles of nature and nurture in a chess prodigy The term chess prodigy conjures images of children with exceptional talents effortlessly defeating professional players. For parents and families thinking about supporting their children in adopting new skills, Dr Nemanja Vaci's findings can help them to seek the best approaches. The acquisition of extraordinary abilities
