Climate change, cost of living, mental health struggles, authoritarianism, and wars that drag on and on. There is no shortage of reasons to despair. But NO, we cannot! There is still hope, and this year's Social Science Festival running October 20-24, 2025, aims to uplift our spirits. Many guest speakers from different horizons will not only discuss current challenges but will speak to solutions that make a difference. This festival will also be an opportunity to celebrate different cultures and perspectives and share our hopes for the future.
See the schedule and detailed descriptions of events and presenters here.
Special event: Dialogue activity with political parties from Quebec (F-500, 4pm Monday). Invited politicians will sit down and talk with students about their hopes for the future. Guest politicians will be: André A. Morin, Liberal Party, Deputy for Acadie; Alejandra Zaga Mendez, Québec Solidaire, Deputy for Verdun; and Stephan Fogaing co-porte parole en diversité et citoyenneté, Parti Québécois.
Other events taking place during the week in the Auditorium will cover the following topics:
- Community Innovation
- Well-being and social media
- Navigating Uncertainty Hope and Resilience in a Turbulent World
- Accessing home ownership
- Dealing with Anxiety
- Young entrepreneurship
- Alternative ways of doing business
- Engineering Hopes
- Reflections on Masculinity
- Showcasing Student work, views and projects
