An interactive introduction to the Social Sciences
Ignite students' passions as they dive into the fascinating world of social sciences and discover how society shapes our lives and futures.
The Spotlight on Social Sciences Day invites students and their teachers onto the UOW Wollongong Campus to explore key study areas in social sciences. Students will rotate through a range of sessions throughout the day in small groups - to view the session topics, go to our descriptions below.
Don't miss this opportunity to engage with experts, participate in hands-on activities, and explore real-world issues that impact our communities.
Students currently studying Legal Studies, Society and Culture, Community and Family Studies, and/or Geography are likely to benefit from this event, however, any student in Year 11/12 who has shown an interest in the Social Sciences is welcome to attend.
Date: Friday 7 November 2025 (Term 4, Week 3)
Time: 9:15am-2:30pm
Location: Building 29, UOW Wollongong campus, Northfields Ave, Wollongong NSW 2522
Cost: This is a free event and bus subsidies are available. Reasonable student numbers required for bus subsidies to be enacted. Please contact ofsd-events@uow.edu.au for more information about your school's eligibility and individual enquiries.
Who can attend: Students finishing Year 11 and starting Year 12 are given priority. Year 10 students can attend if there is space. We will work with each school to update you on availability.
Teachers must accompany and supervise students at this event.
- CAPACITY HAS BEEN REACHED FOR THIS PROGRAM
- Go to the TEACHER INFORMATION page to be added to the waitlist to attend
session descriptions
How can we use Triple J's Hottest 100 as a data set on Australian youth and contemporary social issues. This session will apply a sociological analysis to unpack patterns and trends in Hottest 100 results in order to show how individual preferences can reveal macro shifts in society.
In this session, students will engage with both fictional and non-fictional case studies of individuals impacted by crime, victimisation, and offending. Using criminological theories and statistics, we will participate in a lively discussion about common "myths" and the nuances and complexities of criminal behaviour.
Would you eat insects or lab meat to help the environment? Could you eat for a week without plastic packaging? Do you know who grows your food and the conditions they work under? How far does your food travel to reach your plate? Through the lens of food, in this session we'll explore big picture challenges and opportunities involving power, inequality, and sustainability.
Do you have a passion for helping people and communities to address inequalities, foster positive social change and create a just society? Today you will get to walk in the shoes of the unsung heroes working in the human services sector as policymakers, advocates and on the frontline.
Step into the shoes of a public health investigator in this hands-on simulation! Students will work in teams to track down the source of a mysterious outbreak affecting a local community. Using real-world tools like case interviews, data analysis, and contact tracing, participants will uncover clues, identify the pathogen, and recommend control measures
Questions?
Contact your schools engagement representative or email the team at ofsd-events@uow.edu.au.