What people think about their neighbourhood is much more strongly influenced by deprivation than by the degree of ethnic mixing in the area, according to new research funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), carried out by researchers from Portsmouth and Southampton Universities.

The renewable energy sector needs to use a wider range of business models in order to ensure a fairer distribution of power plants across the UK, according to research funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).

New research from the Institute for Criminal Policy Research at King's College, London, examines whether the police and the youth justice system treat young people from different ethnic groups in different ways.

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has appointed two new members to the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).

A study by a team of researchers at Bangor University has designed and tested two programmes that help problem drinkers curb their alcohol abuse. The study shows positive results after drinkers have followed either the Alcohol Attention-Control Training Programme (AACTP) or the Life Enhancement and Advancement Programme (LEAP).

Data visualisation techniques that generate sophisticated graphics could bring a fresh dimension to communications and decision-making by public bodies like local councils, according to research completed for the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).

Science is not all about people in white lab coats blowing things up. Social science research gives a different picture. Social Science can answer questions on large issues facing society such as understanding factors affecting voting behaviour, how labour markets work and how effective schools are in educating our children.

New research, presented at a major international conference in London, demonstrates how inequality in education, skills and incomes reduces opportunity and undermines social cohesion. In education, for example, the social and ability mix of the school has a major impact on how well a child performs.

Progress towards teaching children to have positive attitudes towards disabled people has been slow and 'patchy', according to a new study funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).

A fascinating event looking at sign language research is to be held at University College London on 20 March as part of the Economic and Social Research Council's (ESRC) Festival of Social Science (21-21 March).

Swine flu, terrorist attacks and extreme weather have all been the subject of government preparedness exercises, but few people know what is involved in planning for emergencies.

Those most vulnerable to the effects of climate change in the UK may be those who have contributed least to the problem, according to climate change experts.

Who counts as a 'migrant'? Who are the people behind the statistics? The Economic and Social Research Council's (ESRC) Centre on Migration, Policy and Society (COMPAS) at the University of Oxford is holding an exhibition from 20 - 21 March at Oxford Town Hall Gallery.

With Sheffield's successful bid to be considered as one of the host cities for the 2018 World Cup, Sheffield University and Sheffield United Football Club are inviting the public to join the giants of the football world and social scientists to discuss the state of the game.

In June 2007, the east coast city of Hull was devastated by flooding which claimed the life of one man and displaced thousands of families from their homes.

Staged on the Hebridean Isle of Lewis an event will see two school teams lock horns on the question 'Are people living in rural areas innovative?' in the Strathclyde University Innovation Debate. The event is part of the Economics and Social Research Council's (ESRC) Festival of Social Science (12-22 March).

Why will a record number of more than 500 music festivals take place in the UK this year? Some of the reasons for the rapid growth in the UK music festival and free party scene were showcased at an exciting, interactive multimedia exhibition organised in Bristol as part of the Economic and Social Research Council's (ESRC) Festival of Social Science last week.

A film created by secondary school children from Sheffield is giving them a chance to have their views heard on a topic close to their hearts: the design of their school. The film also offers practical recommendations on how to get children engaged in research findings.

Youth homelessness and eating disorders are two areas of health highlighted by young people in Cardiff in a project that uses digital technology to create short films which detail public health issues.

The winner of the 2010 Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Knowledge Transfer Partnership prize for the Best Application of Social or Management Science has saved the Bradford and Airedale Teaching Primary Care Trust (PCT) an estimated £350,000. The winning project aimed to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the Trust's transport systems.

Are you a Second Life resident looking to get a bit more out of your virtual world? If so, join Sheila Yoshikawa at 20.00 (13.00 Second Life time) on March 18 on Sheffield University's Second Life island, Infolit ischool, for hints and tips on searching, shopping and sightseeing.

One in four UK children has a mother born overseas which means at least one parent speaks a foreign language at home. But what are the challenges for parents raising bilingual and multilingual offspring?

The winner of the 2010 Michael Young Prize has been announced as Dr Ann Le Mare for her work on the impact of fair trade on the wellbeing of women, businesses and organisations in Bangladesh. This prestigious prize is awarded for excellence in the social sciences and is sponsored by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and The Young Foundation.

Happiness, police interviews, 'competitive conversations' and workplace smells are just some of the subjects that academics from University of Essex will be talking about in a week of presentations aimed at explaining to the general public what it is that social scientists actually do.

Should cannabis be legalised? This thorny political issue will be debated by teams of school children in a national competition designed to challenge the pupil's scientific knowledge.