{"id":5,"date":"2025-03-25T10:56:20","date_gmt":"2025-03-25T10:56:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.edgehill.ac.uk\/rpdc\/?page_id=5"},"modified":"2026-06-04T13:22:00","modified_gmt":"2026-06-04T13:22:00","slug":"2026-research-professional-development-conference","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sites.edgehill.ac.uk\/rpdc\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 Research and Professional Development Conference: Improving life chances and making hope possible through education"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignfull size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"485\" src=\"http:\/\/sites.edgehill.ac.uk\/rpdc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/427\/2026\/05\/iStock-1939499353-wide.jpg\" alt=\"A group of teenage friends wearing casual clothing on an overcast summer day in Whitley Bay, Northeastern England. They are gathered on the promenade by the sea where they use different arts and crafts products to create sustainability artwork to spread a message of environmental conservation for Earth Day.\" class=\"wp-image-1409\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.edgehill.ac.uk\/rpdc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/427\/2026\/05\/iStock-1939499353-wide.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/sites.edgehill.ac.uk\/rpdc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/427\/2026\/05\/iStock-1939499353-wide-300x142.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sites.edgehill.ac.uk\/rpdc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/427\/2026\/05\/iStock-1939499353-wide-768x364.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">Improving Life Chances &amp; Making Hope Possible Through Education<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The 2026 Research and Development Conference at Edge Hill University, Wednesday 17th &#8211; Thursday 18th June, explores how best to understand and address challenges facing children, families, young people, and communities, and how it is essential that we work together, share knowledge, and collaborate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-f56f613f wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1188\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-1389 size-full\" alt=\"Edge Hill University Open Day psychology building\" src=\"http:\/\/sites.edgehill.ac.uk\/rpdc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/427\/2026\/05\/Edge-Hill-University-Open-Day-psychology-building-scaled.jpg\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.edgehill.ac.uk\/rpdc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/427\/2026\/05\/Edge-Hill-University-Open-Day-psychology-building-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/sites.edgehill.ac.uk\/rpdc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/427\/2026\/05\/Edge-Hill-University-Open-Day-psychology-building-300x139.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sites.edgehill.ac.uk\/rpdc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/427\/2026\/05\/Edge-Hill-University-Open-Day-psychology-building-1024x475.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/sites.edgehill.ac.uk\/rpdc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/427\/2026\/05\/Edge-Hill-University-Open-Day-psychology-building-768x356.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sites.edgehill.ac.uk\/rpdc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/427\/2026\/05\/Edge-Hill-University-Open-Day-psychology-building-1536x713.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/sites.edgehill.ac.uk\/rpdc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/427\/2026\/05\/Edge-Hill-University-Open-Day-psychology-building-2048x950.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim\" style=\"background-color:#76765c\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-cover-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-large-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.edgehill.ac.uk\/rpdc\/programme\/\">Full Programme<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.edgehill.ac.uk\/rpdc\/information-for-visitors\/\">How to Find Us<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.edgehill.ac.uk\/rpdc\/wi-fi-on-campus\/\">Wi-Fi on Campus<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.edgehill.ac.uk\/rpdc\/information-for-presenters\/\">Information for Presenters<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.edgehill.ac.uk\/rpdc\/when-you-arrive\/\">When You Arrive<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.edgehill.ac.uk\/rpdc\/parking\/\">Parking on campus<\/a> <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.edgehill.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/documents\/Updated-Map-Sept-24.pdf\">Campus map<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.accessable.co.uk\/edge-hill-university\/access-guides\/law-and-psychology\">Campus Accessibility Information<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:26px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The conference will take place in the Law and Psychology Building and The Arts Centre, <strong>Edge<\/strong>&nbsp;<strong>Hill<\/strong>&nbsp;<strong>University<\/strong>, St Helens Road, Ormskirk, Lancashire, L39 4QP. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bookings for the full conference are now closed, but you can still register for Professor Kate Pickett OBE\u2019s keynote lecture and book signing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Spotlight Event<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">&#8216;The Good Society and How We Make It\u2019 Lecture &amp; Book Signing&#8217;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"240\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.edgehill.ac.uk\/rpdc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/427\/2026\/05\/Professor-Kate-Pickett.jpg\" alt=\"Head shot image of Professor Kate Pickett (University of York)\" class=\"wp-image-1593\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.edgehill.ac.uk\/rpdc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/427\/2026\/05\/Professor-Kate-Pickett.jpg 240w, https:\/\/sites.edgehill.ac.uk\/rpdc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/427\/2026\/05\/Professor-Kate-Pickett-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 240px) 100vw, 240px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Kate Pickett OBE, Professor of the Public Understanding of Social Science<\/strong><br><strong>(University of York)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Thursday 18th June, 12.30-2.15pm<\/strong><br>Law and Psychology Lecture Theatre, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bestselling author and leading inequality researcher Professor Kate Pickett will be speaking as part of Edge Hill University\u2019s flagship education conference this June, exploring how education can improve life chances and create a fairer society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Join us for this exciting opportunity to hear about Kate\u2019s world-leading research that investigates how fairer, healthier, more sustainable societies can be created by addressing inequality and poverty through evidence-informed action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kate will be available after the event to sign copies of her books. Hardback copies of her latest book, \u2018The Good Society and How We Make It\u2019 will be available to buy at the event at a 30% discount of \u00a317.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/forms.office.com\/pages\/responsepage.aspx?id=kYY1CY5NHEmqdgpcvVunNGFBaIXzbRFFkeUwg9sTAqFURFhNTDg1RFpFT1ZSWDNRNTA4UkRBMEtBRC4u&amp;route=shorturl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Register for Professor Kate Pickett OBE Lecture and book signing<\/a> &gt;&gt;&gt;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><em>This is an in-person event. Travel, parking, and venue information will be sent by email on Wednesday 17th June. If you have already registered to attend the \u2018Improving Life Chances and Making Hope Possible Through Education\u2019 conference on Thursday 18th June, you do not need to register separately for this lecture. Booking for the full conference closes on Monday 1st June, but you can register for the Kate Pickett event up until Wednesday 17th June.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/forms.office.com\/pages\/responsepage.aspx?id=kYY1CY5NHEmqdgpcvVunNGFBaIXzbRFFkeUwg9sTAqFURFhNTDg1RFpFT1ZSWDNRNTA4UkRBMEtBRC4u&amp;route=shorturl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Improving Life Chances &amp; Making Hope Possible Through Education The 2026 Research and Development Conference at Edge Hill University, Wednesday 17th &#8211; Thursday 18th June, explores how best to understand and address challenges facing children, families, young people, and communities, and how it is essential that we work together, share knowledge, and collaborate. The conference [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2448,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-5","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>2026 Research and Professional Development Conference: Improving life chances and making hope possible through education - 2026 Research &amp; Professional Development Conference<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sites.edgehill.ac.uk\/rpdc\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"2026 Research and Professional Development Conference: Improving life chances and making hope possible through education - 2026 Research &amp; Professional Development Conference\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Improving Life Chances &amp; Making Hope Possible Through Education The 2026 Research and Development Conference at Edge Hill University, Wednesday 17th &#8211; Thursday 18th June, explores how best to understand and address challenges facing children, families, young people, and communities, and how it is essential that we work together, share knowledge, and collaborate. 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