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Check-in from 9.30am in Park Building, King Henry I Street, Portsmouth, PO1 2BZ

Get an overview of what you'll be exploring on your Taster Day and find out about our sociology degrees. Learn about Portsmouth as a place to study, from transport links, accommodation, and what the city has to offer.

World Building & Destroying: Is AI Rewriting Our Reality? with Dr Naheem Jabbar

In his 2025 book World Builders, Bruno Maçães argues that power is no longer about owning land—it’s about building the worlds we live in. He says, "Each new world is a creation from nothing... and no one has control over the virtual space." But if no one has control, why does it feel like we are being "programmed" by TikTok algorithms and "manosphere" influencers? Join us to explore The Rise, The Fall and The AI Frontier:

• The Rise (2011): We'll look back at how social media was once a "World Builder" for freedom, helping people across the Middle East unite during the Arab Spring to challenge the status quo. 

• The Fall (Today): We’ll debate what went wrong. Why has the "infinite space" of the internet shifted from democratic hope to addictive short-form media and toxic subcultures? 

• The AI Frontier: Is AI creating a new "Global Village" or just a more efficient way for elites to maintain an "intolerable status quo"? 

In this taster session, we'll cover: 

• Globalisation: How digital communication transcends borders but also creates "cultural homogenisation." 

• Social Control: Are algorithms the new form of surveillance? 

• Inequality: Does AI bridge the digital divide or just build a "walled garden" for those already in power? 

"Come and join the conversation about who is building your world—and how we can start building our own." 

Quick breather ready for the next session, with a chance to chat with students and lecturers at the ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿.

Life stories: experiences of migrant homelessness with Professor Simon Stewart

Drawing on his expertise, Professor Simon Stewart will work with students to explore the life stories of migrants who have experienced homelessness. Having been introduced to the topic, students will engage in an interactive workshop in which they will read short vignettes and consider sociological explanations for the causes of homelessness. In the session, they will gain insights into the constraints migrants face when adapting to life in a hostile immigration environment. 

Learn about careers in the field of sociology, as well as what we're looking for in a university application!

Time for lunch!

We invite you to ask questions of our lecturers and current students.

You could ask anything from Sociology modules studied, the transition from college to uni, moving away from home, finances - and/or whatever you might want to know about uni.

At the end of the day it will be time to complete some evaluations! This is your chance to share highlights of the day and anything that we can improve for your next visit.

And that's a wrap on the Sociology Taster Day! We hope to see you again soon.