Exhibition @ The Winter Garden

Come to the Winter Garden for our exhibition all about money! From financial literacy and spending behaviour to innovations and workplace support, our researchers are exploring the myriad ways money - and how it is spent - impacts all our lives. Take part in interactive activities to help you navigate financial decisions and better understand everyday economics.

Social scientists from the University of Sheffield will be at the Winter Garden from 11am to 3pm on Thursday 29 and Friday 30 October to present their work and answer your questions about public investments, personal finances, spending habits, and financial pressures.

Research led by Dr Samer Adra, Mohammad Rajjaque, Professor Shuxing Yin & Dr Olga Cam

From student debt anxiety and fears-of-missing-out, to mid-life housing pressures and retirement fears, our financial choices are shaped by far more than just numbers. 

Developed by researchers from the Management School and the Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, the Money and Emotions installation takes you on a journey through personal finance choices at four key stages of life. Join our experts for an interactive and stigma-free approach to understanding your emotional relationship with money, and learning how to build healthier financial habits.

Research led by Dr Sheli Smith, Dr Claire Burdfield & Professor Hesam Olya

From Fortnite's V-Bucks to mystery loot boxes, modern video games are filled with virtual economies. But how do these digital mechanics shape young minds? 

Based on research by Dr Sheli Smith from the School of Law, Play, Spend, Repeat is an interactive, family-friendly installation exploring how video games shape children's attitudes toward money, risk and reward. Learn about the various monetisation mechanics used in games, the problematic link between in-game spending and gambling, and how to assess the financial and psychological risks of different video games. 

Research led by Dr Emma Heywood

Why do public services, new technologies, and multi-million-pound innovations sometimes fail despite massive investment? 

Drawing on research and real-world case studies from The 80:20 Pathway framework, this interactive exhibition explores what happens when the people expected to use services or technologies are left out of decision-making. Discover visual stories across renewable energy, development, and public services that reveal the true cost of top-down planning. Cast your vote on why projects succeed or fail, and share your own experiences on the public feedback wall about local initiatives introduced without consultation.

Research led by Dr Cristian Vasquez & Sofia Topakas

When people have to take time off from work for serious illness, grief, or caregiving responsibilities, the intersection of financial pressures and personal crises can sometimes be devastating.

Drawing on research from the Horizon Europe EU-CoWork project, this interactive art installation invites you to think about how organisations can foster compassionate environments and practices that support employee wellbeing and financial stability in difficult times. Add your ideas and reflections to The Tree of Compassion and help build a collective vision for compassionate workplace cultures that safeguard workers when life gets tough.