Talking to strangers with Prof Gillian Sandstrom, June 10th

Why you should consider talking to strangers (even if you’re an introvert) with Prof Gillian Sandstrom, 7:30 pm on Wednesday 10 June 2026 at Wagner Hall

In our daily lives, we can’t help but cross paths with strangers: riding in a lift, waiting at a bus stop, buying groceries. Most of the time, we hardly notice (and if we do, we carefully ignore each other).
I've been studying these seemingly tiny, everyday moments for more than 15 years. I'll share research about:
- why talking to strangers can seem scary or difficult for many of us (it's not just you!)
- why it's worth pushing past our fears and reaching out to people.
I started doing this 'me-search' because I started to find that talking to strangers was enjoyable, valuable and meaningful – despite being shy and introverted. Through the stories of my own conversations with strangers, I'll share practical tips that will help you give it a go yourself.
Gillian Sandstrom is an associate professor in the psychology of kindness at the University of Sussex and author of Once Upon a Stranger: The Science of How 'Small' Talk Can Add Up To a Big Life. Her research has been featured in The Guardian, The Times, The Telegraph, and media outlets around the world. She has been interviewed for BBC Breakfast, Woman’s Hour, Claudia Hammond's All in the Mind, and Guardian Science Weekly. She lives in Brighton.
Timings: Doors and bar open 7:00pm, talk starts 7:30pm. Q&A at 8:15pm, event ends 9:00pm.