Conference Themes / Konferenčne teme

Expanding Methods and Meanings: How We Study Occupation in Diverse Ways

This theme focuses on how we study occupation, encompassing both established and novel research practices, such as non-verbal and embodied research methods. To support rigorous and inclusive study of human occupation across various settings and populations, we need to consider not only methodologies we are already comfortable and familiar with, but also methodological innovation and the use of multiple research methods. Submissions highlighting different approaches to studying occupation, as well as critical reflections on methodological choices and applications, are welcome.

Preseganje ustaljenih raziskovalnih pristopov: Kako lahko na raznolike načine raziskujemo okupacijo

Ta tema vključuje različne načine preučevanja okupacije, od uveljavljenih do novejših raziskovalnih pristopov. Za kakovostno in vključujoče preučevanje človekove okupacije v različnih okoljih in med različnimi populacijami je pomembno, da poleg dobro poznanih metod (npr. intervjujev, anket) uporabljamo tudi metodološke novosti (npr. neverbalne metode) ter smiselno povezujemo različne raziskovalne pristope. Dobrodošli so prispevki, ki predstavljajo različne pristope k raziskovanju okupacije ter kritični razmisleki o tem, kako lahko njihova izbira in uporaba prispevata k boljšemu razumevanju človekove okupacije.

Plural Perspectives on Occupations: How Occupations Are Shaped by Power and Sociopolitical Conditions

This theme focuses on how engagement in occupations is shaped by political, economic, historical and social conditions, which can either enable participation or perpetuate inequality and create privilege. Submissions addressing various forms of occupational injustice, occupational resistance, and intersectionality are encouraged, as are those presenting perspectives and voices that complement the existing body of knowledge in occupational science, including critical reflections on how occupational science has been accepted, developed and applied within and beyond English-speaking countries.

Raznolikost pogledov na okupacijo: Kako družbenopolitične okoliščine oblikujejo naše okupacije

Na vključevanje in sodelovanje ljudi v okupacijah močno vplivajo politične, ekonomske, zgodovinske in družbene okoliščine. Te lahko ljudem omogočajo vključevanje v zanje pomembne okupacije ali pa predstavljajo ovire, ohranjajo neenakosti in privilegiranost. Dobrodošli so prispevki o okupacijski nepravičnosti, uporabi okupacije kot sredstva upora ter vplivu prepletanja različnih osebnih in družbenih okoliščin na posameznikovo življenje in izvajanje okupacij. V to temo sodijo tudi prispevki, ki obravnavajo razvoj, uporabo in širjenje okupacijske znanosti v ne-angleško govorečih državah.

Transitions and Transformations: Occupations Across Life Paths

This theme focuses on an occupational perspective on life transitions and their consequences on both personal and societal levels, inviting submissions that describe occupations across the life span. Different areas of occupation are of interest, including research on inter-generational dynamics, human collaboration and inter-species interactions.

Prehodi in preobrazbe: Okupacije skozi življenjska obdobja

Ta tema obravnava spreminjanje okupacij skozi različna življenjska obdobja in preučuje njihov vpliv na posameznika in širšo družbo. Dobrodošli so prispevki, ki se navezujejo na različna področja človekovega delovanja, vključno z raziskavami medgeneracijskih odnosov, medosebnega sodelovanja ter interakcij med ljudmi in drugimi živalskimi vrstami.

Bridging the Gap between Theory and Practice: Implementation of Occupational Science Theory and Concepts

Occupational science supports occupation-centred practice by producing four levels of knowledge: descriptive, relational, predictive and prescriptive. This theme focuses on occupational science research that is connected to practice implementation, showcasing how occupational science’s theories and concepts can support and improve evidence-based practice. Submissions may include, but are not limited to, challenges related to developing or evaluating occupation-based interventions or translating theory into practice.

Od teorije k praksi: Uporaba teorij in konceptov okupacijske znanosti

Okupacijska znanost podpira na okupaciji temelječo prakso z ustvarjanjem znanja na različnih ravneh. Ta tema se osredotoča na uporabo izsledkov okupacijske znanosti v praksi, ter prikazuje, kako lahko teorije in koncepti okupacijske znanosti podpirajo in izboljšujejo na dokazih temelječo prakso. Prispevki lahko naslavljajo izzive in priložnosti, povezane z razvojem ali vrednotenjem na okupaciji temelječe obravnave ter prenosom teorije v prakso.

Keynote speakers

Hans Jonsson, PhD Title: Going from basic research over conceptualisation and operationalisation to apply knowledge for the benefit of peopleTheme: Bridging the gap between theory and practice

Keynote description:
This presentation will take you on a journey of about 25 years that starts with exploration and discovery in basic research on occupation. It continues with how a theoretical concept is developed and operationalised from these discoveries. From that platform it will further describe how this is applied in prevention in different areas to enhance health and wellbeing of people.

Speaker biography:
Hans is Associate Professor in Occupational Therapy at Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden. He is also a former Professor in Occupational Therapy and Occupational Science at the University of Southern Denmark in Odense, Denmark. Hans has researched different people’s experiences of occupation during four decades and developed basic theoretical concepts – like engaging occupation. He also shares an interest in developing theory into practice that has the potential to contribute to change people’s everyday life for the better.
Dan Podjed Title: In Search of Meaning in a Post-Work Society.Theme: Transitions and transformations

Keynote description
Digital transformation, driven by AI, automation and robotisation, is profoundly reshaping both paid employment and the organisation of everyday life. This transformation raises a fundamental question addressed in the plenary talk: how can people sustain a sense of meaning, identity and belonging when work is no longer the central organising principle of their lives? Drawing on ethnographic research and participatory future-mapping, the talk explores how people imagine meaningful occupations, forms of social contribution and community life in post-work futures. It argues that the central challenge is not to preserve current employment at any cost – including what anthropologist David Graeber termed “bullshit jobs” – but to ensure that people can remain meaningfully occupied, socially recognised and connected to others.

Speaker biography
Dan Podjed, PhD, is an anthropologist, Senior Research Fellow at the Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Institute of Slovenian Ethnology, Full Professor at the University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Arts, and Domain Specialist at the Institute for Innovation and Development of the University of Ljubljana. He is the founder and Executive Advisor of the EASA Applied Anthropology Network and the initiator of the international event Why the World Needs Anthropologists, held annually since 2013.

The Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency recognised his work as an outstanding scientific achievement in 2011 and again in 2021. His statement that “happiness isn’t found inside, but beside us” attracted widespread public attention and was selected as Bob leta 2022, a prominent Slovenian award presented by the newspaper Večer for the year’s most memorable public statement. He also received the honorary title of Science Communicator of the Year 2024 from the Slovenian Science Foundation.

For more information, visit danpodjed.eu.

Urša Bratun

Chair: Urša Bratun

Co-chair: Cecilija Lebar

Members:

  • Tina Brezovar
  • Julia Jansen van-Vuuren
  • Jerneja Križaj
  • Ema Mlakar
  • Zorana Sicherl
  • Alenka Oven
  • Tina Brezovar
  • Eva Grudnik
  • Sara Jaklič
  • Marcel Kepic
  • Laura Maučec
  • Neža Pelko
  • Aleks Turel
  • Larisa Zabukovnik

Chair: Jerneja Križaj

Members:

  • Katja Angleitner
  • Alenka Plemelj-Mohorič
  • Urša Bratun

Chair: Nevenka Gričar

  • Alenka Plemelj-Mohorič
  • Vesna Osojnik

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