The XVII National school for doctoral students and young researchers in the social sciences, titled “Participation in open science: contributing to accessible knowledge and addressing complex global challenges” was held from May 11 to 13 in a hybrid format – in Varna and online. The event was organized by the Institute for Population and Human Studies at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (IPHS).
A total of 92 doctoral students and young researchers from 20 academic institutions across the country and from MIT University in Skopje participated in the School: the Institute for Population and Human Studies, the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology, and the Institute of Ethnology and Folklore Studies with the Ethnographic Museum at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski,” “Prof. Dr. Paraskev Stoyanov” Medical University – Varna, Medical University – Sofia, Medical University – Pleven, “St. Cyril and St. Methodius” University of Veliko Tarnovo, “Paisii Hilendarski” University of Plovdiv, “Neofit Rilski” South-West University, New Bulgarian University, University of National and World Economy, “Georgi S. Rakovski” Military Academy, “Dimitar A. Tsenov” Academy of Economics – Svishtov, MIT University Skopje, Macedonia, National Center of Public Health and Analyses, “Chernorizets Hrabar” Varna Free University, Burgas Free University, Technical University – Varna, and the Union of Scientists in Bulgaria – Blagoevgrad Branch.
A total of 61 papers were presented, organized into 10 scientific sections: “Socio-political processes in Bulgaria and around the world,” “Personality and interpersonal processes,” “Stress, trauma, and psychotherapy,” “Open science and sociocultural identities,” “Organizational effectiveness: employee support, management skills, artificial intelligence,” “Health issues: prevention, treatment, health services,” “Artificial intelligence in psychological and social research,” “Digital existence: transformation and risks,” “Fundamentals of psychology and psychoanalysis,” and “Factors in child and adolescent development.”
The school also included three educational panels aimed at developing the practical knowledge and skills of young researchers: a lecture titled “Historical demography as a path to understanding population development in the past” (Assoc. Prof. Daniela Angelova, IPHS-BAS), a workshop “Triangulation of perspectives on parental leave in Bulgaria. Results from an empirical study using qualitative methods” (Assoc. Prof. Elitsa Dimitrova, PhD, IPHS-BAS) and a workshop “Introduction to regression analysis” (sen. asst. prof. Dr. Svetoslav Bliznashki IPHS-BAS).
The school provides an opportunity for the convergence of research in the social sciences through the lens of an interdisciplinary approach and open science as well as for the practical exchange of knowledge and ideas.
