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University of Essex homepage Events Occupational Science Europe Conference 2025
Event

Occupational Science Europe Conference 2025

Visions and Realities: Exploring tensions in what we do and how we live

  • Fri 22 - Sat 23 Aug 25

    09:00

  • Colchester Campus

    Essex Business School

  • Event speaker

    Various

  • Event type

    Conferences

  • Event organiser

    Health and Social Care, School of

  • Contact details

    Dr Anna Pettican and Dr Simone Coetzee

The Occupational Science Europe 8th Biennial Conference is hosted by the Occupational Therapy Division at the University of Essex, UK.

This international inter-disciplinary conference will bring together leading experts, researchers, and practitioners from a diverse range of fields, who share an interest in what people do and how this relates to their health and well-being. The conference will offer the opportunity to exchange knowledge, share best practices, and discuss the latest advancements in occupational science.

Occupational science conferences offer valuable opportunities for people to meet and share their ideas and experiences. Visions of well-being and health through occupation can be realised in many forms. We are keen to encourage global thinking and contributions, with potential reference to indigenous knowledge systems, social critical theories, sustainable development goals, and the United Declaration on Human Rights.

To inspire delegates and represent current occupational science thinking and research, we have developed an over-arching theme and four sub-themes for the 2025 OSE conference.

Visions and Realities: Exploring tensions in what we do and how we live

  • Transformation through participation - Through participation in various occupations, the health, well-being, and quality of life of individuals, groups, communities, and populations can be transformed. However current global realities are tense. Opportunities for participation are restricted and afforded at the same time. How can emerging knowledge about participation in occupations transform our shared understanding?
  • Negotiating social citizenship, rights, and responsibilities - Citizenship is enacted through what we do and how we do it, expressing values, culture, rights and responsibilities to each other and the planet. Our sense of belonging shapes our identity, occupations, health, and well-being. However, challenges extend across economic, social, and political divides.  How do inclusive approaches focused on what we do uphold our human rights?
  • Decolonising occupational science - Dominant ways of doing, thinking, and believing infuse all our practices. To disrupt routine processes and established structures, we can question who and what is being excluded or devalued, and why. Decolonising occupational science involves negotiating ownership and redefining outcomes. How can we co-create and sustain critical dialogues for local and global benefits?
  • Sustainable environments for all - The vision of sustainability brings together ideas about the long-term future, limits to growth associated with human occupation, interdependence, and locally designed solutions. What do systematic investigations of occupation contribute to this vision, especially in relation to people who are seldom heard and marginalised?

More information

Key dates

  • 3 February 2025 - Deadline for submission of abstracts
  • 30 April 2025 - Notification of acceptance
  • 21 August 2025 – Pre-conference workshops
  • 22 – 23 August 2025 – Main conference dates

Call for abstracts

The call for abstracts is now open.

There are four presentation categories that you can submit an abstract for:

  1. Oral paper presentation (15 minutes)
  2. Conference workshop (45 minutes)
  3. Poster presentation
  4. Pre-conference workshop (please state preferred timings within abstract submission)

For further abstract submission information and guidance please see: Call for Abstracts – The 2025 OSE Conference at the University of Essex, UK – Occupational Science Europe.

The abstract submission deadline is midnight on Monday 3rd February 2025.

Keynote speakers

We will announce the keynote speakers soon.

Booking/registration

Registration fees

Conference registration and payment will open soon. The following registration fees amounts are confirmed: 

  • Pre-conference workshops day delegate attendance (inclusive of parking, coffee break refreshments, and buffet lunch) - £34.75 GBP.
  • Two-day concessionary conference delegate attendance (student and/or from low-income country) - £145 GBP (To determine if you are from a low income country please visit: Low-Income Countries 2024. This price is inclusive of parking, coffee break refreshments, and buffet lunch)
  • Two-day full price conference delegate (inclusive of parking, coffee break refreshments, and buffet lunch) - £220 GBP

Location and accommodation

The OSE 2025 conference will be held at the University of Essex Colchester campus, with easy public transport links to London.

The conference and the pre-conference workshops day will both take place in our Essex Business School building: A truly unique, and flexible space; its zero carbon credentials reinforce the message of how we are all responsible for responding to the climate emergency our planet is in. Against the backdrop of its tropical garden, it offers multiple spaces to host delegates and network. It is also equipped with state-of-the-art audio-visual technology.

There are two accommodation options on our Colchester campus, both are within easy walking distance of the conference venue:

  • Event Essex accommodation - when booking please quote code OSE2025 to ensure your room is in the same block as other OSE 2025 delegates. (Please note that this accommodation is in unoccupied student accommodation, so rooms are single ensuite rooms, only suitable for one person. However, if a couple are looking to come together, we can arrange that they have rooms next to each other or as close as possible).
  • Wivenhoe House Hotel

Wivenhoe is the closest town to the University, where there are other accommodation options. It is possible to walk from Wivenhoe to the conference venue and there are also regular buses. The nearest train station to the conference venue is Hythe, but there is also a train station in Wivenhoe.

More information about places to stay and things to do in Essex can be found on the Visit Essex website.

Conference social events

We are in the process of planning some evening social activities. Details to follow.

Get in touch
Conference queries Dr Anna Pettican and Dr Simone Coetzee
Organisers
Research in the School of Health and Social Care
Research degrees from the School of Health and Social Care
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