Occupational Science Europe Conference 2025

Introducing occupational science

Occupational science aims to generate knowledge about human occupation, extending beyond paid work to include all everyday activities. It is an inter-disciplinary science investigating how our occupations shape how we live, as individuals, communities, and populations.

Occupational science research has generated knowledge and understanding of how people organise their daily occupations over the life course, expressing personal and sociocultural meanings. The relationship between occupation and context, and experiences of occupation, are also of interest. You can read more about recent occupational science research in the Journal of Occupational Science.

Background

Many academic disciplines are concerned with understanding particular aspects of human activities, for example economic theories, structures of societies, diverse cultures or details of anatomy. Occupational science was formally founded by occupational therapists in the late 1980s to bring occupation into central focus in a foundational science. They aimed to foster interdisciplinary studies, concerned with how the things people do in their everyday lives influence and are influenced by their health and well-being.

Since its inception, occupational science has extended beyond this focus on health, for example to develop concepts of occupation and offer critical perspectives on participation. Occupational science conferences and journals aim to include emerging interdisciplinary understandings of the things we do (occupations), the way we do them (form), their purposes (function) and their significance (meaning).

We are excited to announce that the Journal of Occupational Science (JOS) will be calling for submissions for a special issue with the same title as the 2025 Occupational Science Europe (OSE) conference: Visions and Realities - Exploring tensions in what we do and how we live.

This special issue will therefore present work and thinking that emerges from the conference, and anyone who has presented work, as well as others who have developed work that aligns with the conference themes (see below), will be eligible to submit a manuscript for review, for consideration for publication in the JOS. With this opportunity, we will continue the fruitful and exciting collaboration between OSE and the JOS, which has already enabled three previous special issues:

• Meeting in Diversity: Occupation as common ground, JOS 26(2);
• Europe in Transition: Impact on Occupation and Health, JOS 28(1); and
• Situated occupation in everyday life: Towards environmental, economic, social inclusiveness and sustainability, JOS 32(2).

Further details to follow in terms of submission requirements and timeframes.

Professor Wendy Bryant

Wendy is an Honorary Professor at the University of Essex and has recently published a book on her innovative rest-do days approach, which is informed by the concept of occupational balance. The approach is based on her personal experience of living with chronic illness, as well as her professional experiences as an occupational scientist and occupational therapist. Wendy is also known for her research relating to mental health day services and occupational alienation. Wendy will be talking to our Transformation through participation theme.

Dr Lisette Farias Vera

Lisette is an Assistant Professor and Docent at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, and an Associate Editor of the Journal of Occupational Science. Her doctoral thesis critically examines the epistemological foundations and discourses shaping occupation-based scholarship. In recent years, her research has focused on health promotion related to socioeconomic status and equity, using critical health qualitative inquiry. She teaches occupational science at the undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral levels, integrating critical reflexivity, anti-racist, and decolonisation perspectives. Lisette will be talking to our Decolonising occupational science theme.

Susan Buckingham

Susan is a writer, researcher, consultant, campaigner, and activist, and she also edits the Routledge book series on Gender and Environments. Susan’s work develops the understanding of links between gender and environment and applies this to different contexts. Most recently this has been in the UN Decade for Ocean Sustainability and through consultancies with the European Commission, including the European Institute for Gender Equality. She has edited and written extensively and is currently writing a book on Ecofeminism. She has co-edited 'Feminist Climate Leadership' which is currently in press. As an activist-academic, Susan worked with women’s organisations, and was a trustee and collaborator with Women’s Environmental Network from 2000-2012. Susan co-founded Friends of the Cam in 2020 which campaigns against destructive, masculinist planning and water pollution practices which are destroying the chalk streams of South East England. She is also an activist in climate and social justice campaigns. Susan will be talking to our Sustainable environments for all theme.

Mya-Rose Craig

Mya-Rose Craig is a 22-year-old British-Bangladeshi birder, race activist and environmentalist campaigning for equal access to nature, to stop biodiversity loss and climate change, and to ensure global climate justice, all of which she believes are closely interlinked. In June 2022 Mya-Rose’s book Birdgirl was published by Vintage Books and has recently been nominated for the Jhalak Prize. In it she shares the impact on her own mental health of growing up with a mother affected by severe bipolar disorder, how nature helped them cope as a family, and how she found joy and her voice through birding. Her first book, We Have a Dream, highlights 30 young global environmentalists of colour and was nominated in the British Book Awards 2022 and her children’s book Flight was published in June by Puffin.

When Mya-Rose was 11, she started her popular Birdgirl blog and at age 14 she launched the charity Black2Nature, which focuses on engaging Visible Minority Ethnic communities with nature. At age 17, she became the youngest person to see half the world’s bird species, and also to receive an honorary Doctorate of Science from the University of Bristol in recognition of her pioneering campaigning work. In February 2020 she shared a stage with Greta Thunberg in front of 40,000 protestors and in September of that year she travelled to the Arctic with Greenpeace, for whom she is an Oceans Ambassador, and took part in the most northerly Youth Strike for Climate. In November 2021 she spoke at COP26 on a panel with Emma Watson, Greta Thunberg and Malala Yousafzai. 

The other causes closest to her heart are connecting people to nature so that they can care about fighting to avert the climate crisis. She campaigns against palm oil and plastic pollution, and she fights for the prioritisation of the human rights of indigenous peoples as a Survival International Ambassador. Her activism is informed by a life-long love of birds and the fight against racism. She writes articles and delivers speeches and talks as well as appearing on TV and in the media. Mya-Rose is also an Oxfam, Greenpeace and The Wildlife Trusts Ambassador. Mya-Rose will be talking to our Negotiating social citizenship, rights, and responsibilities theme.

We are deliberately including elements of ‘unconferencing’ within the OSE 2025 conference programme. We hope this will provide a more inclusive learning environment, which will foster critical discussion and reflections amongst delegates, as a distinct departure from some of the more conventional conference sessions and activities.

Such ‘unconferencing’ spaces will also provide the opportunity to take part in, and connect with others through, a range of informal occupations as part of learning together (Aldrich et al, 2021).

• Aldrich RM, Galvaan R, Gerlach AJ, Laliberte Rudman D, Magalhaes L, Pollard N, Farias L (2021) Promoting critically informed learning and knowing about occupation through conference engagements. Journal of Occupational Science, 29(4): https://doi.org/10.1080/14427591.2021.1970617. 

Booking and payment

Conference registration and booking is now open, but please note that it will close on Monday 21st July 2025 to allow sufficient time for planning. You will need to pay upfront and by bank card when registering. There is also the option to purchase evening meal and social event tickets, please see further details of these in the Conference social events section below. All conference items are bookable and purchasable online.

Registration fees

Registration fee amounts are as follows:

• 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

Funding for conference attendance

The Elizabeth Casson Trust provides funding to support occupational therapists with conference attendance, and they are open to both UK and international applicants.

Their upcoming funding round has a deadline of 31st March 2025, with the outcome notified by 15th May 2025. Please visit their website for more information and to apply. To facilitate applications to this round of funding, we will notify of submitted abstract review outcomes by 21st March 2025. 

The OSE 2025 conference will be held at the University of Essex Colchester campus, with easy public transport links to London (approximately a one hour journey). We are aiming to offer an entirely ‘on campus’ conference experience for those who want it, in terms of conference, accommodation, eating, and social event options all being available on the University campus without any need for additional travel. Please see sections above and below for further details and booking in relation to these options.

However, if people prefer alternatives the nearest small town (Wivenhoe) is about one mile/1.5km from the University, where there are a small number of places to eat and socialise. The nearest city is Colchester, which is approximately five miles/8kms away from the University.

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 - An elegant 18th Century four-star country house hotel on the University campus.

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.

We have arranged two social events for the evening of Friday 22nd August, to provide choice and enable delegates to unwind and continue to network on the University campus, within easy working distance of the conference venue and the two accommodation options detailed in the section above. These are two meals at Wivenhoe House and Fusion East as we cannot fit all delegates into one venue.

Both meal options will be available to purchase once conference registration opens when you will also be able to select from the below menu choices and express any dietary needs. They will both start at 6:30pm, with food being served at 7:00pm. Please note that to go ahead the Wivenhoe house meal requires a minimum of 100 bookings.

Wivenhoe House Hotel (£49.69 for a three-course meal, drinks not included):

• Starter options: (1) Smoked Salmon with Capers, Chervil and Lemon Dressing, (2) Vegetarian Tomato Soup and Crusty Bread, (3) Vegan Falafel Flatbread, Harissa Mayo, Red Onion, Rocket Pesto.
• Main course options: (1) Breast of Chicken, Potato Fondant, Wild Mushroom Sauce, Seasonal Vegetables, (2) Vegetarian Roasted Squash Gnocchi, Wilted Rocket, Sage Crisps, Shaved Cheese, or (3) Vegan Wild Mushroom, Spinach and Garlic Wellington, Roast Potatoes, Root Vegetables, Gravy.
• Dessert options: (1) Chocolate Brownie, Marshmallow, Chocolate Sauce, Vanilla Cream, (2) Glazed Lemon Tart, Berries, Chantilly Cream (3) Vegan fruit salad.

Fusion East (£25.00 for a three-course meal, drinks not included):

• Starter options: (1) Vegan Tofu Salad, (2) Vegan Mini Vegetable Spring Rolls, or (3) Vegan Vegetable Gyozaq Dumplings.
• Main course options: (1) Chicken Katsu Curry, (2) Vegan Sweet Potato Katsu Curry, or (3) Vegan Tofu Teriyaki.
• Dessert options: (1) Vegan Chocolate Hazelnut Ice Cream Mochi, (2) Vegan Fruit Salad with Mango Couli, or (3) Vegetarian Pistachio Kheer

From 8pm of the evening of Friday 22nd August, we have hired the University bar for our exclusive use and there will also be music to dance to. Tickets for this are £12 and all are welcome, regardless of whether you are also purchasing one of the evening meal options.

All social event items are purchasable via the Booking/registration and payment section above.

The call for abstracts for OSE 2025 has now closed.