OSOT hosts the inaugural World Occupational Science Conference

Hosted by the UBC Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy (UBC OSOT) and the International Society of Occupational Science (ISOS), the inaugural World Occupational Science Conference (WOSC 2022) will be taking place in Vancouver this week.

With thanks to a list of esteemed sponsors and an international advisory committee, WOSC promises to connect research and minds from across the world under the theme of Occupation and Society: Global to Local Perspectives for the Future.

Conference program

The Pre-conference Program covers two sessions:

  • Addressing praxis: A dialogue regarding the contribution of occupation to diverse processes of social transformation
  • Global Classroom: Diversifying perspectives in occupational science on structural inequality

Then, WOSC launches in style at the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre on Thursday August 18, with podium presentations, dialogic sessions and poster presentations until the afternoon on Saturday August 20. There’s even a social walk planned for Saturday afternoon to enjoy the beautiful sunshine and Vancouver beaches with new-found colleagues and collaborators.

The conference program is packed with international speakers, including keynote speakers Dr. Sridhar Venkatapuram and Dr. Lilian Magalhães, and special events include the gallery opening of The Art of Occupation, and the Closing Plenary performance of Alone in the Ring.

There is also a Virtual Program (registration still open if you’d like the password!) with access to recordings of the opening address, both keynote speakers, a special film of The Art of Occupation, and the full gallery of poster presentations.

Conference legacy

In addition to the conference itself, WOSC has partnered with the Journal of Occupational Science to produce a digital Book of Abstracts (available soon). In the meantime, be sure to see a preview of the Conference Abstracts.

The Journal of Occupational Science is also planning a Special Issue with the WOSC theme, and the call for papers is open now until January 31, 2023. Guest editors will be UBC OSOT’s own Dr. Susan Forwell and Dr. Suzanne Huot.

Finally, to fully debrief on the highlights and learnings from the conference, ISOS will be hosting an online event later this year (details forthcoming).

Follow the conference as it happens

To see what’s happening, search for #wosc2022 and follow WOSC channels on the platform of your choice: