2025 Occupational Science Europe (OSE) Conference – University of Essex, UK
Friday 22nd – Saturday 23rd August 2025 (with Thursday 21st August potentially allocated to pre-conference workshops).
Please click here for further details on the location of the conference and easy public transport links to London.
The call for OSE 2025 conference abstracts is now open. Abstracts of no more than 250 words in length can be uploaded via our abstract submission platform. Please note that this is the same abstract submission platform that was used for the 2023 OSE conference in Odense, so please re-enter your login details or register as a new user depending on whether you submitted an abstract previously for that.
The abstract submission deadline is midnight on Monday 10 February 2025 (extended from 3 February). Notification of abstract acceptance will be by the 21st of March 2025 and conference registration details and booking will be available just before this.
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. We also welcome inter-disciplinary and student submissions.
There are four presentation categories that you can submit an abstract for:
- Oral paper presentation (15 minutes)
- Conference workshop (45 minutes)
- Poster presentation
- Pre-conference workshop (please state preferred timings within abstract submission)
For those of you who are not familiar with occupational science we have recorded a short overview presentation, which you can access below.
For those of you who have not prepared a conference abstract previously, we have recorded some guidance below.
To inspire delegates and represent current occupational science thinking and research, in collaboration with the OSE board 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?
To promote the call for abstracts and conference amongst your colleagues and networks, please do download and circulate the below call for abstracts poster. Please also consider printing it and displaying in your workplace. Many thanks.
If you have any queries, please email: ose2025@essex.ac.uk.
Occupational Science Europe 