Psychology Days at RSU to bring together experts from Latvia and abroad
From 6 to 9 October, Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) will host Psychology Days. The four-day programme will feature a variety of events and thematic sessions, involving experts from Latvia and 11 other countries. Topics will cover artificial intelligence, sports and military psychology, human–environment interaction, mental health, ageing and psychological assessment. Alongside scientific sections and guest lectures, the programme will include four practical workshops, the launch of a publication and the opening celebration of the RSU psychology field anniversary year.
Psychology Days are organised by the RSU Department of Psychology, with the interdisciplinary scientific conference Contemporary Psychology: People, Environment, Technology at its centre. The programme will feature guest lecturers and cooperation partners from the United Kingdom, Australia, Brazil, France, Greece, Cyprus, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia and Germany.
Sports and military psychology
6 October is dedicated to Sports Psychology: From Research to Practice. Participants will have the opportunity to learn about research on athletes’ psychological profiles, adaptation and attention, as well as psychophysiological assessment. The day will conclude with a guest lecture by Prof. Daniel Madigan from the United Kingdom on Athlete Burnout: Recognition, Prevention, and Management.
On 7 October at 10:30, the launch of a publication Private Practice in the Helping Professions: Legal Framework, Digital Communication and Professional Ethics will take place in Room B-202 at 16 Dzirciema iela. The publication was compiled by Zane Gulbe, lecturer at the RSU Department of Psychology and Director of the Professional Master’s Study programme in Health Psychology. At 12:00, a presentation marking the start of the 20th anniversary year of the RSU psychology field will take place in the same venue. Anniversary activities are planned throughout the year 2027 with the major celebration in the next year’s Psychology Days.
In the afternoon of the same day, the focus will be on current issues and professional challenges in military psychology. Four on-site workshops will allow participants to try out an ethical dilemma game, experiment with educational and counselling methods, develop psychological self-help skills, and explore the potential of music and art in promoting wellbeing.
Psychology, environment and spirituality
On 8 October, visiting professor Ilona Boniwell from France will focus in her lecture on exploring human capabilities and leadership in the age of artificial intelligence. The Psychology in Practice section, in turn, will feature approaches to working with shame, perinatal mental health, the development of preterm infants, and other issues related to psychological support and research.
The Environmental Psychology section will focus on human–nature interaction, experiences of climate change, and nature-based solutions for promoting health and wellbeing. Meanwhile, the Spirituality in Psychology section will explore the relationship between spirituality and mental health, interventions for oncology patients, self-help in managing chronic diseases, and experiences during bereavement period. The section will conclude with a guest lecture by Prof. Alexander Moreira-Almeida from Brazil on Mind Beyond the Brain.
On 8 October, the DISA-LNT Consortium Symposium will also be held on application of artificial intelligence in the assessment of schizophrenia and digital solutions for patient care and support.
Psychological assessment and psychology in digital age
On 9 October, researchers in the Psychological Assessment section will present computer-based assessment methods, tools for assessing adolescent mental health, and the developments in personality tests. The Psychology in the Digital Age section with Prof. Michael Zyphur from Australia will focus on the use of AI in academic research. The programme will also feature a discussion on the role of AI in the employment relationships, as well as presentations on digital competences for psychologists and personalised feedback to promote self-reflection.
Later, the programme will explore the neural signatures of cognitive function and dysfunction, ageing, and contemporary approaches to data analysis and modelling, including network analysis and machine learning.
Participation in Psychology Days is free of charge. Events will be held in Latvian and English.
Online events will take place on all four days. On 6, 7 and 8 October, selected events can also be attended in person at 16 Dzirciema iela, Riga. The on-site event of the DISA-LNT Consortium Symposium on 8 October will take place in Room 110 at 21 Konsula iela. The workshops will be held on-site only and they require prior registration. The format, venue and link to join or register for each event are provided in the programme.
