Under the motto “Bridging Distances in the Psychological Sciences” the event focused on fostering interdisciplinary exchange within the scientific community. Pamela Banta Lavenex, Dean of the Faculty of Psychology, Professor at UniDistance Suisse and President of the Organising Committee, emphasised: “The conference enables the Faculty of Psychology at UniDistance Suisse to position itself more visibly on the Swiss academic stage – after all, around 10 per cent of young graduates in the field come from our institution. At the same time, the event connects the most diverse aspects of the discipline.”
The programme was both rich and diverse, covering a wide range of fields – from affective and cognitive sciences to neuroscience and developmental psychology. “It is a unique opportunity for researchers from Swiss universities to present their work and to discuss it in plenary sessions. Networking also plays a central role here in Crans-Montana,” explained Pamela Banta Lavenex with a smile.
With 250 participants in attendance, the organisers were delighted with the outcome. “This is a great success, and we aim to host such events regularly in the future. This year we were especially pleased to welcome three renowned keynote speakers: Maria Wimber from the University of Glasgow, Jan-Willem van Prooijen from the University of Amsterdam, and Tobias Brosch from the University of Geneva,” said Nicolas Rothen, Rector of UniDistance Suisse.
With 21 symposia, 71 short presentations, 52 posters and numerous awards for outstanding early-career researchers, the conference offered a stimulating programme. There was certainly no time for boredom – on the contrary: participants returned home with new ideas and insights, while also enjoying outdoor activities and many convivial moments during the three-day event.
