On May 2nd, the Center for Social & Behavioral Sciences (CSBS) hosted its second annual Assistant Professor Gathering at the I-Hotel and Conference Center in Champaign. This half-day event provided a platform for assistant professors to engage with CSBS team members and fellow social and behavioral researchers from across campus, cultivating an environment conducive to collaboration and innovation. Researchers learned more about the range of resources and support that CSBS offers, including funding opportunities, research assistance, and help in building collaborative networks.
The event featured presentations from 20 social and behavioral researchers representing 16 different departments and units. The topics covered were diverse, ranging from early childhood obesity prevention and queer digital cultures to K-12 computer science education policy and intersectional justice in El Salvador. This variety highlighted the breadth and depth of social and behavioral research being conducted on campus and demonstrated the range of collaborative opportunities within the SBS community at Illinois. These focused sessions allowed attendees to delve deeper into specific areas of interest, fostering in depth discussions and potential collaborative efforts.
Breakout sessions were organized around several key themes:
- Black Lives in America
- Social Groups, Identities, and Attitudes across the Globe
- Equity and Inclusiveness in Education
- Social and Behavioral Determinants of Health
- The Social Context of Diversity and Equity
- Learning Processes and Policies
Attendees benefited in several ways from participating in the event. They had the opportunity to present their current research, share future research directions, and discuss methodological approaches with their peers. The gathering underscored CSBS’s commitment to fostering a vibrant social and behavioral science community and promoting interdisciplinary collaboration. By bringing together a diverse group of researchers and providing a platform for the exchange of ideas, the event highlighted the importance of collaboration and innovation in advancing social and behavioral science research at the university.