Listeners are invited to the conference Young Researchers’ Day 2025 on May 27

To gain insight into the pressing research questions engaging the minds of emerging scholars in the humanities and social sciences, all interested listeners are warmly invited to attend the academic conference "Young Researchers’ Day 2025" on May 27.
The event is organized by the Institute of Literature, Folklore and Art of the University of Latvia (UL ILFA) in cooperation with the University of Latvia Doctoral School and the Latvian Association of Young Scientists.

The conference will open with welcome addresses by Eva Eglāja-Kristsone, Director of UL ILFA; Prof. Zanda Rubene, Head of the UL Doctoral School; and Laima Dance, Executive Director of the Latvian Association of Young Scientists. This will be followed by an academic networking session, open to all attendees.

This year, 21 emerging researchers will present papers, including:
Ilga Vālodze Ābele, Sindija Anča, Signe Bahšteina, Inese Dāvidsone, Andrejs Gorbunovs, Elizabete Grudovska, Karīna Ješkina, Sanita Kacuba, Sandra Krūmiņa, Evelīna Ķiršakmene, Ieva Melgalve, Simona Ozoliņa-Ugore, Daina Turlā-Pastare, Alberts Rokpelnis, Anita Straujuma, Ingvilda Stautmane, Jānis Šabanovs, Laura Švītiņa, Mārtiņš Vesperis, Gustavs Zālītis, and Ieva Zepa.

Participants represent a broad spectrum of Latvian higher education institutions, including the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music, Latvian Academy of Culture, Art Academy of Latvia, University of Latvia, Riga Stradiņš University, Riga Technical University, RTU Liepāja Academy, and Ventspils University of Applied Sciences.

This year’s conference will feature five thematic sections:

• Identity, Society, and Relationships (moderator: Kitija Balcare)

• The Magical, the Spiritual, and the Traditional (moderator: Alberts Rokpelnis)

• Place and Environment, Memory and Memories (moderator: Signe Bahšteina)

• The Forgotten, the Reclaimed, and the Reimagined (moderator: Dāvis Eņģelis)

• Language and Perspectives (moderator: Ingvilda Strautmane)

The conference will take place on Tuesday, May 27, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, at the UL Doctoral School’s “Sapere aude” Hall, Kalpaka Boulevard 4, Riga (courtyard entrance).

"Young Researchers’ Day" is an annual public conference organized by UL ILFA at the close of the spring semester. It brings together doctoral students and PhD candidates at the early stages of their academic careers. The event aims to support their professional development, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and introduce current research directions in the humanities and social sciences to a broader audience.

The event is financially supported by the State Culture Capital Foundation of Latvia.