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Crossing Thresholds: My Experience as a First-Time EUSPR Attendee

By Hasnaa Amouri


Attending the European Society for Prevention Research (EUSPR) 2025 conference at the
Charité Campus in Berlin was a defining experience in my early research journey. As
someone preparing for a master’s thesis, I arrived eager but unsure of what to expect, hoping
to learn, connect, and find my place within the wider prevention science community. What I
encountered was much more than a series of presentations. It was four days of dialogue,
reflection, and collaboration that deepened my understanding of what it truly means to do
research that matters.


The conference opened with the Early Career Scientific Writing Workshop led by Zila M.
Sanchez and Giovanni Aresi, which focused on one of the most crucial yet often overlooked
parts of any paper, the methods section. They described it as the “roadmap” of a study,
guiding readers through the design, participants, and procedures that make research
transparent and replicable. What resonated with me the most, was the discussion on
positionality statements, acknowledging how our identities and experiences shape how we
design, interpret, and communicate research. It was both a technical and ethical reminder:
good methods writing is not just about structure, but about honesty and reflection. For me,
this session was perfectly timed, offering concrete guidance as I prepare for my own thesis.


That same afternoon, I took part in Workshop 3: “Backstage Stories – Barriers and
Facilitators in Conducting Prevention Research with Immigrant Youth and Families.” It was
not only informative but also deeply personal, as I had the chance to present as part of our
team. The discussion focused on the complex realities of conducting community-based
research, navigating language barriers, cultural differences, and issues of trust, while also
sharing strategies that help build collaboration and ensure ethical engagement. Listening to
colleagues from Sweden and Germany reflect on their experiences reminded me that while
our contexts differ, our challenges are strikingly similar. The atmosphere was honest and
supportive, a rare space where researchers could speak openly about the “backstage” realities
of fieldwork. It was in this workshop that I began to feel the heart of prevention science, not
just as a discipline, but as a collective effort grounded in empathy and relationship-building.


The day concluded with an inspiring keynote by Prof. Christine Heim on the neurobiological
consequences of early-life stress, which reminded me how prevention science spans from
neural processes to social systems. Later that evening, the Early Career Dinner offered a more
relaxed setting to meet other researchers. Over dinner and laughter, conversations flowed
easily between theory and lived experience. It struck me that beyond data and publications,
what sustains research communities is this sense of shared curiosity and mutual support.


In the following days, the conference continued to blend science with reflection. A key
highlight was Symposium 1A on the Guiding Good Choices program, showing how
evidence-based parenting interventions can prevent substance use and mental health problems
by strengthening parent–child relationships, with creative adaptations across different
countries. Equally inspiring, Symposium 2B on Parenting Interventions for Refugee and
Immigrant Families presented findings from the PIRM study in Norway, where programs like
ICDP and Incredible Years are being tailored to families adapting to new cultures. Together,
these sessions reminded me that effective prevention must be both evidence-based and
culturally responsive, and they led to conversations that may grow into future collaborations.


Later, Prof. Tamar Mendelson’s keynote on school-based prevention and youth mental health
brought the conversation to another level, exploring how programs such as the RAP Club
project can be scaled and sustained across diverse educational contexts. Her reflections on
bridging research, practice, and policy connected directly with my own interests in how
preventive interventions move from pilot projects to real-world implementation.
The poster sessions that followed were another highlight. I connected with researchers from
Örebro University and Karolinska Institute, learning about their projects and discussing how
our work overlaps. These informal conversations reminded me that some of the most
meaningful exchanges happen outside the lecture hall, in the spaces where curiosity turns into
collaboration.


The final day brought together much of what I had been reflecting on. The Early Career
Session featured Maja Västhagen from Karolinska Institute, who presented on “Recently
Settled Immigrant Parents’ Experiences of a Universal Parenting Program in Sweden.” Her
findings on how culturally sensitive interventions can build parental confidence and ease
post-migration stressors connected beautifully with many of the themes discussed throughout
the conference. Later, our own team presented the symposium “Promoting Adjustment and
Well-being of Youth and Families with Immigrant and Refugee Backgrounds.” Collaborating
with colleagues from Sweden, Italy, Spain, and Norway, we shared insights on strengthsbased approaches that emphasize resilience, social inclusion, and emotional development.


Standing alongside my colleagues from Örebro University, Karolinska Institute, and Dalarna
University, I felt proud, not just of our findings, but of the collective spirit that shaped the
discussion.


As the conference ended with the EUSPR Awards & Closing Ceremony, I found myself
reflecting on how much had changed in just a few days. What began as a professional
opportunity had evolved into something more personal, a moment of recognition that I was
no longer just a student observing the field from the outside, but part of a growing network of
researchers committed to prevention as both a science and a form of care.


Leaving Berlin, I carried with me more than notes and contacts. I carried a renewed
understanding of what research can be when it’s grounded in humility, collaboration, and
reflection. The sessions and keynotes expanded my academic perspective, but it was the
human connections, the hallway conversations, shared laughter, and honest discussions about
challenges, that stayed with me most. EUSPR 2025 reminded me that prevention science is
not only about evidence and programs; it’s also about relationships, empathy, and the courage
to ask difficult questions about inclusion, culture, and belonging. As I prepare for my
master’s thesis, I feel more confident in my path and clearer about the values that will guide
my work. Attending my first EUSPR conference was truly a threshold moment, one that
transformed uncertainty into purpose, and connection into commitment. 

 

About the Author 

Hasnaa Amouri has worked as a Research Assistant and intervention facilitator on the PIA Promoting Integration and Adjustment of Newly Arrived Youth and their Young Families Project at Örebro University, supporting the adjustment and well-being of recently arrived immigrant youth and families. She has led youth groups, coordinated fieldwork, managed RCT data collection and contributed to analysis and publications. Hasnaa is a co-author on several conference presentations, including two oral presentations and a pre-conference workshop at the EUSPR Conference. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Social Work with a focus on prevention.


OpenEdition suggests that you cite this post as follows:
EUSPR Early Careers Forum (December 19, 2025). Crossing Thresholds: My Experience as a First-Time EUSPR Attendee. Preventing disease and ill health. Retrieved May 19, 2026 from https://doi.org/10.58079/15eha


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