EARA 2024

From 25-28 September 2024, the city of Limassol, Cyprus, hosted the 19th biannual European Association for Research on Adolescence (EARA) Conference, with the theme, “Promoting Adolescent Solidarity and Well-Being.” This annual gathering brought together more than 400 scholars, academics, students, and practitioners from 37 countries, including Iceland, South Korea, Armenia, and the US, at the St. Raphael Resort. Known for its world-class hospitality, the resort offered 12 fully equipped conference rooms, providing the perfect environment for discussions, networking, and collaboration.

Organized by the Theological School of Cyprus, the conference was chaired by Professor Olga Solomontos-Kountouri. The newly established Theological School is renowned for its academic members’ and postgraduate students’ involvement in research and applied topics on adolescence such as identity and possible selves, immigrant adolescents’ well-being, bullying, religiosity, delinquency, educational program for young prisoners.

The event started with 6 workshops that set the tone for high-level academic exchanges. Topics included Qualitative research design and analysis, Secondary data analysis across studies, and Creating powerful conference presentations. Four distinguished keynote speakers took the stage to share their expertise:

• Prof. Marlis Buchmann (University of Zurich): “Civic engagement and expressions of solidarity during adolescence: The role of developmental antecedents and social change”
• Prof. Kostas A. Fanti (University of Cyprus): “Callous-unemotional traits, emotional processing, and pathways to antisocial behavior: Evidence from empirical and intervention studies”
• Prof. Panayiota Kendeou (University of Minnesota): “Education in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (AI): Implications for Theory and Instruction”
• Prof. Michael Pluess (University of Surrey): “More than Resilience: Positive Development”

Several individuals were honored for their outstanding contributions to the field:

• Katarina Salmela-Aro (University of Helsinki) was honored with the Lifetime Award for her exceptional work in adolescent research.
• Sugimura Kazumi (Hiroshima University) received the Outstanding Mentor Award.
• Beatrice Bobba (University of Bologna) received the Young Scholar Award.
• Daniela Chavez (University of Turku) won the Best Poster Award.

The conference wasn’t only about academic sessions. It also provided an opportunity for participants to meet new and old colleagues, network, and experience the beauty of Cyprus. The country, with its stunning Mediterranean coastline, warm climate, and rich culture, offered a welcoming backdrop to the academic exchange.

Social events included a welcome reception at the St. Raphael Resort, followed by a tour of Petra Tou Romiou, a scenic landmark associated with the myth of Aphrodite’s birthplace, and a visit to the Kouklia Museum, showcasing the rich history of ancient Paphos. Participants enjoyed a traditional conference dinner featuring Cypriot dishes, such as souvla, halloumi, and kleftiko, while enjoying live folk music and scenic views of the Mediterranean. The conference ended with a farewell beach party, complete with live music and an atmosphere of celebration. In addition, the EARA Young Scholar participants strengthened their connections with a night out at a beach bar and a dinner at Malindi Restaurant, a stylish beachfront venue in Limassol known for its Mediterranean cuisine.

We extend our deepest gratitude to our sponsors: Hellenis Tzilalis, Hellenic Mining Public Company, and Hellenic Technical Enterprises, whose generous support made this event possible. Their involvement has ensured the success of this conference and supported the next generation of researchers.

Easyconferences played a vital role in the organization of the event, providing support through an online registration system, and abstract/paper submission system, and handling the conference’s website and social media presence. Additionally, their secretariat support ensured that everything ran smoothly throughout the event.

Participants are encouraged to share their conference moments on social media and celebrate their experience with colleagues from around the globe.

The next EARA Conference will take place in Germany in 2026. We look forward to welcoming everyone once again for another exciting and enriching event.