Cross-cultural psychologists from numerous countries gathered for a major global conference at U of G in early July this summer.

The International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology (IACCP) biannual conference, which ran July 1-5, is the world’s largest gathering of its kind. U of G hosted more than 500 international researchers from 56 countries, including 115 psychologists from across Canada, for the 24th annual event.

“It is a great honour to be trusted with this significant task and host the congress in Guelph,” said U of G psychology professor and conference organizer Saba Safdar.

Safdar is the director of the Centre for Cross-Cultural Research, which promotes scholarship and academic collaborations. She studies acculturation and examination of adjustment of newcomers and minorities in larger society.

Titled “Multiculturalism in a Global Perspective: Benefits and Challenges,” the conference enabled established and emerging Canadian scholars to showcase their work, exchange ideas and forge collaborations worldwide, said Safdar.

Event speakers included the following:

Jairo E. Borges-Andrade, a professor at the University of Brasília who studies workplace learning and training and development;

Nadezhda Lebedeva, a professor at the National Research University in Moscow and expert on values, value transmission and intercultural relations; and

Ava Thompson, a professor at the University of the Bahamas, who studies Indigenous models of child and adolescent mental health care and integration of a human rights framework into pychology education and training.

As well, Trent University professor David Newhouse discussed experiences of Canadian Indigenous groups ranging from social barriers to resistance.

“I really hope the congress put the psychology department at U of G on the map and made the scholarly work we do more visible,” said Safdar.