2025 SOS PRO

12th Annual International Conference on Social Sciences
organized by the the Social Sciences Division of the Athens Institute
Program (Athens Local Time)

28-31 July & 1 August 2025
9 Chalkokondili Street, 10677 Athens, Greece

(Note 1: the program is organized along time slots and not according to common theme)
(Note 2: at the end of each session questions and discussions will follow)


Monday 28 July 2025


09.00-09.30
Registration

09:30-10:00
Opening and Welcoming Remarks:

  • Gregory T. Papanikos, President, Athens Institute.
10:00-11:30 Session 1
Moderator: Domenico Maddaloni, Head, Sociology Unit, Athens Institute & Professor, University of Salerno, Italy.
  1. Jim Clark, Professor, University of Winnipeg, Canada.
    Title: No, Science is Not Eurocentric!
  2. Jayne Rogerson, Professor, University of Johannesburg, South Africa.
    Christian Rogerson, Professor, University of Johannesburg, South Africa.
    Title: Outfitting Adventure Tourism: Hunting in South Africa, 1890-1930.
  3. Cecile Gardies, Professor, University of Toulouse Jean Jaurès, ENSFEA, France.
    Laurent Faure, Associate Professor, University of Toulouse Jean Jaurès, ENSFEA, France.
    Title: Changes in Teaching Practices in France and Recruitment Crisis: Emergence of an Identity Crisis.
  4. Shlomit Benyamin, Lecturer, The Academic College of Tel Aviv-Yaffo, Israel.
    Title: Invisible Displacement: Socioeconomic Consequences of Divorce for Israeli Fathers.
  5. Ashraful Alam, Associate Professor, University of Salford, UK.
    Title: Unconscious Gender Bias in HEIs Leadership.

 

11:30-13:00 Session 2
Moderator: Jim Clark, Head, Psychology Unit, Athens Institute & Professor, University of Winnipeg, Canada.
  1. Domenico Maddaloni, Professor, University of Salerno, Italy.
    Felice Addeo, Professor, University of Salerno, Italy.
    Domenico Fruncillo, Lecturer, University of Salerno, Italy.
    Title: Trust and Political Participation in Italy: CSOs Viewpoints on Democratic Innovations.
  2. Lilach Atias-Darmon, PhD Student, University of Haifa, Israel.
    Title: Community Rhetoric as a Tool for Social Differentiation: Critical Discourse Analysis of Admission Processes to Educational Communities in Israel.
  3. Faith Maloney, Student, University of Rhode Island, USA.
    Title: Elon Musk, Twitter, and the 2024 Presidential Election.
  4. Georgios Zouridakis, Research Fellow, Athens Institute, and Member of the Athens Bar Association.
    Title: Tinkering with (process) Codes to Speed up the Greek Justice System: A Success Story or a Sisyphus Tale (or, maybe, “whipping the sea”)?

 

13:00-14:00 Session 3 – Microsymposium on Foresight
Moderator: Lampros Pyrgiotis, Research Fellow, Athens Institute. 
  1. Andras Marton, Assistant Professor, Corvinus University of Budapest, Hungary.
    Éva Hideg, Professor Emeritus, Corvinus University of Budapest, Hungary.
    Judit Gáspár, Associate Professor, Corvinus University of Budapest, Hungary.
    Gabriella Kiss, Associate Professor, Corvinus University of Budapest, Hungary.
    Alexandra Köves, Associate Professor, Corvinus, University of Budapest, Hungary.
    Jing Ding, PhD Student, Tampere University, Finland.
    Máté Fischer, PhD Student, Corvinus University of Budapest, Hungary.
    Zsombor Csuport, Student, Corvinus University of Budapest, Hungary.
    Title: Technology for Multidisciplinary Futures Research: The Online Integral Foresight Methodology.
  2. Samira Yaghouti, Doctoral Researcher, Finland Futures Research Centre, University of Turku, Finland.
    Title: Reimagining Language Teaching in Europe: A Causal Layered Analysis of Educators’ Professional Discourse.

 

14:00-15:00 Session 4 – A Public Lecture on A Critical Look at Indigenization of Canadian Universities
Sponsored by the Canadian University Alumni in Greece (www.cuag.gr/)
Moderator: Gregory T. Papanikos, President, Athens Institute.

Speaker: Jim Clark, Head, Psychology Unit, Athens Institute & Professor, University of Winnipeg, Canada.

15:00-16:00 Lunch

20:30-22:30
Athenian Early Evening Symposium (Sequence of Events: Ongoing Academic Discussions, Dinner, Wine and Water, Music, Dance)

 


Tuesday 29 July 2025


09:30-11:00 Session 5 – Microsymposium on “The Fundamentals & Future of Social-Behavioural Health Across the Lifespan”
Moderator: Nkhangweni Mahwasane, Information Librarian, University of Venda, South Africa.
  1. Josh Firth, Associate Professor, University of Leeds; Oxford University, UK.
    Title: Understanding Social Behaviour Across the Life-course in Real-World Populations: Fundamental Patterns, Trade-Offs, and Digital Solutions.
  2. Joseph Firth, UKRI Fellow, University of Manchester, UK.
    Title: Healthier Interactions in the Online World: Emergent Findings & Future Challenges.
  3. Alex Qian, Associate Professor, Singapore University of Social Sciences, Singapore.
    Title: Physician Dual Practice, Public Waiting Time and Patient Welfare.
  4. Libby Hubbard, Independent Scholar, Lovolution Studios, USA.
    Title: The Moshiach, Madness, and Future Studies.

 

11:00-12:30 Session 6
Moderator: 
Marek Matejun, Associate Professor, University of Lodz, Poland.
  1. Zuohong Pan, Professor, Western Connecticut State University, USA.
    Title: An Analysis of the United States Supply Chain Risks in Globalization.
  2. Chi-Yo Huang, Professor, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taiwan.
    Title: Evaluating the Impact of Industry 5.0 Technologies on Women’s Employment in the ICT Sector: A Text Mining and DRSA Approach.
  3. Nicholas Odhiambo, Professor, University of South Africa, South Africa.
    Title: Natural Resources and Financial Development in Sub-Saharan African Countries: Is There an Inverted U-Shaped Curve?
  4. Daphne Vidanec, Tenured Professor, University of Applied Sciences Baltazar Zaprešić, Croatia.
    Dorian Vidanec, Freelance Commercialist, Croatia.
    Title: Analyzing the Sales Process for Stimulating the Market Equilibrium: Deichmann SE Store Management Case.
  5. Tareq Hashem, Full Professor, Applied Science Private University, Jordan.
    Title: How Do Entrepreneurial Characteristics Affect Marketing Performance in the Jordanian Manufacturing Sector.

 

12:30-14:30 Session 7 – Microsymposium on “Library and Information Science”
Moderator: Alex Qian, Associate Professor, Singapore University of Social Sciences, Singapore.
  1. Xiaomei Gong, Reference and Business Research Librarian, Western Connecticut State University, USA.
    Title: The Impact of Academic Libraries’ Extracurricular Programs on Students’ Lifelong Learning: A Case Study.
  2. Nkhangweni Mahwasane, Information Librarian, University of Venda, South Africa.
    Title: Library Provision and the Oral Community in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
  3. Maropene Ramabina, Manager, Information and Learning Services, North-West University, South Africa.
    Title: The Ethical Use of Artificial Intelligence in Law Libraries: The Role of a Law Librarian.
  4. Nkosingiphile Zungu, Lecturer, University of Zululand, South Africa.
    Title: Cybercrime Awareness and Risks among Rural Internet Users in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
  5. David Bodoff, Senior Lecturer, University of Haifa, Israel.
    Title: How Can Medical Doctors Use Results from Machine Learning Analyses of Medical Data?
  6. Yuliyana Stanimirova, University Librarian, New Bulgarian University, Bulgaria.
    Radostina Todorova, Director, New Bulgarian University, Bulgaria.
    Title: The Legacy of a Visionary: “Prof. Bogdan Bogdanov, D.Sc.” Library – Source of Inspiration for the Arts and Humanities.

 14:30-15:00 Lunch

15:00-17:00 Session 8
Moderator: Qi Si, Professor, Zhejiang University, China.
  1. Codruta Stoica, Professor, “Aurel Vlaicu” University of Arad, Romania.
    Title: Beyond Statistics: Comprehending Gender Parity and Gender Equality.
  2. Angelo Nicolaides, Professor, University of Zululand, South Africa.
    Title: Ethical Business Conduct in an Ultra Capitalistic World.
  3. Joan Miguel Tejedor Estupinan, Professor, Areandina University Foundation, Colombia.
    Carlos Bejarano Chacón, Professor, San Marcos University, Costa Rica.
    Ramses Moreno, Professor, University of the Isthmus, Panama.
    Title: A Model for Integrating Climate Sustainability into MSME Management: Analysis in Colombia, Panama, and Costa Rica.
  4. Maria Kosma, Associate Professor, Louisiana State University, USA.
    Title: Techne in Performing Arts is Key to the Love of Movement and Long-lasting Physical Activity Participation.
  5. Judy Porter, Professor, Rochester Institute of Technology, USA.
    LaVerne McQuiller Williams, Associate Provost Rochester Institute of Technology USA.
    Title: Unpacking Campus Victimization: A Quantitative Study of Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation.
  6. Alexia Georgakopoulos, Professor, Nova South University, USA.
    Title: Cultivating a Culture of Peace in Higher Education: Empowering Students as Agents of Change in a Global Society.

 

17:15-20:30 Session 9
Old and New-An Educational Urban Walk
The urban walk ticket is not included as part of your registration fee. It includes professional tour guide and the cost to enter the Parthenon and the other monuments on the Acropolis Hill. The urban walk tour includes the broader area of Athens. Among other sites, it includes: Zappeion, Syntagma Square, Temple of Olympian Zeus, Ancient Roman Agora and on Acropolis Hill: the Propylaea, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion, and the Parthenon. The program of the tour may be adjusted, if there is a need beyond our control. This is a private event organized by the Athens Institute exclusively for the conference participants.

21:00-23:00
An Ancient Athenian Symposium: Continuous Dialogues, Timeless Flavors (featuring authentic ancient Athenian dishes, local wine, and sweet delicacies from ancient Athens)


Wednesday 30 July 2025
An Educational Visit to Selected Islands
or Nafplio & Mycenae Visit


Thursday 31 July 2025
Visiting the Oracle of Delphi


Friday 1 August 2025
Visiting the Ancient Corinth and Cape Sounion



Conference Venue: 9 Chalkokondili Street, 10677 Athens, Greece