During the 3rd day of the EURPA conference, the workshop “Empowering the Next Generation of Peace Researchers: Building a Stronger Network for Global Challenges” was held. This workshop was dedicated to young researchers under 39 years old and was organized by Merel Selleslach and Anush Petrosyan. The activity aimed to present the PEACE (Peace Research Community in Europe) network, a project that recently started in October 2024 under the European Cooperation in Science and Technology.
The workshop had two main parts. The first part focused on introducing the core aspects of the project itself, particularly its origins, purposes, and the five focus areas: Peace and Climate, Feminist Peace, Peace and Emerging Technologies, Local Peace, and Peace and Security Architecture in Europe. In addition, we learned about the initiatives this project proposes to support the new generation of peace and conflict researchers throughout their careers.
The second part of the workshop involved participants discussing and sharing their experiences as young researchers and the challenges they may have faced. By dividing the audience into two smaller groups, we were able to engage in more focused discussions. During these conversations, we had the opportunity to reflect on our personal experiences in academia and the difficulties we encounter. Although the experiences of participants were diverse, some recurring challenges became evident. Chief among them was the difficulty in achieving economic and family stability, which, coupled with the stress of academic research, could lead to mental health issues.
Through these discussions, we concluded that fostering a strong social network among young researchers and creating more opportunities for financial support are critical.
All in all, this was a very valuable experience for young researchers, as we realized we were not alone on this journey and that we could share and support one another along the way.