The Forums were developed in response to the society’s growing membership and increased conference attendance (~5000 annually), which, while exciting, have also made it more challenging for attendees, especially newcomers, to connect with others who share similar research interests.
Held on the Wednesday afternoon before the main conference, the Forums created a dedicated space for researchers to present their work, engage in in-depth discussions, and lay the groundwork for meaningful collaborations. The primary goals included:
- Facilitating networking and community-building: With Forum attendance ranging between 20 and 60 individuals, the format ensured that participants could genuinely interact, get to know one another, and engage in meaningful dialogue.
- Advancing research areas collaboratively: Forums focused on reviewing the current state of research within a particular topic, identifying gaps or urgent areas for future exploration, and laying the groundwork for joint research projects.
- Connecting diverse participants: The Forums welcomed a mix of academics, practitioners, and students, reflecting SIOP’s commitment to a research-practitioner model.
The inaugural pilot featured three topics: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI); Occupational Health and Well-Being; and Artificial Intelligence in Employee Selection. To ensure accessibility, registration was kept affordable ($95), covering only essential costs. Participant feedback emphasized that the Forums were an excellent introduction to the conference, helping individuals quickly form new connections that continued throughout the event.
Building on the success of this pilot, SIOP plans to expand the number of Forums to five topics for the 2026 conference, with the vision that the initiative will continue to grow organically. The hope is that, over time, more research areas and organizing teams will emerge, giving rise to new communities and collaborations each year.
With the introduction of Research Community Forums, SIOP is reinforcing its commitment to fostering collaboration, connection, and innovation among professionals in the field.