SPSSI Conferences

Research as Seed, Teaching as Root, Action as Bloom:
Foundations for a Just Future

As communities worldwide navigate an era of unprecedented challenges, SPSSI invites submissions from scholars, educators, activists, and practitioners whose work addresses pressing social justice issues for its annual conference, “Research as Seed, Teaching as Root, Action as Bloom: Foundations for a Just Future.” This year’s conference will be held in Portland, Oregon–the City of Roses–a symbol of the potential, beauty, and challenges that accompany progress and change. As Portland and communities across the globe work to address social, economic, and environmental challenges, we must ask ourselves how to create and maintain healthy, just futures: What must be replanted? What needs to take deeper root? What strong roots need better conditions to fully bloom? What protections must we cultivate to defend our growth?

This year’s theme centers on growing vibrant, healthy, and flourishing communities, highlighting essential stages of transformative work: planting seeds through research, cultivating strong, deep roots in classrooms and communities, and fostering actions that bloom into lasting impact. Yet, for growth and blooms to truly flourish, hard-won progress toward justice must also be protected. Just as a rose’s thorns defend its growth, we need strategies that nurture and safeguard against threats. Collectively, through policy, education, grassroots activism, and scholarship, our work can cultivate a thriving future for all.

In this spirit, we invite submissions that address a wide range of crucial topics, including, but not limited to, racial and economic justice, health and well-being, political polarization, educational equity, healthcare access, gender equality, LGBTQ+ rights, climate change and environmental justice, immigration, and human rights. As we navigate long-standing issues with fresh relevance, and confront new challenges, we welcome submissions that not only seek to inform but also to transform. Join us as we envision and develop strategies for a flourishing future amidst and beyond the uncertainties of today.

2025 Conference Preliminary Agenda Now Available!

We are pleased to present a preliminary schedule for the 2025?Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI) Conference, taking place on June 27-29, 2025 in Portland, Oregon. Please note that this schedule is subject to change. If you can no longer present your work, or want to make edits to publicly available session information, please complete this form by May 5, 2025. Unless communicated to us by this deadline, via this form, all session information will be made publicly available online and in print. 

You may now access and download the preliminary agenda, the full poster schedule, and session groupings for the 15-minute presentations. While we are unable to accommodate specific requests for changes, we ask that you please review the agenda and make sure there are no scheduling conflicts in your sessions by May 5. If you find any double bookings, please email spssicon@spssi.com as soon as possible.

Conference Registration is Now Open!

Did you know, across conference rates, it is often cheaper to join SPSSI and register at the member rate? Join SPSSI today to take advantage of this valuable offer!

Early Bird Registration ends May 15^th!

In an ongoing effort to meet the economic needs of our many constituencies, SPSSI is pleased to continue a special category of rates for the 2025 Summer Conference.  SPSSI's Regional rates apply to conference attendees residing in the Caribbean, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Oceania. Across all rates, further reductions or hardship requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Apply to be a mentor today!

SPSSI’s Diversity Committee is hosting a Mentoring Event at the 2025 SPSSI Conference in Portland, OR. The event will take place at the conference hotel on Saturday June 28th during the conference lunch break. If you would like to serve as a Mentor at this special event, please follow this link to complete the application by Friday April 4th:

https://mst.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0BAx3LRBPMiMkBw

If you have any questions, please contact Jessica Cundiff. 

#SPSSICON25 will be at the Hilton Portland Downtown!

Hilton Portland Downtown
921 SW Sixth Avenue
Portland, OR 97204, US
(Map)

SPSSI’s Room Block is now open!  We have a limited number of rooms available at a discounted group rate of $189.  Our room block always fills up, so be sure to book early!  Please note, rooms are subject to availability.  Questions about reservations?  Contact spssicon@spssi.org.

Traveling to #SPSSICON25

Due to recent events, we understand that some SPSSI members have concerns about traveling to or within the United States. While instances of scholars' detention at the U.S. border still appear to be infrequent and sporadic, they are occurring and need to be considered. SPSSI is not able to assess the risk to individual members. We understand the decision to travel right now is a difficult and personal one. Below are some relevant resources that members may find useful when planning travel to the United States:

• ACLU: Know Your Rights – Enforcement at the Airport.
• EFF: Digital Privacy at the U.S. Border: Protecting the Data On Your Devices
• CAIR: Flying While Muslim: Should I Be Worried About Traveling Right Now?
• Wired: How to Enter the US With Your Digital Privacy Intact.

The safety and comfort of SPSSI members is our top concern. At this time, SPSSI is not making any recommendation to our international members regarding travel, though we are actively monitoring this issue. We encourage everyone traveling internationally to review and seriously consider any potential advisories issued by their own governments regarding U.S. travel.

Register for a Pre-Conference Workshop!
Thursday, June 26, 2025

Cost:  Students - $45  |  Non-Students - $65

Policy Preconference Workshop: Navigating the Research-to-Policy Pipeline: How the Pros Get Evidence to Policymakers

Graduate Student Preconference Workshop: Study (In)Action: Psychology’s duty to Public Policy

2025 SPSSI Summer Conference Keynote Speakers

Past SPSSI Conferences:

• 2024: Frontiers of Justice: Using Psychological Science to Reinvigorate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
• 2023:Transforming Our World: Using Research and Action to Address (In)Visible Wounds
• 2022: Reenergizing Ourselves and Our Communities: Connections Across Borders and Barriers (Revitalizándonos y Nuestras Comunidades: Conexiones a través de Fronteras y Barreras)
• 2021: Changing the System: Social Research and Action to Reshape the World We Live In
• 2020: "Making the Invisible Visible: Transformative Research and Social Action"
• 2019: "Fighting injustice: The power of research, policy, and activism in challenging times"
• 2018: "Bridges to Justice: Building Coalitions and Collaborations Within and Beyond Psychology"
• 2017: “Entre los individuos, como entre las naciones, el respeto al derecho ajeno es la paz” (Among individuals, as among nations, respect for the rights of others is peace)
• 2016: Giving psychology away: Sharing research through teaching, interdisciplinary collaboration, and public engagement
• 2015: A Road Less Traveled: Forging Links Between Psychological Science and Social Policy
• 2014: Social Action and Change: Opportunities, Resistance, Inertia, and Mobilization
• 2012: Changing Societies: Learning From & For Research, Social Action & Policy
• 2010: From Individuals to Nation States: What Motivates, Sustains...
• 2008: Disparities Across the Globe: Place, Race, Class, Ethnicity & Gender
• 2006: Social Justice: Research, Action, and Policy
• 2004: From Desegregation to Diversity
• 2002: Understanding and Addressing Disparities: International Approaches
• 2000: Social issues for the 21st Century: Setting the Agenda

SPSSI presents special programming each year at the APA Convention as well. Find more information here.