The first SIA workshop for junior researchers was organized May 22-23 in Stockholm, at the Aging Research Center. Thirteen doctoral students and postdocs from three Nordic countries participated. In addition to providing the opportunity to get to know junior researchers working within the SIA-project*, the workshop aimed to give junior researchers a chance to present and receive feedback on their work, and comment on other PhD students’ papers. For example, the SIA junior researchers presented papers on intergenerational social inequality in physical function and mortality; geographical and socioeconomic inequality in preventable hospitalisations in Denmark, Finland, and Sweden; and,the association between prolonged working life and physical functioning in old age.
The first day started with a presentation of the SIA-project (Johan Fritzell), a talk about inequity in health care by Professor Bo Burström, followed by six presentations by the junior researchers. The day ended with a dinner.
On day two, the presentations and discussions by the junior researchers continued and we also had the opportunity to hear Professor Marja Jylhä talk about the promises and challenges of multidisciplinary research. The workshop closed with a feedback discussion and ideas for the future. The participants were very satisfied with the workshop, and we all agreed that it should continue. The next SIA workshop is scheduled to be held in autumn 2018.
*The SIA project was one of five projects to get funded under the call for Nordic research projects on the inequitable distribution of health and welfare by NordForsk in 2015