We celebrated the end of the pilot period of the Amsterdam Journal of Social Sciences (AJSS) with an inspiring symposium on June 6th at the Brug. This event was a vibrant platform for early-career researchers to share their work and experiences, highlighting our commitment to making academic publishing fun, accessible, and high-quality.
The symposium featured a panel discussion on barriers in academia from multiple perspectives, alongside a presentation on the structure and mission of AJSS. An Early-Career Researcher Fair showcased impressive student and early-career research, fostering great networking opportunities.
We also introduced the Urban Issues Zine, developed by graduate students from the Research Master Urban Studies. The zine, published by AJSS, features six short stories and research summaries on diverse urban issues—from co-housing to anti-speeding tools, participative planning to digital nomads, historic architectural landscapes to solo-living women. Copies were available for free at the symposium, and the PDF will be available later this year!
The symposium underscored AJSS's dedication to fostering open and accessible science. We collected attendees' thoughts on academic barriers through an interactive discussion and sticky notes, promoting ongoing discourse on improving academia. The event was a testament to the collaborative spirit and dedication that define the Amsterdam Journal of Social Sciences.
We would like to thank the Green Office for sponsoring the event, and allowing us to host more student researchers works.
Read the testimonials of junior researchers who were present(ing) at the event:
Andreea Neaga (AJSS Author)
For many, the otherwise exciting pursuit of writing academic articles is often obscured by the pressure of adhering to pre-established conventions of conformism. However, I have come to see that this is far from true.
The publishing process at AJSS nurtures new kinds of creative flows which culminate in
developing a stronger sense of fulfillment and pride for one’s work. From the first draft
submission to the last, the writer takes on a collaborative endeavor with the editors and peer
reviewers to elevate the article from just a contribution to academia to an object of cooperative
learning and effort between bright minds..
Yuerong Chen (AJSS Author)
Are you a bachelor’s student eager to enter the world of academic publishing? Amsterdam Journal of Social Science (AJSS) is definitively a perfect opportunity! As a contributor to AJSS and an undergraduate student at the UvA, AJSS has provided me with meaningful experience within academic fields. Publishing in AJSS has not only offered me the chance to connect my research to a broad audience but also allowed me to experience the publication process firsthand. From submitting my work to undergoing peer review, every step is a valuable learning opportunity for me. Furthermore, having work published in an academic journal such as AJSS also enhances my profile as a serious scholar, even from the undergraduate level. Hence, if you are a student passionate about social science research, seize the chance to participate in AJSS. It is not just about getting published but also about honing your skills and putting you on the map in the academic field.
Alex Filipiak (Junior Researcher)
At the tender age of 16, I found myself thrust into the heart of my first protest, spurred by the implementation of a contentious new abortion law in Poland. Little did I know, this pivotal moment would ignite within me a fervent passion for activism and social justice that would shape the trajectory of my life.
Therefore, I decided to pursue Anthropology followed by Sociology, equipping myself to drive social change through academia. My research predominantly centers on minority and queer rights and experiences, alongside reproductive justice and abortion laws.
My name is Alex Filipiak, and it is my honor to present my Master's Thesis on Abortion Stigma as perceived by pro-abortion activists.
Elle Rosenfeld (Junior Researcher)
About myself - I am Elle an Anthropologist from the UK currently researching period poverty in Amsterdam. I have been out in Amsterdam over the last 3 months and have been working with individuals and various organisations here tackling period poverty. My 2022/2023 research was on menstrual narrative in Bristol in the UK. The title of this project was ‘How can women reclaim agency over their bodies by developing new narratives around menstruation?’. Moving forwards into my research this 2024, the focus is on period poverty. There are various ways in which I am approaching this, in particular through the lens of development. I think ideas addressed in the research are applicable to various social needs in Amsterdam. In particular attitudes towards poverty largely play into the lack of awareness around period poverty.
Greta Maria Grossek (Junior Researcher)
I'm a second-year Research Master’s student in International Development Studies at the University of Amsterdam, holding a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. At the AJSS Symposium, I will present my master’s thesis research, which studies the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) of displaced women residing in a refugee camp on Lesvos, Greece, through participatory action research. Embedded within a wider PhD project, my thesis adopts a sequential qualitative mixed-methods design to explore displaced women’s SRH needs, healthcare expectations, health-seeking behavior, and perceived access to SRH care in transit, all while engaging co-researchers from the refugee community."
Read about some organizations who will be present at our symposium:
InPrint - AUC
InPrint is Amsterdam University College’s Undergraduate Journal of Liberal Arts and Sciences. For the past decade, we have biannually published student work in our Capstone Issues featuring the theses of AUC alumni and our Open Issues where we publish shorter student essays. Throughout the years, we have published on a multitude of topics like OnlyFans and the perception of sex workers, effects of Jamaica’s 2022 drought, strategies for ensuring non-human welfare, and more! Check out our past issues here: https://www.auc.nl/downloads/auc-research-journal/auc-undergraduate-research-journal.html
SIOS
The Student Initiative for Open Science (SIOS) Amsterdam is excited to join the AJSS symposium! We are a student-led initiative focused on educating students about good research practices. At the symposium we will tell you more about why open science is important for all students (not just the aspiring researchers) and what we do to make open science practices more widespread among students. We will tell you about some of our projects, and about how we as students view the future of research. Before and after our talk, we invite you to swing by our stand and ask any questions you may have about open science and how students can get involved!