2nd Unic Thematic Conference „Institutions in Transition: Justice, Security and Well-Being in Post-Industrial Cities“

Our institute took part in the 2nd Unic Thematic Conference, which was held under the theme ‘Institutions in Transition: Justice, Security, and Well-Being in Post-Industrial Cities’.

From June 17 to 19, several staff members from our Institute for Diversity Medicine traveled to Istanbul to visit Koç University, which is surrounded by green spaces. The second UNIC Thematic Conference took place on the university’s campus under the theme “Institutions in Transition: Justice, Security, and Well-Being in Post-Industrial Cities.” The international UNIC conference explored how institutions can respond to social and urban transformation processes and aimed to foster dialogue among academia, policymakers, and practitioners. The focus was on issues of social inequality, access to health and social services, diversity, and the creation of just, inclusive, and resilient cities. The conference materials are available at the following link: https://www.ku.edu.tr/en/2nd-unic-thematic-conference/.

The conference was organized into two main streams. The first stream addressed the topic “Justice, Security, and Institutional Dynamics: Resilience and Legitimacy.” The second stream, titled “Health and Well-being in Post-Industrial Cities: Institutions, Inequalities, and Transformations,” focused on health care. Key topics in this second stream included: health equity and equal opportunities in health, health and well-being in diverse societies, social determinants of health, inclusive and participatory healthcare, mental health and resilience, as well as digital health, health literacy, and digital inclusion.

Our institute actively helped organize the session “Healthcare Reimagined: Diverse Experiences and Transformative Care.” We presented contributions on the topics of diversity in oncology (DiMIS), end-of-life care for people with a migration background (ExErMed), bias awareness in medical education (UnBiasMe), and community-based health promotion and health literacy (Gesundheitscampus Wattenscheid).

After three days, our staff members returned to Bochum, filled with new impressions, ideas, and inspiration. We are now looking forward to finding new points of connection for our own work and would like to express our sincere thanks for the academic exchange we had there!