Prof. Dr. Veli Duyan | Social Work | Research Excellence Award

Ankara University Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Social Work | Turkey

Prof. Dr. Veli Duyan is a prominent scholar in social work whose academic contributions span social sciences and health sciences, with a focus on advancing theory, practice, and professional ethics in the field. His scholarship reflects deep engagement with social service systems, psychosocial support, community development, social policy, mental health, family dynamics, disability studies, migration, trauma, and vulnerable populations. He has guided extensive postgraduate and doctoral research addressing diverse themes such as psychosocial interventions, family resilience, social service needs of individuals with disabilities, gender-related perspectives, child welfare, clinical social work, and community-based social support models. His academic leadership and teaching experience cover a wide range of core and advanced social work subjects, including social work theories, methods, clinical applications, human rights, social policy, group work, family counseling, psychiatric social work, research methods, and community practice. Through his work, he has contributed to shaping the pedagogy, curriculum development, and professional competencies of future social workers. Prof. Duyan’s research portfolio demonstrates a sustained commitment to evidence-based practice, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the development of socially responsive service models, particularly in areas such as trauma, psychosocial risk, inequality, ageing, supervised release practices, addiction, and child protection. His scholarly influence is further reflected in his mentorship of numerous theses exploring applied, theoretical, and practice-oriented dimensions of social work. Overall, Prof. Dr. Veli Duyan is recognized for strengthening the scientific foundations of social work, promoting ethical professional practice, and contributing to transformative social interventions that support individuals, families, and communities across diverse social contexts.

Profiles: Scopus | Orcid

Featured Publications

Kapısız, S. G., & Duyan, V. (2025). Exploring the challenges and needs of social workers in managing abandoned infant cases: A qualitative study. Social Work in Public Health.

Er, F., & Duyan, V. (2025). Thought content, thought function, acceptance and adaptation over time: Experiences of Turkish veterans and their spouses whose cognitive functions are affected by PTSD. Military Psychology.

Arslan Özdemir, E., & Duyan, V. (2025). The analysis of the rights and welfare of refugees in Turkey based on the Max-Neef human scale development approach. Migration and Development.

Kara, Y., Kalaycı, E., & Duyan, V. (2025). Group therapy for LGBTQIA+ people within the framework of trauma-informed approach: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Gay & Lesbian Mental Health.

Danış, M. Z., Duyan, V., Karataş, M., & Özdemir, M. (2025). “Losing interest in life was not for me”: The life experiences of adolescents with disabilities in the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Social Service Research.

Dr. Nuno Almeida | Social | Best Researcher Award

Universidade do Algarve | Portugal

Dr. Nuno Miguel Forra Almeida is a psychologist and academic specializing in Work, Social, and Organizational Psychology. He serves as an Assistant Lecturer at the Faculty of Human and Social Sciences of the University of Algarve and is recognized as a Specialist Psychologist by the Portuguese Psychologists Association (OPP) and as a EuroPsy Qualified Psychologist by the European Federation of Psychologist’s Associations (EFPA). He is also a collaborator at the Research Center in Psychology (CIP) at the Autonomous University of Lisbon and at the University Research Center in Psychology (CUIP) at the University of Algarve. His professional work includes psychological assessment through FAROTESTE Avaliacao Psicologica, where he applies his expertise in psychometric evaluation and professional assessment. He has supervised several academic and professional internships, contributing actively to the training of future psychologists. His research interests focus on social psychology, behavior, politics, and communication, with ongoing work exploring electoral abstention among young people. He has participated in national and international conferences and co-authored publications in peer-reviewed journals, including studies on human-robot interaction, workplace well-being, and democratic engagement. His professional development includes extensive training in areas such as ergonomics, neuro-linguistic programming, psychological intervention, and data analysis using digital tools. With a multidisciplinary background and a strong commitment to psychological research and practice, he integrates scientific knowledge with applied work to promote well-being, engagement, and informed participation in social and organizational contexts.

Profiles: Scopus | Orcid | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Almeida, N., & Giger, J.-C. (2025). Unraveling the heterogeneity of electoral abstention: Profiles, motivations, and paths to a more inclusive democracy in Portugal. Social Sciences, 14(10), 601.

Giger, J.-C., Piçarra, N., Pochwatko, G., Almeida, N., & Almeida, A. S. (2025). Intention to work with social robots: The role of perceived robot use self-efficacy, attitudes towards robots, and beliefs in human nature uniqueness. Multimodal Technologies and Interaction, 9(2), 9.

Giger, J.-C., Piçarra, N., Pochwatko, G., Almeida, N., Almeida, A. S., Costa, N., & Duradoni, M. (2024). Development of the Beliefs in Human Nature Uniqueness Scale and its associations with perception of social robots. Human Behavior and Emerging Technologies, Article ID 5569587.

Gonçalves, G., Sousa, C., Fernandes, M. J., Almeida, N., & Sousa, A. (2023). Restorative effects of biophilic workplace and nature exposure during working time: A systematic review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(21), 6986.

Almeida, N., & Giger, J.-C. (2025, January 23). The absent vote: Unraveling social representations of electoral abstention among students and non-student voters. In X Jornadas Internacionais de Iniciação à Investigação Científica em Psicologia (J3ICP).

Featured Publications

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