SSCR Researcher Presents Work on Virtual Showcases at Major European Conference
Anastasia Karpunina travelled to Aberdeen to present her research on virtual environments and AI avatars for social work training at the European Conference for Social Work Research (ECSWR), one of the leading annual social work research events in Europe.
ECSWR brings together social work researchers, educators, practitioners and policy-focused scholars from across Europe and beyond. In 2026, the conference returned to the UK for the third time, following Oxford in 2011 and Edinburgh in 2018. The theme of the 2026 conference was Social Work and Interdisciplinary Research, with keynote sessions addressing global crises, historical methods, interdisciplinary practice and ethics, and the relationship between research, practice and policy.
Over three days, alongside traditional presentations and workshops, the conference also offered more interactive and reflective formats, including Dialogue Sessions, Walk & Talk sessions and Fireside Chats. These created space for more open, informal and structured conversations about complex issues in social work. Anastasia found these formats particularly valuable because they allowed participants to discuss difficult questions in a more human and collaborative way, while building connections with researchers working in related areas.
At ECSWR, Anastasia presented a poster on her current project exploring the use of virtual environments and AI avatars to support social work education and workforce training.
“My poster attracted a lot of attention and questions because it included an interactive element: a tablet showing immersive scenes with AI avatars. I wanted to demonstrate the potential of the avatars in action, rather than describe them only through text and images on paper. It was unusual, and many people stopped simply to understand what it was. That gave me the opportunity to tell them about my SSCR project. I have never had so many people from different countries interested in my research at the same time,” said Anastasia.
In addition to sharing her research and learning about cutting-edge international research in social work, ECSWR also gave Anastasia access to dedicated support for early career researchers. She took part in workshops focused on the use of complex theories in social work research, which helped strengthen her confidence and skills in linking theoretical frameworks to applied social work research.
A further benefit of attending ECSWR was the opportunity to develop international research networks. Anastasia joined the European Social Work Research Association Special Interest Group on Social Work Research on Digitalisation and Technology, which brings together researchers from different European countries who study technology in social work from a range of perspectives. As a conference participant, Anastasia also became a member of the European Social Work Research Association for one year, providing access to the Association’s journal, specialist workshops and member-only resources.
The conference also opened up potential publication opportunities. Anastasia submitted an abstract to a special issue of European Social Work Research on Social Work and Interdisciplinary Research. This offers another route for sharing her work with an international audience and contributing to wider debates about evidence-informed social work practice and policy.
More broadly, ECSWR helped Anastasia develop partnerships for the next stage of her research. She is currently developing a project on the use of virtual showcases to present social care data as a free, international, open educational resource. This project will require collaboration with partners in different countries, and the conference provided an excellent opportunity to identify potential collaborators for future grant applications.
Anastasia’s participation in ECSWR brought benefits not only for her own development as an early career researcher, but also for SSCR. The feedback, networks and future collaboration opportunities developed through the conference support strategic priorities around innovation in social care training, workforce resilience and the use of emerging technologies. They also strengthen the School’s international profile in social work research and its contribution to emerging debates about digital innovation in social work education and practice.