The global situation influenced by the ongoing CoViD-19 pandemics and currently the aggression against Ukraine have significantly affected activities of AESOP Young Academics and nearly all traditional academic events. Implications have been either cancellation of numerous networking events or a drastic shift towards online and hybrid events. One could say that us, academics, have gotten used to it and it has become the ‘new normal’, however, it is clear that online participation can never fully supersede face- to-face contact. The YA Conference is one of the most important mediums of interaction for the network. This activity has been canceled in 2020, online in 2021 and will be a hybrid event this year, clearly showing the large difficulties we have been facing.

We are very proud to have the 16th Young Academics Conference with the theme “In Search of Well-Being in Liminality: No Longer-Not Yet” taking place in Istanbul with the majority of participants joining in situ.

It is an opportunity to meet new friends and old friends, discuss research and related topics and lead intellectually stimulating debates with peers as well as more senior colleagues from distinguished institutions. On the other hand, over the past two years, we have learned to utilize tools that accommodate online participation so that those who cannot join, can have a solid experience and advance their academic work.

The conference theme is raising an ever more significant issue of wellbeing from the broadest point of view, including mental well-being. This is, luckily, becoming a serious debate topic as young academics are often struggling to keep up with their fellows and mental health issues have been neglected for many. This issue, together with others, such as peer-reviewing, will be further discussed during the Conference’s accompanying events.