Dear the societies community,

I am truly honored to extend a warm and heartfelt welcome to each and every one of you on behalf of the organizing committee of the 1st International Online Conference on Societies, which will be hosted online and promoted by the open access MDPI journal Societies (ISSN: 2075-4698; IF 1.7).

The overarching aim of this gathering is not merely to convene a group of individuals but to assemble a constellation of esteemed experts from every nook and cranny of the globe. These are the brilliant minds who are actively engaged in the fascinating and ever-evolving field of sociology. They come from diverse academic institutions, research centers, and professional backgrounds, each bringing with them a unique set of experiences, perspectives, and insights that are as rich and varied as the societies we study.

In today's interconnected world, the field of sociology plays an increasingly crucial role in understanding the complex social dynamics that shape our lives. It delves into the intricacies of human behavior, social institutions, cultural norms, and the forces that drive social change. By providing this online conference, we hope to create a vibrant and inclusive space where ideas can flow freely, where knowledge can be shared without the constraints of geographical boundaries, and where meaningful conversations can take place.

Particular attention will also be given to young scientists entering the world of sociology in order to stimulate their participation in discussions on the topic.

Throughout the conference, we aim to cover—among others—the following topics:

S1. The Social of Health and Wellbeing;
S2. Disabled People/People with Disabilities (Non-Medical Coverage);
S3. Sport/Leisure/Recreation/Tourism;
S4. Equity/Equality, Diversity and Inclusion;
S5. Science and Technology.

Once again, welcome to IOCSO 2026. I look forward to a stimulating and rewarding experience for all of us.

Kind regards,
Prof. Dr. Gregor Wolbring
Community Rehabilitation and Disability Studies, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
Chair of the 1st International Online Conference on Societies

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IOCSO 2026 will accept abstracts only. The accepted abstracts will be available online on Sciforum.net during and after the conference.

Important Deadline
1. Deadline for abstract submission: 21 September 2025.
2. Abstract acceptance notification: 19 October 2025.

You will be notified of the acceptance of an oral/poster presentation in a separate email.

Abstract submissions should be completed online by registering with www.sciforum.net and using the "Submit Abstract" function once logged into the system. No physical template is necessary.

1. The abstract structure should include the introduction, methods, results, and conclusions sections of about 200–300 words in length.
2. All abstracts should be submitted and presented in clear, publication-ready English with accurate grammar and spelling.
3. You may submit multiple abstracts. However, only one abstract will be selected for oral presentation.
4. The abstracts submitted to this conference must be original and novel, without prior publication in any journals or it will not be accepted to this conference.

Detailed Requirements:
1. The submitting author must ensure that all co-authors are aware of the contents of the abstract.
2. Please select only one presenter for each submission. If you would like to change the presenter after submission, please email us accordingly.

Note: We only accept live presentations.

The slot for the oral presentation is 15 mins. We advise that your presentation lasts for a maximum of 12 mins, leaving at least 3 mins for the Q&A session.

Authors are encouraged to prepare a presentation in PowerPoint or similar software, to be displayed online along with the abstract. Slides, if available, will be displayed directly on the website using the proprietary slide viewer at Sciforum.net. Slides can be prepared in exactly the same way as for any traditional conference where research results are presented. Slides should be converted to PDF format prior to submission so that they can be converted for online display.