Families are facing new challenges in our increasingly complex society. In order to meet the increasing complexity and importance of family science, social and cultural sciences in the German-speaking world discussed the establishment of an independent discipline of family sciences and the establishment of appropriate study programmess. A major step in this direction began in April 2013 as the first interdisciplinary Masters course of study of its kind in the German-speaking world was developed by the applied family sciences at HAW Hamburg.

Dr Margaret Sutherland, Depute Director CR&DALL and Dr Niamh Stack, School of Psychology were keynote speakers at the inaugural international conference held at the Family and Childhood Sciences at HAW Hamburg in February.  They provided an overview of the current national legislation, policies, curriculum and practice relating to early childhood education within Scotland and concluded by discussing the challenges that remain and the implications for the future, both within and beyond Scotland.

First international Conference on Family and Childhood Sciences, held February 13th and 14th, 2017

Dr. Katharina Jeorgakopulos Presse und Kommunikation
Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften Hamburg

The programmes "Applied Family Science" and "Education and Learning in Childhood", located at the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, organized the First International Conference on Family and Childhood Sciences. It was held on 13 and 14 February 2017 in Hamburg.

After an intensive interdisciplinary exchange on national level in 2015 it is now time to discuss current topics and themes concerning family and childhood internationally. Only enhancing the interdisciplinary and international perspective will do justice to the increasing complexity, intercultural and international dimensions of childhood and family.

Renowned scientists and experts of family and childhood accepted our call to share their expertise (e.g. Oliver Arránz-Becker, MLU Halle-Wittenberg; Roland Fankhauser, Center for Family Science, Basel; Katia Paz Goldfarb, Montclair University, New Jersey; Cornelia Koppetsch, TU Darmstadt; Wolfgang Mazal, Austrian Institute for Family Studies, Wien; Iris Nentwig-Gesemann, Alice Salomon Hochschule Berlin; Niamh Stack und Margaret Sutherland, University of Glasgow).

More detailed information (german): https://internationalefamilienfachtagung.wordpress.com/programm/
The programme (german): https://internationalefamilienfachtagung.files.wordpress.com/2016/09/programmfly...