These will be special, intellectually stimulating sessions on current debates, with no easy answers. The purpose is to provoke new ideas and conversations, within a collegial atmosphere of curiosity and sincere engagement. Diverse views will be on stage! Please come and discuss with us.”

Measurement Invariance: When does it break science? When does it make science?

Chair: Johnny R. J Fontaine

Brief description: A round table discussion on methodological rigor and the role of bias and equivalence analyses in cross-cultural value research

Participants: Christian Welzel, Ella Daniel, Jaak Billiet, Ronald Fischer

How should we study culture? Interdisciplinary perspectives on methods at the intersection of culture, mind, and brain

Chairs: Andrew G. Ryder

Brief description: Could adjacent disciplines enrich our methods? We discuss approaches rarely used by psychologists, challenges of using tools from other disciplines, and assumptions made by different methods. Then, we look to the future of collaboration in our field.

Participants: Richard Shweder, Sangeetha Menon, William Dressler,

Culture in cross-cultural psychology: confusing past, uncertain present, and challenging future Why?

Chair: Pawel Boski & Valery Chirkov

Brief description: This panel invites participants of the Congress to discuss the concept of ‘culture’ in cross-cultural psychology.

Participnats: Rolando Díaz, Vladimer Lado Gamsakhurdia, Klaus Boehnke, Ype H. Poortinga, Zeynep Aycan, Ron Fisher

Can academia be apolitical?

Chair: Lusine Grigoryan & Nicolas Geeraert

Brief description: Do academics and academic organizations have a responsibility to engage with political issues? This provocation session brings together an international team of experts to stimulate a discussion of the intricacies of academia/politics intersection.

Participants: John W. Berry, Özden Melis Uluğ, Shagufa Kapadia, Rainer K. Silbereisen