Charis Psaltis, University of Cyprus

Research team composed of Larysa Zasiekina, Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University; Serhii Zasiekin, Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University; and Victor Kuperman, McMaster University

Professor Charis Psaltis of the University of Cyprus, was nominated on the basis of his pathbreaking contributions with important political applications in three areas. (a) the study of inter-ethnic contact leading to the UN-appraised ‘Imagine Project’; (b) the widely- respective interventions by the Council of Europe and the OECD; and (c) the development of public opinion survey work on the Cypriot dispute that has shaped mediation by UN practitioners and the Greek-Turkish Forum. While Professor Psaltis has an impressive publication record across several areas, as well as service to the discipline (for instance, as the National Coordinator of Cyprus for the European Social Survey in Round 10), these are the three main areas of impact that in the Committee’s view merited the awarding of the Nevitt Sanford Award.

The Zasiekina, Zasiekin, and Kuperman team includes Larysa Zasiekina (Psychology, Member of ISPP), Professor Serhii Zasiekin (Applied Linguistics, Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University), and Professor Victor Kuperman (Linguistics, McMaster University, Canada). The Committee was especially impressed by their bilingual project “The Narratives of War (NoW) Virtual Exhibit. ” This research initiative demonstrates the research team’s dedication to promoting international peace by shedding light on the devastating realities of war. “The Narratives of War (NoW) Virtual Exhibit”, accessible at https://now.omeka.net/, was created to amplify these Ukrainian voices as part of the lived experience  of war. By collecting and disseminating these testimonies, the project aims to contribute to the national and global cultural memory of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Featuring thousands of accounts from witnesses of all ages and regions, the NoW project serves as a timeline and map of the ongoing war, while also telling stories of suffering, resilience and hope. The bilingual (English and Ukrainian) project contributes greatly to the practical application of political-psychological principles. Additionally, “The Narratives of War (NoW) Virtual Exhibit” creates and disseminates knowledge that can be used by researchers, practitioners and advocacy groups to make a positive difference in the way politics is carried out. The digital format of the exhibit, combined with its potential for evolution in the Virtual Library, represents an innovative, creative, effective and sustainable approach to addressing political and social challenges in times of conflict and war. The evident impact of the project lies in the provision of both measurable data (a precise war chronology in terms of dates, months, and years) and qualitative insights (diverse war experiences across Ukrainian oblasts). This exhibit has the potential to serve as a valuable corpus for future interdisciplinary studies of political science, including political and social psychology, communication, statistics, testimonies, before-and-after analyses, and other pertinent research that will enhance research on intercultural competence and mutual understanding for peace.