Final Report
We, on behalf of Monash University Malaysia and Nottingham University Malaysia, were honoured to co-organize the AASP 2025 Conference held from 10th July – 12th July. This prestigious event marked a significant milestone for both institutions in championing the exchange of scholarly insights across borders.
We were deeply grateful to the many
dedicated researchers from across Asia
and beyond, including our esteemed colleagues from Europe and the US, whose passion and contributions made this gathering possible. Together, we celebrated a shared commitment to advancing Social Psychology and fostering meaningful global academic collaboration.
Here’s a summary of the key highlights and achievements of AASP2025:
In addition to the core academic sessions, we were honored to host keynote speeches by leading scholars in the field such as Professor Allan Bernardo, Professor Jolanda Jetten, Professor Magdalena Formanowicz and Professor Noraini Noor.
The conference also featured the James Liu Foundation Address by Belinda Liu and the James Liu Memorial Symposia, dedicated to advancing the legacy of Professor James Liu and his profound contributions to the field of Social Psychology. These sessions aimed to inspire future generations of scholars to pursue socially relevant and globally impactful psychological research. Together, these elements reflected our shared commitment to fostering a vibrant academic exchange and promoting meaningful dialogue across cultures, disciplines, and perspectives.
In the lead-up to the main conference, our team also proudly organized the AASP Summer School, a three-day scholarly program designed to engage and empower early-career researchers and postgraduate students. These enriching sessions were graciously hosted by our esteemed collaborator, University of Nottingham Malaysia.
AASP 2025 Summer School at Nottingham University Malaysia
Led by distinguished scholars such as Professor Takeshi Hamamura, Professor Rachel Ting Sing-Kiat, Professor Melody Chao, Professor Michelle See and Professor Michael Mustafa, the Summer School offered participants an immersive academic experience, fostering critical dialogue, collaborative learning, and mentorship across diverse areas of psychological science.
Conference Day 1
The conference opened with warm and inspiring welcome speeches delivered by Professor Stephen Boyle, Vice President of Education at Monash University Malaysia; Associate Professor Sivakumar Thurairajasingam, Interim Head of School; and Professor Shamsul Haque, Interim Head of Department.
Their words set a tone of academic excellence and collaboration. Following the keynote address by Professor Allan Bernardo, participants were treated to a selection of local delicacies during the morning break, offering a taste of Malaysia’s rich culinary heritage. The day continued with the James Liu Foundation Address and the James Liu Memorial Symposium, honouring the enduring legacy of Professor Liu’s contributions to psychology. These were followed by a series of engaging academic presentations, reflecting the depth and diversity of scholarship across the region and beyond.
Conference Day 2
The day was highlighted by compelling keynote speeches delivered by two esteemed scholars, Professor Jolanda and Professor Magdalena, whose insights deeply resonated with the conference’s theme of advancing psychological science. Alongside these keynote sessions, the conference continued with a full schedule of oral and poster presentations, showcasing diverse research contributions from across the region and beyond.
To conclude the day, we gathered at the elegant Sunway Resort Hotel for the Gala Banquet Dinner. Guests were treated to a variety of local Malaysian cuisines, offering not only a culinary experience but also a celebration of cultural richness and community spirit among our international participants.
Conference Day 3
On the final day of AASP 2025, we had the great honor of witnessing a memorable and historic moment: the announcement of Professor Wendy Li as the President-Elect of the Asian Association of Social Psychology (AASP). Congratulations to Professor Li on this well-deserved recognition of her leadership and contributions to the field!
This announcement followed an inspiring keynote address by Professor Noraini, whose insights further energized the academic spirit of the conference. We also proudly recognized the recipients of this year’s awards, celebrating excellence in scholarship and contribution to social psychology. These include:
AASP Fellow:
Dr. Allan B. I. Bernardo, Dr. Michael Harris Bond and Dr. Ying-Yi Hong
Kuo Shu Yang Medal for the Lifetime Contribution Award:
Dr. Emiko Kashima, Dr. Kwang-Kuo Hwang (posthumous) Dr. James Liu (posthumous)
Michael Harris Bond Award for Early Career Contributions:
Dr. Jianning Dang
James Liu Memorial Award:
Dr. Jony Eko Yulianto
Misumi Award:
Dr. Paul. G. Bain and Dr. Xiangpo Chen
AJSP Best Reviewers Award:
Dr. Daniel Miller, Dr. Kosuke Takemura, Dr. Eugene Y. J. Tee and Dr. Xie Tian
KS Yang Travel Award:
Dr. Ugyal T. Lama Yolmo and Dr. Ketoki Mazumdar
Summer School Travel Award:
Archisha Wadhwa, Feng Zhao, Yunyun Mao, Ha Phan, and Debanjali Saha
Closing Remark
We, Monash University Malaysia and University of Nottingham Malaysia, are truly grateful for the trust and support from the Asian Association of Social Psychology in granting us the honour of organizing and hosting this meaningful event.We hope that the warmth of the Malaysian weather matches the warmth of our welcome, and that all participants carry this spirit of connection and collaboration back with them.
A special note of appreciation goes to the many dedicated individuals working tirelessly behind the scenes, from the organizing committee to the volunteers, whose efforts made this conference a success. Your commitment and hard work have not gone unnoticed.
Thank you for attending the AASP 2025 Conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia!