Heroism Conference 2025

Heroism Studies Conference

The University of Nebraska will host the 5th Global Heroism Studies Conference, the main biennial event for scholars, researchers, and practitioners in the field of Heroism Science.

September 15-16, 2025
University of Nebraska–Lincoln, City Union

Theme: “Heroic Behavior in Theory and in Practice”

We’re delighted that our conference will begin with a keynote lecture by Catherine Sanderson, Poler Family Professor of Psychology at Amherst College and author of Why We Act: Turning Bystanders Into Moral Rebels.

Call for Papers, Panels, and Posters

The program committee is interested in all proposals related to the conference theme “Heroic Behavior in Theory and in Practice” from across all academic disciplines and practices.

Broad topic areas that may be covered in the conference include, but are not limited to: Everyday Heroism; Theorizing Heroic Behavior; Practical Applications of Heroism Studies; Historic, Cultural, and Literary Heroes; Heroism and Social Science; Heroism and Positive Psychology; Social Justice and Heroism; Heroism and Social Psychology; Challenges of or Barriers to Heroic Behavior; Human Rights and Heroism; Heroic Imagination.

Abstract submission is now closed.
All submissions will be reviewed by our program committee with decisions sent out by the end of May. Once your abstract is accepted for the conference, you will also be invited to send a full draft of your paper to be considered for publication in our flagship journal, Heroism Science. Please refer to the “Guidelines for Contributors” to shape your proposed article.

Registration

  • General admission $75
  • Graduate students $25
  • Undergraduate students free
Register for the conference

Schedule

September 15

9:00 - 10:00 a.m.

Ubuntu Room, JGMC

Keynote Lecture

Professor Catherine Sanderson

10:30 - 11:45 a.m.

Ubuntu Room, JGMC

Panel 1: Psychology Research on Heroic Behavior

  • Thorkildsen: “Embedding a Moral Compass in Conceptions of Everyday Heroism Encourages Young Adults to Participate in Civil Society”
  • Ajayi, Pirooz, Rehtus, and Santo: “Heroic Behavior in Children”
  • Riches: “Using the Intended Heroic Behavior Scale to Evaluate Heroism Interventions”
  • Smith and Soliz: "Parental Socialization of Inclusive and Prosocial Worldviews: Conceptualizing and Developing a Measure of Intergroup Prosocialization"

11:45 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Unity Room, JGMC

Lunch

On your own

1:00 - 2:00 p.m.

Ubuntu Room, JGMC

Panel 2: Individual Stories of Heroism

  • Gritter: “The Heroism of Lillian Roth of ‘I’ll Cry Tomorrow’ Fame”
  • Gudgel: “The Heroism of Muslim Hutus in Kigali, Rwanda’s Nyamirambo Neighborhood”
  • Curry: “Harmonies of Heroism: South African Songs of Commemoration”

2:30 - 3:30 p.m.

Ubuntu Room, JGMC

Panel 3: The Hero’s Journey

  • Virk: “Mythology, Entrepreneurship, and the Hero’s Journey”
  • Nelson: “The Hero/Heroine Achetype Journey to Emotional Wellness”
  • Rice: “Stress Management and Same Perspective Allies”

4:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Ubuntu Room, JGMC

Panel 4: Storytelling, Empathy, and Heroic Action

  • Langdon: “Storytelling, Empathy, and Heroic Action”
  • White: “Visionary Thought as Heroic Action”
  • Condren: “Developing Heroic Self-Efficacy in a Heroic Organization”

September 16

9:00 - 10:00 a.m.

Ubuntu Room, JGMC

Panel 5: Heroism Across Cultures

  • Bai: “Who Shapes the Hero? The Stabilizer of Intersubjectivity: A Perspective from Sociology of Education”
  • Subbotina: “Russian Conceptions of Heroism: Studies of a Social Concept Across Time”

10:30 - 
11:30 a.m.

Ubuntu Room, JGMC

Panel 6: Heroism and the Holocaust

  • Littky: “The Role of the Upstander During the Holocaust as an Example of Civic Responsibility”
  • Fagin-Jones: “The Mystery of Goodness: Toward a Social Science-Based Explanation of Non-Jewish Heroism During the Holocaust”
  • Dotan: “The Jewish Underground: Learning About and From Havka Folman-Raban”

11:30 a.m. - 
1:00 p.m.

Unity Room, JGMC

Lunch

“Lunch and Learn with the Heroic Imagination Project”
Register here
or on your own

1:00 - 
2:00 p.m.

Ubuntu Room, JGMC

Panel 7: Freedom Fighters and Terrorists

  • Rombouts: “Characteristics of Heroes and the ‘Axis of Resistance’”
  • Kohen and Sartor: “Heroism and Villainy: One Man’s Freedom Fighter Isn’t Another Man’s Terrorist”

2:30 - 
3:30 p.m.

Ubuntu Room, JGMC

Panel 8: Costs of Heroism

  • Voigt: “Victims of Bravery”
  • Wilson: “When Heroism Hurts: The Detrimental Effects of Grind Culture on Leadership Effectiveness in Higher Education”
  • Fagin-Jones: “Lessons Learned from Heroes of the Holocaust: Moral Courage in the Mundane”

4:00 - 
5:00 p.m.

Ubuntu Room, JGMC

Panel 9: Future Directions of Heroism Studies

Allison; Condren; Rombouts; Thorkildsen

Catherine Sanderson

Keynote Speaker: Catherine Sanderson

Catherine Sanderson is Poler Family Professor of Psychology at Amherst College. She is the author of Why We Act: Turning Bystanders Into Moral Rebels, published by Harvard University Press.

Learn more about Dr. Sanderson

Accomodations

The Graduate by Hilton Lincoln

  • $114 with breakfast
  • Rooms available for Sunday, Sept. 14 to Tuesday, Sept. 16
Reserve a Room
The Graduate by Hilton

Explore Lincoln

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About

In 2016 Scott Allison, Peter Le Breton, and Olivia Efthimiou held the First Biennial Heroism Science Conference in Perth, Australia. This inaugural event suggested to all that in order to fully understand heroic action, a deeper trans-paradigmatic approach would be required that could bring together methods and approaches of the arts, the humanities, and the sciences.

Heroism Science is a peer-reviewed open source research journal that aims to advance heroism studies theory, research, and application from a broad range of disciplinary perspectives to researchers and the broader community.

Contact

Ari Kohen
akohen2@unl.edu

Sponsors

  • Harris Center for Judaic Studies
  • Forsythe Family Program on Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs