Prominent people and events in the development of occupational science in Europe: A personal perspective

Abstract

ABSTRACTUsing the metaphor of a patchwork quilt, this chronological account draws together key events and organisations in the development of occupational science in the European context and the birth of Occupational Science Europe. The first three OSE conferences in Plymouth (UK), Cork (Ireland) and Bournemouth (UK) are considered to be significant in the development of the network of occupational scientists that gathered in Hildesheim (Germany). The paper concludes with a reflection on the future direction of occupational science in Europe, considering the connections between occupational scientists across Europe and with the rest of the world, as well as connections from occupational scientists to occupational therapists and potential occupational scientists from other disciplines.