SHARE Data User Seminar Promotes Research Infrastructure Use in Latvia

On 5 December 2025, the Institute of Public Health at Rīga Stradiņš University organised a SHARE data user seminar to promote the utilisation of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) data infrastructure in scientific research in Latvia. The training was organised within the framework of the ERDF project "Rīga Stradiņš University's Participation in the Horizon Europe Programme". The event brought together researchers, creating a platform for knowledge exchange and fostering collaboration.

The opening remarks were delivered by Aija Bukova-Žideļūna, Assistant Professor, Senior Researcher, and SHARE Country Team Leader in Latvia at Rīga Stradiņš University, who introduced the objectives, significance, and contribution of the SHARE study. The seminar featured presentations by two international experts: Dr Fabio Franzese, researcher at the SHARE Berlin Institute and SHARE database management representative, and Professor Antanas Kairys, SHARE Project Coordinator in Lithuania at Vilnius University. Dr Franzese, representing the SHARE central office, shared his expertise in data management and analysis, with particular attention to SHARE data structure, documentation, and physical health indicators in the database. Professor Kairys, who heads the Applied Psychology Laboratory at the Institute of Psychology at Vilnius University, presented the psychological and mental health indicators included in the SHARE database, and shared practical recommendations on SHARE data utilisation and analysis using various data analysis software programmes.

Among the seminar participants were also senior researchers from the Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences at the University of Latvia and representatives of the European Social Survey (ESS) Latvian National Coordinating Group, Jurijs Ņikišins and Mareks Niklass. The seminar provided a valuable opportunity for SHARE and ESS research representatives to exchange experiences in organising and conducting surveys, as well as to discuss future forms of collaboration and joint event plans for 2026. Cross-project dialogue promotes synergy between different European research infrastructures and strengthens the capacity of Latvian researchers to implement cross-national comparative studies.

The Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) is an international research infrastructure which, through interviews with residents aged over 50, collects information on the impact of health, social, economic, demographic, and political factors on population ageing. Its data provide valuable information on societal ageing processes and their impact on European societies. For more information, see: https://share-eric.eu/

The European Social Survey (ESS) is an academic survey that measures the attitudes, beliefs, and behaviour patterns of European populations in more than 30 countries. Since 2001, the ESS has provided the highest quality data on social, political, and moral attitudes in Europe, promoting understanding of societal change and supporting evidence-based policy-making. For more information, see: https://www.europeansocialsurvey.org/about-ess