SOLID Talks – Programme for Spring/Summer 2026
SOLID stands for “Social work and strengthening NGOs in development cooperation to treat drug addiction.” SOLID is an international project that unites researchers and practitioners who are dealing with the issues of drug use in Central Asia and China. The SOLID Talks series is an open discussion forum held every two weeks in fall/winter and spring/summer of each year.
The SOLID Talks invite researchers and practitioners to present current research, practical approaches, and innovative organizations that deal with drug use and social work in Central Asia and China. The meetings take place on Tuesdays and last one hour. SOLID Talks is open to anyone interested. Presentations can be given in English or Russian. The language of presentation will be indicated in the programme. Questions and programme suggestions can be sent to Ulla Pape (ulla.pape@th-nuernberg.de).
Zoom link for the SOLID Talks meeting on Tuesdays (14:00 CET):
https://th-nuernberg.zoom-x.de/j/66759437609
Meeting-ID: 66759437609
Programme
| Date | Topic | Presenter | Discussant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, 24 February 2026, 8:00 – 9:00 CET (Different time!) | Новые психоактивные вещества в Центральной Азии (презентация на русском языке, in Russian) | Guzalkhon Zakhidova, Uzbekistan |
Ulla Pape, Technische Hochschule Nürnberg Georg Simon Ohm (Germany) |
| Thursday, 17 March 2026, 14:00 – 15:00 CET | Gender-Based Violence Among Women from Vulnerable Groups, Including Women Living with HIV, Women Who Use Drugs, Sex Workers, and Transgender Women (in English) | Sholpan Primbetova, Global Health Research Center of Central (Kazakhstan) |
Katarzyna Kowalczyk, Global Public Health Network (Poland) |
| Tuesday, 28 April 2026, 14:00 – 15:00 CET | HIV/AIDS and Drug Use in Germany, Central Asia and China (in English) | Ingo Ilja Michels, Technische Hochschule Nürnberg Georg Simon Ohm (Germany) |
Aisuluu Shailoobek kyzy, Bishkek State University (Kyrgyzstan) |
| Tuesday, 19 May 2026, 14:00 – 15:00 CET | Developing Social Work Services in the Penitentiary System in Kyrgyzstan (in English) | Nurgul Musaeva, Bishkek State University (Kyrgyzstan) |
Heino Stöver, Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences (Germany) |
| Tuesday, 16 June 2026, 14:00 – 15:00 CET | Развитие социальной работы в Восточной Европе и Центральной Азии (презентация на русском языке, in Russian) | Nurgul Musaeva, Bishkek State University (Kyrgyzstan) |
Ulla Pape, Technische Hochschule Nürnberg Georg Simon Ohm (Germany) |
| Tuesday, 21 July 2026, 14:00 – 15:00 CET | Developing Professional Readiness of Social Workers to Work with PLHIV: Experience from Implementing a Training Module (in English) | Aisuluu Shailoobek kyzy, Bishkek State University (Kyrgyzstan) |
Larissa Steimle, Technische Hochschule Nürnberg Georg Simon Ohm (Germany) |
SOLID Talks – Programme for Fall/Winter 2025
SOLID stands for "Social work and strengthening NGOs in development cooperation to treat drug addiction." SOLID is an international project that unites researchers and practitioners who are dealing with the issues of drug use in Central Asia and China. The SOLID Talks series is an open discussion forum held every two weeks in fall/winter and spring/summer of each year.
SOLID Talks invites researchers and practitioners to present current research, practical approaches, and innovative organizations that deal with drug use and social work in Central Asia and China. The meetings take place on Thursdays and last one hour. SOLID Talks is open to anyone interested. Presentations can be given in English or Russian. The language of presentation will be indicated in the programme. Questions and programme suggestions can be sent to Ulla Pape (ulla.pape@th-nuernberg.de).
Zoom link for the SOLID Talks meetings on Thursdays (starting on 2 October 2025):
https://th-nuernberg.zoom-x.de/j/63830938655
Meeting-ID: 63830938655
Programme
| Date | Topic | Presenter | Discussant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday, 2 October 2025, 14:00 – 15:00 CET | New Psychoactive Substances in Central Asia and China (in English) | Mariya Prilutskaya, Semey State Medical University (Kazakhstan) |
Nadezhda Cherchenko, International Society of Substance Use Professionals (ISSUP) (Kazakhstan) |
| Thursday, 16 October 2025, 14:00 – 15:00 CET | NGO Involvement in Drug Treatment and Infectious Disease Prevention in Central Asia and China (in English) | Jarkyn Shadymanova, American University of Central Asia (Kyrgyzstan) |
Zhanna Kravchenko, Södertörn University (Sweden), TBC |
| Thursday, 6 November 2025, 14:00 – 15:00 CET | Breaking the Silence: Confronting Stigma and Substance Use Disorder (in English) | Yifan Xu, Shanghai Mental Health Center (China) |
Ulla Pape, Technische Hochschule Nürnberg Georg Simon Ohm (Germany) |
| Thursday, 27 November 2025, 12:00 – 13:00 CET (Different Time!) | Invisible and Ignored: Women and Drug Use in Central Asia + NGO Involvement (in Russian) | Katarzyna Kowalchyk, Global Public Health Network (Poland) |
Jarkyn Shadymanova, American University of Central Asia (Kyrgyzstan) |
| Thursday, 4 December 2025, 14:00 – 15:00 CET | Drug Addiction Treatment and Probation in Kyrgyzstan (in English) | Tynchtyk Estebes Uulu, Bishkek State University (Kyrgyzstan) |
Ingo Ilja Michels, Technische Hochschule Nürnberg Georg Simon Ohm (Germany), TBC |
| Thursday, 18 December 2025, 14:00 – 15:00 CET | Women in the Penitentiary System in Kazakhstan (in English) | Dalida Mukasheva, L. N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University (Kazakhstan) |
Gavin Slade, Nazarbayev University (Kazakhstan), TBC |
SOLID Talks: New Psychoactive Substances. Studies from Central Asia and China
Mariya Prilutskaya, together with discussant Nadezhda Cherchenko, presented key insights from the book "New Psychoactive Substances: Studies from Central Asia and China". If you missed the event, you can watch the recording here.
SOLID Talks: NGO Involvement in Drug Treatment and Infectious Disease Prevention
Jarkyn Shadymanova presents her book "NGO Involvement in Drug Treatment and Infectious Disease Prevention in Central Asia and China". You can download the book here and watch the webinar here.
SOLID Talks: Breaking the Silence
Yifan Xu and Hang Su of Shanghai Mental Health Center (China) present their newly published book "Breaking the Silence". Confronting Stigma and Substance Use Disorder" (2025) which is available open access. You can watch the recording here.
SOLID Talks: NGO and Women and Drugs (in Russian)
Jarkyn Shadymanova and Kasia Kowalczyk presented their newly published books on NGOs in the Drug Field in Central Asia and Women who Use Drugs. You can watch the talk here and download books here:
SOLID Talks: Probation Services in Kyrgyzstan
Tynchtyk Estebes uluu (Kyrgyzstan) presented the findings of his doctoral research on the probation services in Kyrgyzstan. Part of his research is published in the publication "Drug Cultures and Policy in Germany, Central Asia and China," available in the NOMOS library:
You can watch the presentation here.
SOLID Talks: Women in the Penitentiary System in Kazakhstan
Dalida Mukasheva (Eurasian L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Kazakhstan) gave a presentation on "Women in the penitentiary system in Kazakhstan". A recent article by Dalida is available for download on the SOLID website:
You can watch the presentation here.
SOLID Talks: NSP in Central Asia
Guzalkhon Zakhidova gave a presentation about New Psychoactive Substances in Central Asia.
You can download Guzal's paper from here:
You can watch the presentation here.
SOLID Talks: GBV Among Women from Vulnerable Groups
Sholpan Primbetova was discussing "Gender-based violence among women from vulnerable groups, including women living with HIV, women who use drugs, sex workers, and transgender women" in Kazakhstan.
You can watch the presentation here.