On December 18, 2025 the Faculty of Social Sciences at Eötvös Loránd University hosted its autumn Scientific Students’ Circles (TDK) Conference.
This event is a long-standing tradition in university life, offering students the opportunity to present their research, showcase their academic interests, and compete within the scientific community. Beyond fostering the next generation of scholars, the conference serves as an inspiring environment where young researchers can build connections and gain fresh perspectives.
This year’s conference featured four sections covering diverse areas of social sciences. Based on the jury’s evaluation, several students received recognition for their outstanding work.
Social Studies and Sociology
First prize: Andrea Polefkó (Sociology BA, ELTE TáTK), title of the presentation: Autizmus mint identitás
Special prize: Éva Furka (Social Work MA, ELTE TáTK), title of the presentation: Szociális területen dolgozók stresszkezelési szokásai
Economics
First prize (joint first prize): Péter Botond Fazekas (Applied Economics BSc, ELTE TáTK), title of the presentation: The Developmental Reversal: How Inclusive Institutions Initially Fuel, then Curb, a Nation’s Carbon Emissions, and Flórián Varga (Applied Economics BSc, ELTE TáTK), title of the presentation: Borravalózás a digitális korban
Second prize: María Sánchez (Applied Economics BSc, ELTE TáTK), title of the presentation: Financial Sustainability of the Colombian Health System: Thirty Years After Law 100 of 1993
Third prize: Márk Ebneth (Applied Economics BSc, ELTE TáTK), title of the presentation: The Potential Economic Impact of 500,000 Ukrainian Refugees on Hungary’s Economic Performance
Special prize: Korkem Alibek (Applied Economics BSc, ELTE TáTK), title of the presentation: Challenges to Women’s Self–Confidence When Entering the Finance Sector: The Role of Male–Dominated Corporate Culture and Perceived Judgment
International Relations and Politics
First prize (joint first prize): Muskan Dharmendra Gaikwad (International Relations BA, ELTE TáTK), title of the presentation: Comparative Analysis of African Coup d’états: The Role of Military and Foreign Involvement in the Sahel, and Giovanna Micalef (International Relations BA, ELTE TáTK), title of the presentation: Crippling Without Toppling: A Goal–Relative Analysis of the Effectiveness of U.S. Sanctions on Venezuela (2015–2025)
Special prize: Léo Palasti (Violence et politique MA, NCEP, Paris), title of the presentation: From the Screen to the Street for Governance: The Ultimate Activism
Minority Policy and Cultural Anthropology
First prize (joint first prize): Alina Park (Cultural Anthropology MA, ELTE TáTK), title of the presentation: The Descendants of „Unreliable People”: Identity and Memory Narratives of the Koryo–saram diaspora in Bishkek, and Sárffy Kata Rita (Kulturális antropológia MA, ELTE TáTK), title of the presentation: Walking on Threshold: Liminality on the Camino de Santiago
Second prize (joint first prize): Anujin Amarbayar (Cultural Anthropology MA, ELTE TáTK), title of the presentation: Authenticity and Energy Exchange: An Ethnographic Study of Contemporary Esoteric Practitioners, and Faith Ekim (Ethnic and Minority Policy MA, ELTE TáTK),title of the presentation: Memorial Cultures of the Muslim and Jewish Presence in Budapest (1526–1699): An Analysis of the Political, Cultural, and Geopolitical Layers of Urban Identity
The success of the conference was greatly supported by the supervisors, reviewers, and jury members who provided professional guidance in preparing and evaluating the papers. The ELTE TáTK TDT extends its heartfelt thanks to everyone involved in this process:
Orsolya Barna, Ráhel Csizmadia, Diána Dunai, Márton Gerő, Napsugár Kerek, Máté Kiss, Zsófia Kollányi, Melinda Kovai, Endre Kovács, Csaba Kucsera, Karolina Lendák-Kabók, Ferenc Dávid Markó, Richárd Papp, József Ráti, Éva Eszter Szabó, András Szalai, Judit Szécsi, András Székely-Doby, Béla Soltész, Zoltán Gábor Szűcs-Zágoni, Oleg Tankovsky.
Special thanks go to Zsuzsanna Bak and Árpád Takács.