From June 21 to 25, 2026, the 28th Biennial Meeting of the International Society for the Study of Behavioural Development (ISSBD) was held in Incheon, South Korea. The conference brought together experts and scholars from the global developmental science community to exchange the latest research findings and cutting-edge issues in human development studies.

Dr. Zixuan Wang from the School of Education was invited to attend the conference and presented her research findings during the meeting, under the title: "What Predicts How Children Defend? A Machine Learning Analysis of Two Types of Peer Defending."

The study focused on peer defending behaviors in school bullying contexts. Peer defending refers to the proactive actions taken by children to assist bullied peers when witnessing bullying incidents. Drawing on longitudinal child development data and employing machine learning analytical methods, the study explored the key factors influencing the formation of two distinct types of defending behaviors. The research findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying anti-bullying efforts in schools and provide empirical support for the future development of more targeted school-based intervention and prevention programs.

The International Society for the Study of Behavioural Development (ISSBD) was established in 1969 and is one of the most influential academic organizations in the field of developmental science worldwide. Guided by its core philosophy of "People, Places, and Practices," the Society is committed to fostering academic exchange and collaboration among researchers from diverse backgrounds. Currently, ISSBD has thousands of members from over 70 countries and regions, with research covering multiple disciplines including psychology, education, sociology, and public health, all working together to advance theoretical innovation and practical application in human development research.

The participation in the ISSBD international conference and the presentation of research outcomes demonstrated the School of Education's continued commitment to research in child development and school bullying intervention. It also further facilitated academic exchange and collaboration with international scholars, thereby enhancing the School's international influence in related research fields.