Last week, Shishi Liu and Jan von Schlieben-Troschke were invited to Brussels to participate in the International Product Safety Week (IPSW) student mentorship program. This initiative, launched by the International Consumer Product Health & Safety Organization (ICPHSO) and the European Commission, pairs students with experienced professionals in the consumer product safety field. After a series of insightful discussions and presentations, Shishi and Jan returned to Berlin with new research ideas, memorable experiences, and valuable connections in the product safety community.

 

Here’s how Shishi and Jan reflect on their key takeaways from the event:

 

Shishi: “This unforgettable four-day event, which included two impactful conferences, was both meaningful and inspiring. The conferences brought together key stakeholders in the consumer product safety field to exchange insights on emerging safety challenges and the upcoming General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR). I also had the privilege of meeting my two exceptional mentors, Thomas Partner and Cameron Crowley, who generously shared their expertise on product recalls and safety, along with invaluable perspectives on the new legislation.”

 

Jan: “When consumers buy products, they assume those products are safe for use, but too often, this is not the case. Addressing these safety concerns requires collaboration among diverse stakeholders. The IPSW and ICPHSO International Symposium provided a rare chance to connect with experts from industry, regulatory bodies, and academia to address these issues. Beyond gaining new research ideas and understanding the real-world relevance of my research projects, I had the opportunity to meet many fascinating professionals. Special thanks to my mentors, David Kosnoff and Cameron Crowley, for introducing me to these connections.”

 

A heartfelt thank you to Shishi and Jan's mentors - Cameron Crowley, David Kosnoff, and Thomas Partner - as well as to ICPHSO and the European Commission for making this unique experience possible.