The Impact of Opportunity: Reflections of a TASA 2024 Bursary Recipient by Katja Strehle.
First of all, I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the postgraduate bursary I received from TASA that enabled my attendance at the 2024 TASA conference, held at Curtin University Perth from 25.11.24 to 29.11.
The conference provided a great mix of overviews of current developments within Sociology, thought-provoking keynote presentations, concurrent sessions and networking opportunities. This provided attendees with the chance to broaden one's horizons and in-depth exploration of specific topics. The hybrid character of the conference enabled people from all over the world to share their ideas and knowledge.
Highlights and Learning Outcomes
The postgraduate day was great: I attended the workshops on Presentation Skills, How to pitch new articles to The Conversation and attended the panel session on Pitching for Publication. The workshops were really useful and provided practical tips. I was not the only one who updated their slides after attending the session on presentation skills. The interactive nature of these sessions facilitated meaningful exchanges with other participants.
On Wednesday the keynote speech by Shakuntala Banaji stood out to me. Her address was particularly illuminating. Professor Banaji offered a fresh perspective on the interconnection between technologised disinformation and the spread of political violence.
The parallel sessions I attended were well-organized and fostered engaging discussions. The Wednesday afternoon session on ‘Migration, Ethnicity and Multiculturalism’ as well as the Thursday morning session by the ‘Gender and Sexualities’ thematic group were particularly memorable.
My own presentation within the Sociology of Religion group (see below picture) went well and I even stayed within the time limit without rushing! From subsequent conversations with online and in-person participants, it appears as if I managed to convey a new perspective on the impact the Enlightenment has on contemporary nonreligion in regard to gender.
Being made chair of a session within a ‘Sexuality and Gender’ thematic group session provided the opportunity to get more experience in public speaking, and moderation skills and challenged my flexibility and quick thinking when one of the online presenters unfortunately dropped off the Zoom call after their internet became unstable.
Networking
The ‘Welcome Reception’ was a great event, although I have to admit I did not get to finish the bingo, as I was held back from going around the room due to having engaging and interesting conversations with attendees. I really enjoyed taking meals outside, although I realized quickly that seeking shade, especially around lunchtime, was essential.
The ‘Inclusive Women’s Breakfast: Older Women, Junior Scholars’ was a great way to connect to other women scholars. As someone who started their PhD relatively late, it was great to hear from other established academics who shared similar paths. The speakers Cathy Martin and Cat Stevens managed to create a welcoming atmosphere that encouraged open discussion and exchange of ideas. Hopefully, some of these ideas will be transferred into practical applications in the future.
Impact
Through the diverse sessions and presentations, I was able to greatly expand my understanding in the fields of Gender and Sexuality as well as Migration, Ethnicity and Multiculturalism specifically. The opportunity to present my own work and engage with audience feedback has provided great insights that will shape my future research. Moreover, the conference environment facilitated meaningful connections with peers and provided ‘Early Career Researchers’ with practical tips.
Based on my experience, I would like to offer the following constructive feedback: scheduling the Thematic Group Meetings outside of lunch hours, to enable everyone to eat their lunch without rushing it. I would also like to see the time scheduled for the women’s Breakfast extended, as I felt the hour was not enough and with more time, there could have been a more solid foundation laid for transferring some of the ideas discussed into action.
The support through this bursary has been invaluable to my personal and academic development.
