Nexus

The Impact of Opportunity: Reflections of a TASA 2024 Bursary Recipient by Rosie Shorter

Perhaps the most consistent aspect of my Early Career Researcher experience has been the chaos of juggling what feels like 101 casual contracts, with all their different timecard and pay roll systems, and then somehow also finding brain space to house about 204 ideas for future projects. Within that chaos, finding both the time and the money to attend conferences is not always easy. This is a roundabout way of saying that I’m incredibly grateful to have received a precarious work bursary from TASA this year.

In the many unknowns that come with being precariously employed, receiving this bursary was a little slice of calm. I’m very thankful to have received this support, and to have had the opportunity to present my in-process work on reading memoirs as a way to understand religious harm and religious exit. This presentation and the feedback received will inform my work researching (and teaching) about religious and spiritual harm. While this work can be heavy, I’m looking forward to picking it up again in the new year. 

With no tidy segue, a quick nod now to Claire Coleman’s keynote on Speculative Fiction as a Vector for Social Change and The Career Stage Workshops, which were highlights of the 2024 programme for me. Coleman’s presentation was refreshing and – among other things – reminded me that I must make time for reading fiction. The workshops provided time and space to sit with colleagues, to learn and share together. I appreciated being invited to take part in a panel discussion on publishing and to have the chance to attend an informative session on writing grant applications.

Thank you again for this bursary. I now have at least another 25 ideas to add to the existing 204, so watch me step into 2025 with sparkling enthusiasm and a very full to-do list.