The annual meeting of the Scotland Study Group took place at University of Edinburgh on 4^th September, co-hosted with Edinburgh’s Centre for African Studies and Global Health Policy Unit. The event was a resounding success with more than 30 participants and presentations from a mix of established researchers, PhD students and colleagues from civil society organisations. Here we hear from Jenni Argent, Doctoral Researcher in Climate Change and Humanitarian Relief, University of Edinburgh, on her experience of the day.

As an early-career researcher starting out in her mid-years, it can sometimes feel a bit strange to be presenting at events which include the showcasing of ECR projects. You are often mistaken for an organiser or experienced academic and, though you may be a bit more practised in covering up the presentation nerves, Imposter Syndrome is still all too real.

So, I arrived at the DSA Scotland Study Group Annual Symposium last month feeling a little excited but a lot more nervous and questioning the enthusiastic application to present I’d sent in during a more confident moment some months earlier.  It was my first presentation at an academic event outside of my school. Although ironically, it was inside my school, as the meeting was being hosted by the Centre of African Studies at the University of Edinburgh. I’d been eager to join the DSA Scotland study group for some time, and I was looking forward to meeting some of the people I’d had email correspondence from over the last few months. Nevertheless, I was nervous. 

But, like all these events, I wasn’t the only nervous one. There were several ECRs, some presenting, some not, some more experienced, some talking about their research to a wider audience for the first time. What was different though was the format of the day which gave plenty of time over for conversations which led to that all important ingredient so often lacking in rushed one-day events – human connection. A simple yet inspired game of ‘getting to know you’ research bingo not only broke the ice but got people up and about and engaged in deep conversations far more quickly than I’ve seen at other events. In the room there was a mix of highly experienced academics, ECRs and practitioners involved in a wide range of research and development projects all deep in conversation with “ooohs” and “ahhhhs” and “oh, that IS interesting”. In an era where there can be a lot of negative news about both academia and development the event felt positive and hopeful. As Minahil Wahid, a PhD student in Climate Change Law at the University of Strathclyde put it in a LinkedIn post and follow up email to me:

“I came away feeling inspired by the diversity of perspectives and research shared on the day. Grateful to be part of such an engaging community and looking forward to what’s ahead. What stood out to me was just how valuable it was to hear from fellow PhD students and early career researchers. It was such a supportive space that left me feeling even more motivated about my research journey!“

I’m not going to say my nerves dissipated completely when it was finally my turn to present, that I didn’t stumble a bit or feel unsure of my own legs when I went back to sit down, but the response from the audience did feel genuinely encouraging and enthusiastic. Like Minahil I am looking forward to being part of the DSA Scotland community, to making connections across Scotland and beyond, and to future equally dynamic and supportive events. Thank you to Benjamin Hunter, Graeme Young, Amrit Virk and Jean Benoît Falisse for organising such a great event.

Event co-organisers: Amrit Virk, Ben Hunter, Graeme Young and Jean-Benoît Falisse