Editor’s note: Maddie North attended ASBHM for the first time in 2019. She was kind enough to contribute this post about her experiences at the conference.
ASBHM 2019 was held in Christchurch this year and what a wonderful environment to have as your first conference presenting experience!
I knew that this one would be a nice gathering of people with a strong student representation, so it was less intimidating than the previous conferences I have attended.
One thing that is difficult about conferences is making a decision about which talks and streams you attend. My decisions were mainly made up for me as the Misinformation Lab were presenting in a lot of the streams and so obviously supporting everyone in the lab was important.
Day One
Day one was a nice easy day as in the morning were workshops and then there was a keynote. Jeffrey Braithwaite made a great point about the importance of researching the way that we do things in the field rather than researching the way that we think things are done. Academics are more disconnected from the field than we like to think, and this is something that needs to be considered if we want to make real change. Another key theme from the conference as a whole was the need for interdisciplinary collaboration.
Lab member Anna Jackson presented on day one and killed it at her very first conference. I can’t imagine getting up and presenting my fourth-year research, and she should be very proud of herself for how well she did. [Editor’s note you can see the slides from Anna’s talk here]
Anna killing it at @ASBHM1 discussing profiles of CAM beliefs #ASBHM2019 pic.twitter.com/kWxV4ErYLo
— Madelon North (@madelonnorth) February 13, 2019
One thing that I am a surprising advocate for is attending social events, however I am also an advocate of knowing your limits and not going to things if you absolutely don’t want to. The Wednesday after you landed from America the day before was not an opportune moment for socialising and that is okay. From all accounts the Peers Connect event was a success.
Accurate representation of how I feel flying from SPSP to Christchurch for @ASBHM1 . Best stay away from me for 12 hours at least. I feel @annaklas_ may be in the same boat ❄️🛫🔥 pic.twitter.com/wtuViIdj2v
— Madelon North (@madelonnorth) February 11, 2019
Day Two
Day Two and it was my turn to present. [Editor’s note you can see the slides from Maddie’s talk here]. I have only ever spoken about my research in one other place in front of people and it was to about eight people I knew. Presenting to 20-ish people you don’t know is highly intimidating, alas the world didn’t implode. I learned that even though I think I know absolutely nothing about my topic and area, after 9 months of researching it you do have some things stick in your brain. Also, that people just want to see you do well, at a small conference like this one the people really just want you to succeed.
First conference presentation done @ASBHM1 ✔️ although it appears I’ve taken @emilyandthelime suggestion to dance your thesis a bit too seriously here 💃🏼 https://t.co/Ch7MDa3OMx
— Madelon North (@madelonnorth) February 13, 2019
Everyone else from the lab presented on this day as well, wrapping up all the cool stuff that has been happening over the last year and it was nice to be there to be a part of it.
Nearly convinced to get the flu vaccine, changing lives @emilyandthelime #ASBHM2019 pic.twitter.com/cipHDJPxvM
— Madelon North (@madelonnorth) February 14, 2019
Thread about how the #misinformationlab has been doing cool things at #ASBHM2019 what a pleasure to be a part of such a cool lab https://t.co/UJh67hA8qk
— Madelon North (@madelonnorth) February 14, 2019
Of course, there were also from fascinating presentations from non-lab members as well 🙂
Discussing endometriosis and body image @jacquiemills_ #ASBHM2019 pic.twitter.com/V2SJB8Pqmx
— Madelon North (@madelonnorth) February 14, 2019
Efficacy beliefs have an influence on side effect reporting in medicine use @KateMacKrill #ASBHM2019 pic.twitter.com/hqVsnI6fZl
— Madelon North (@madelonnorth) February 14, 2019
The Thursday held the conference dinner and it was nice to interact with everyone in that context. Making friends is easier at these types of things because you have the opportunity to send so much time together over a short space of time.
Day Three
The last day of the conference was a blur, which ended with a bunch of people at the noodle markets in which I am fairly sure the entirety of Christchurch was also at.
I saw some fantastic presentations on Day Three
.@caitlinliddelow discussing medication adherence and self regulation #ASBHM2019 pic.twitter.com/QBfAn7i5vN
— Madelon North (@madelonnorth) February 14, 2019
Chris Kilby talking about stress has me reconsidering the PhD #ASBHM2019 pic.twitter.com/dPquy8QlOv
— Madelon North (@madelonnorth) February 14, 2019
Overall impressions
Overall ASBHM was probably the conference where I have been the most relaxed and held the least feelings of imposter syndrome. Maybe this is because this is my first time actually presenting at a conference I have been to and I felt a bit more like a legitimate researcher.
I think the main thing to remember as a student attending and presenting at these things is that they take an enormous amount of cognitive energy and it is normal to feel drained after them. From interacting with fully fledged academics, this feeling doesn’t appear to go away.
Thank you to all the organisers and everyone who came and presented their research, catch you all in Sydney for 2020!!
Oh and because of open science purposes, let’s have a plug for the ASBHM OSF meeting page. If you presented or want to check out the posters and slides that were there please go to osf.io/view/asbhm2019.