Inspired by @writingmonicker, I wanted to reflect on my first #ASA2023!
💐 The conference was overwhelmingly positive for me, so I wanted to express gratitude to all the organizers, mentors, friends, and kind souls that made it so.
💡But, as someone focused on social change, I pondered a few things that would make #ASA a more equitable experience for all.
📝 Finally, I wanted to process in public ideas for #sociology students (aka: me in the future) to make the most out of it!
1) I went to some incredibly thoughtful and well-organized sessions that helped me establish the type of scholarship I want to do in the future. The organizers put time into crafting the panel, and it showed! 2 standouts:
@chrjang & Jennifer Candipan’s #UrbanSociology II panel was possibly the best panel I’ve ever seen at a conference.
Ethan Raker / Kathryn Connell / Lisa Marie Rodriguez’s panel on Disasters and Housing showcased the bright future of #envrionmentalsociology!
2) Something that entirely changed my experience of the conference was ASA Section Mentor Matching. I learned about this from an upper-year #demography student in my program who circulated a link before the conference. I didn’t know what these were, but I signed up, bc why not.
📝 I would ABSOLUTELY sign up for these mentor programs again and would not go to the conf without doing so!!
As someone who thinks about selection in social processes, mentors who *select into* this program are amazing…
2b) …because they are folks who *want* to help young scholars make sense of the academy and the stuff that surrounds it.
It also provides a structured way to facilitate social interaction, which is SO important for those of us who are less comfortable taking up space in these networking settings bc of our social position/identities. (Or, if you’re just awkward, like I am!)
💡 I’d recommend that ASA clarify what these mentorship programs are and how they’re helpful *within* conf communications.
2c) I would also like to give a huuuge thank you to the folks who tirelessly organized various #ASA2023 mentor sessions, including @elenavanstee, S. Michael Gaddis, Megan Evans, Margaret Gough Courtney, @Josefinaflores, and many, many others! The program is truly appreciated by younger scholars.
💐 We are lucky to have folks like you all (along with all the mentors who signed up) who care about building these important relationships in #sociology.
3) As an urban sociologist, I could not think of a better place to have #ASA2023 than Philly!! Honoring the legacy of DuBois, but placing us in neighborhoods that were affordable, walkable and transit accessible.
💡Affordability of the city was v important for me as a grad student - even after splitting hotels/costs and having a grant from my program to come. We pay upfront then get reimbursed later, which makes expensive cities hard, esp for those who need to think before making large payouts.
3b) Also, access via transit from my university made it possible for folks to come on a daily basis, and brought in folks who may not have attended otherwise.
💐 Thank you to all the grad friends and kind souls (on here too!) who gave food recs, showed me a good time in the city and your own neighborhoods, and fueled my love of the urban.
📝 I was especially excited that #ASA2023 was next to Chinatown!! where I ate *every single day* and exhausted my supply of cash by the end of the conf 🍜🥟
4) I wanted to conclude with ideas for #ASA2024 and for #academicchatter in general, as we continue to gather in conference settings.
💡 Think carefully about scheduling & space. Receptions in the evening in cramped indoor spaces can be 1) exclusive of those who have care work to perform/are parents 2) overwhelming and scary to those who are still trying to be careful re: COVID. Can receptions happen during work hours? Can they happen in spaces with outdoor access? Can we connect in other ways?
4b) Another point about scheduling was that I often found that sessions that pulled from the same audience were scheduled at the same time on the same day. I missed out on the work of amazing people in my area because of this! I wish I could have seen a few more sessions.
📝 One tip for choosing sessions was that I sometimes followed my #ASA2023 mentor to the next session (after our chat). Every single time, that session was amazing - bc my mentor knew the field and had a “taste” for great work.
4c) One last thought:
💡 Making knowledge explicit about conferences can level experiences.
Ie, what is the dress code? What are the expectations for events? I showed up on Day 1 way overdressed because I wasn’t sure what to wear - multiple people asked me if I was on the job market, which I was not.
Perhaps a guide ahead of time as to what each type of session WAS would have been useful when I was unsure if I was allowed to go to section business meetings? (But I know this takes work to do!)
5) All that said, I am so glad I went to my first disciplinary #sociology conference! I am buzzing with learning and excitement about ideas, my love for the urban, and new connections with like-minded folks. Thank you #ASA2023 for a great experience!
I’ll end with a photo of the Percy Street public art project - big thanks to Jason who showed us around your neighborhood on the last day of the conference. I hope to be back in Philly soon!
Angela Li