MobEx Conference January 2024
ARC-GM Full-time PhD Fellow, Helena Bilsborough, blogs about her experience of attending the MobEx conference in January 2024.
Through my PhD work I had the opportunity to attend the Mobility and Exercise conference (MobEx) in Trondheim, Norway that ran from the 26th to the 28th of January 2024. Attending conferences has always been an exciting prospect for me, and MobEx is a particularly great conference to attend. This conference is a smaller conference, filled with friendly faces who are working in similar areas and can provide feedback and ideas for your research due to the breadth of knowledge held by those in the room. It was great to hear about the innovative methodologies being used and the cutting-edge research occurring within our research area, with each session offering opportunities for learning and discussion.
Whilst nerve-wracking, one of the key moments of the conference was being able to present my own research. The attendees were such an encouraging and friendly group that it was a great opportunity to present in front of others for the first time, as previously I had only presented posters to very few people. Being able to present my PhD work to an audience of my peers really ignited my own excitement in my work and gave me a sense of pride and accomplishment. The opportunity to present my work to this audience and receive their feedback and thoughts on my findings up to that point was invaluable. It reinforced the importance of clear communication and strengthened my confidence as a presenter.
In addition to expanding my knowledge in this topic area and getting feedback on my own work, the conference also provided me with ample opportunities for networking and forging key connections. I was able to engage in discussions with fellow attendees, where we could exchange ideas and I could hear about their own experiences in academia, a learning opportunity that was incredibly important as I come to the end of my PhD. Since the conference, I have added attendees on LinkedIn and have taken the contact details of others, with the idea that I can reach out to them to discuss potential collaborations in the future.
Overall, I am filled with gratitude for the opportunities this conference afforded me. As I return to my PhD work in my final year, I do so with renewed enthusiasm and a deeper appreciation for my work and the other work within this area. I have come away with knowledge, skills and ideas that I can put into practice as my academic career progresses, and I particularly look forward to utilising my newly founded presenting skills in future conferences to larger audiences from multiple disciplines.
Find out more about our Helena's Project and the ARC-GM PhD Fellowships here.
Published 25/07/2024