TASA Conference Day 4

I really enjoyed the gala dinner last night.

Great venue, fantastic company, and lots of dancing!

I was lucky enough to sit next to Raewyn Connell (!) and also met a host of other nice people. Everyone was stunned at my story that this was my first time on a campus and two professors suggested (with Raewyn agreeing) that I should write a short piece for the TASA newsletter about my experience. I might just do that... One guy just couldn't get over the fact that before this week I had never been in a lecture theatre yet I'm half way through my degree.

Anyway, it was a really good night and I managed to get home before 12 and therefore did not turn into a pumpkin!

So I was up bright and early this morning to pack, check out of the hotel and make my way to the Monash campus at Caulfield for the last time. This whole "being on campus" thing is fun, but if I am to be totally honest, it would not be practical for me to study on campus at this point in time. The flexibility of online study out-weighs any negatives in terms of lack of interaction with staff and students. The experience this week has been fantastic though and I am so thankful that I was given the opportunity.

I decided to mix it up and attend a youth studies thematic session this morning. Three speakers presented very different papers but they were all quite interesting. The first was about the change in transition to work and the challenges associated with it, the second was a bit more theoretical and looked at an historical perspective of the capacity for autonomy for youth (regulation v self-governance), and the third related a project of gathering the 100 most influential works in the study of youth and young adulthood. These sessions, like all others I have attended, also incorporate time for questions and discussion afterwards and sometimes that is fascinating in itself.

The last of the large plenary sessions consisted of four prominent sociologists talking about their journeys through their working life and how universities (and in particular technology) have changed over the last 30 years or so. Reflections on gender balance in faculty (and the difference in the roles for women), technology - the introduction of tippex, the photocopier, personal computers and the ways in which this has affected teaching and research, breaking down disciplinary boundaries, and whether sociology communities are too self-referential and does that affect their relevance. All of this is very interesting, illuminating, and practical in terms of any future studies or research I might be involved in. Great stuff!

In the second last session of the conference I continued on with the youth studies theme and listened to three great talks. One explored a study they conducted on 16/17 year olds and how they were 'planning' for the future - their thoughts on kids, marriage etc - surprisingly they just about all wanted marriage and kids by their mid 20s. The next session was equally interesting and was about rural & remote kids deferring university at a much higher rate than their urban counterparts. The feature of this presentation was that for the first time I got up the courage to ask a question in the forum afterwards...it only took me 4 days! The last one was about youth in Cambodia and sort of followed the rural/urban theme in terms of their opportunities. All were fascinating, as always!

The final session looked at social theory from the point of view of three different panelists. They discussed issues such as the crisis in sociology with the reduction of critique, slow versus fast theory (they liked slow!), and finally the similarities between celebrities and the way academics are forced to be 'stars' and out-perform each other in order to gain attention in an information saturated world. Another great session.

Well, I only have farewell drinks then it is back on the train to get to the airport and the trip home. It has been an exceptional experience. I am proud of myself that I attended every session, was never late, always stayed til the end and was generally well behaved (I didn't get drunk last night but I probably did dance badly!)

Everything this week has met my expectations so I couldn't ask for more - it has been wonderful.

TASA Conference Day 3

Although I tried very hard, and after walking around for almost 2 hours, I was unable to find anything to buy last night. Not too many shops were open so that may have had something to do with it! One thing I should mention is that I love the train system here. I have mastered the Myki card and have never had to wait more than a few minutes for a train - great way to travel.

I feel like I was part of history today. Prof. Raewyn Connell, perhaps the best known and most renowned Australian sociologist, gave the keynote address this morning on the history of Australian sociology and TASA over the last 50 years. Raewyn was a student in the 60's and regaled us with stories of the early days and the establishment of sociology as a stand alone discipline within Australian universities. She started with a picture of 1963, playing music from the era, and even passing around some of her old 45s as she demonstrated the twist!

She finished her presentation by announcing she is soon to retire and urged us to keep "fighting" for sociology as we all sang together "For the times they are a changin'". Who said I missed out on the 60s - we saw it back in action today at TASA in 2013! If you get the chance, you should google Raewyn - a very interesting woman. She was given a standing ovation.

A hard act to follow...but the next concurrent session I chose to attend was on digital sociology and I was so glad I did. Four great speakers talked about digital sociology, the first in terms of using it, researching with it, researching it, and reflecting on it (the pros & cons). The second speaker had an amazing   look at Google Glass and what that means for sociology in all sorts of ways, the third speaker had some interesting insights into google algorithms and the last speaker gave a critique of the ABC show Q&A in relation to Public Sphere Theory. They were all really interesting...I am learning so much!

After lunch I decided to stick with the digital sociology theme and attended another session on this topic. Once again four speakers with four great presentations. They discussed digital sociology using Pinterest as a case study, ethical considerations in online environments, the digitalisation of ethical consumption (aps), and the change in mobile technology from 'dumb' phones to 'smart' phones and tablets. (It reminded me of Olivia screwing up her nose at Gary's flip phone and saying "but it doesn't do anything Grumps!")   Once again, I found them all of value in one way or another and was glad I attended. 

In the final session of the day we got to listen to three panelists who spoke about interdisciplinary work - some really interesting case studies eg. sociologists and engineers working together on water sustainability issues. 

It is the big gala dinner tonight at the members dining room of the MCG - should be interesting. My ankle is still massively swollen after soccer last week so I'm not sure how much dancing in the high heels will take place!

 

TASA Conference Day 2

The adventure continues...

In the first of the "real" sessions of the conference, I have now experienced a large lecture theatre. The day started with the presidential address by Prof. Jo Lindsay who gave a bit of an overview of the 50 year history of TASA. I found it very informative and interesting and it also provided some insights for the future direction of sociology in Australia that includes inter-disciplinary work and work with business. 

The next session was a keynote address from Prof. John Holmwood (University of Nottingham) who gave a somewhat depressing view of higher education in England where universities no longer serve the public interest but perhaps serve the interests of the market through benefits to individuals rather than the collective society - fascinating stuff though.

After a quick break for morning tea, it was then on to the first concurrent session where I agonised over which group to join but eventually decided to go with "Neo-liberalism: Australia & the world". We had 4 speakers - all excellent - talking on a range of topics including Neo-liberalism in Chile, redistribution of wealth from core nations (eg US) to periphery nations (eg China), growing inequality in housing in Australia, and Rudd's stimulus spending and what it said about the state. I really enjoyed the session!

After a break for lunch where I had a chat with a sociologist from New Zealand (I do occasionally chat with people!), it was back into another concurrent session and I was so happy with my first choice that I stuck with the economic theme. This time the 4 speakers - also excellent - spoke about the mining tax revolt, the wage form after the GFC, sovereign monetary spaces (think Euro), and mobile money in Kenya. The last one about mobile money was particularly interesting - 70% of all Kenyans use this form of money transfer via mobile phones that bypasses banking...sort of like a cashless society.

It was time to eat again - they are certainly keeping us well fed and watered! A pretty good effort with about 430 delegates at the conference.

I must admit the afternoon keynote speech went a bit over my head. It was by another UK sociologist - Prof. Celia Lury - who spoke of inventive methods. I got most of it but at times it was a bit obscure for me! I may not have been the only one as at one stage those sitting around me started smiling as we realised the weird noise emanating from the row in front was one of the more senior delegates snoring as he had dropped off to sleep!

All in all another really successful day. I have a free night tonight so I think I might see if there are any shops open and give the old credit card a work out. When in Melbourne...

TASA Conference Day 1

After a brisk walk from my hotel to Flinders St station, I managed to successfully negotiate the intricacies of the Melbourne train system and found myself deposited at Caulfield - Monash University campus.

I was very early so availed myself of the opportunity to wander around the campus to keep warm if nothing else as it was pretty chilly! I registered for the conference and picked up my "showbag" that included the conference program, a coffee cup, some lollies and a torch (!) to name a few of the delights to be found inside.

The program then began! 

We had 7 sessions throughout the day with a range of speakers talking about being sociologists outside the academic setting:

1. The Executive Director of the Australian Research Council

2. A working sociologist who works for the DSTO - Defence Science & Technology Organsation

3. A panel of employers who employ sociologists - Govt, NGO & private sector

4. A commentary on "doing sociology in the Big Wide World"

5. A director of an employment agency

6. Writing for work-based sociology

7. A panel of working sociologists who shared their experiences 

It was a very interesting day - with maybe 100 or so predominantly post-grad students looking at their options for coming employment. Delegates were from universities all over Australia so it was a varied lot. As an undergraduate I felt somewhat of an interloper but was very grateful of the opportunity to be here. I also felt I was coming at the topic from the other direction as they are academics looking to work on projects whereas I work on projects and am looking at gaining academic skills to complement that work!

Tonight we have welcome drinks between 6-8 pm and then I will be back on the train (with my trusty Myki card). The main conference begins tomorrow. 

TASA Conference Eve

Well here I am in Melbourne. Had a pretty good flight from Newcastle with only a 30 minute delay while we waited for a crew member to arrive...maybe it was the pilot in which case the wait was totally justified! I looked over the choices for the concurrent sessions that will be running from Tue to Thu - so many papers and sessions to choose from - I am spoilt for choice! Some really interesting topics about a wide range of sociological topics - I'm sure they will all be interesting.

On arrival at Tullamarine I grabbed the Skybus to get to town - great service - they bring you right into the city and then transfer you to a smaller bus and take you to your hotel - all for $28 return...bargain! I am staying at The Victoria Hotel - a lovely old hotel that has perhaps seen better days but is very comfortable and certainly centrally located.

I got here in time to see the Jets second half - how awesome is Taggart? Then went for a walk through Chinatown which is nearby, grabbed a bite to eat, a bottle of wine to bring back to the room, bought a Myki card to access public transport tomorrow, and then back to the room to settle in for the night.

Tomorrow is the start of the TASA Conference with Postgraduate Day. Thankfully they also let poor undergraduates such as myself attend - I can't wait. The program says it is all about "Becoming a Sociology Practitioner" as opposed to being an academic sociologist. I think there will be presentations from employers and some working sociologsts. Should be very interesting.

My first challenge for tomorrow will be to negotiate the Melbourne public transport system, find Monash Uni, and then find the venue for the conference...wish me luck!

TASA Conference

Well I'm off on another adventure, this time by myself, and of an entirely different kind. I was lucky enough to win an Academic Development Award as part of the Vice-Chancellor's Scholar Program at UNE (University of New England) which has allowed me to attend the 2013 annual conference for TASA (The Australian Sociological Society).

I am so excited! The conference is in Melbourne at Monash University and ironically it will be the first time I step foot on a university campus (with the exception of using sporting facilities lol). That's right! I'm halfway through my degree and yet I have never actually gone to UNE, though it looks very pretty in photos (!)

So, the plan is to catch a flight tomorrow afternoon from Newcastle to Melbourne where the adventure will begin...can't wait!