"my first conference!"
Back from my first-ever conference—and what a wild, wonderful experience it was!
the journey
Last week, I had the opportunity to present at the International Communication Association Conference (ICA 2025), which took place in Denver, Colorado. It was my first time in the city—and my first visit to the U.S. in quite a while.
Admittedly, traveling to the U.S. right now comes with mixed feelings. There are lots of things unfolding—politically and socially—that are deeply concerning. That said, I had a surprisingly positive experience overall. The atmosphere at ICA was energizing, the conversations intellectually rewarding, and the exchange with fellow researchers just so motivating.
I really felt—for the first time—real belonging as an academic. That was quite moving!
What made the trip even more memorable was sharing the journey to the U.S. and back with one of my colleagues. What could have been a long, exhausting solo flight turned into a fun and unforgettable experience. From enjoying what we lovingly call “burgirs” to having someone to share a water bottle with—since I forgot mine—having company made all the difference.
Besides the great talks and panels, we also welcomed a new team member with some tasty deep dish pizza. We even squeezed in a visit to the Capitol! Denver turned out to be surprisingly walkable, with plenty of spots for delicious food and coffee.
Even though conferences are great for socializing, I also had my own job to do: I presented our paper at a fun and well-rounded panel called “MIAO-nipulating cognition: AI offloading, expertise and relationships.” I love that the division we submitted to—Communication and Technology—uses cat references because of its abbreviation. So cute! I even sneaked a cat into my slides…
the experience
With the crowds, jetlag, and lack of sleep, it’s important to take breaks—go for a walk or listen to some music when you can. We also made it to the gym a few times, which really helped with feeling stiff after the long flight and all the standing and walking during the conference.
I can’t quite drop a full presentation survival guide (yet!), but one thing that really helped with my nerves before my first talk was being well prepared. If you can, take the time to plan and rehearse—it really makes a difference. I was super grateful that my supervisor and colleagues took the time to listen and help me fine-tune.
Also, I listened to the DOOM Eternal soundtrack just before to hype myself up—but fair warning, it’s not for the faint of heart!
Heck yea!
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