Who would voluntarily spend their precious Saturday in a classroom, listening to strangers deliver lectures on their special interests? As it turns out, many Kamloopsians would.
Earlier this month, TRU hosted its 18th annual Politics, History, and Philosophy (PHP) Conference, providing students with a valuable opportunity to share their research with a large audience.
The slate this year featured over 20 presenters, grouped into themed panels such as ‘Food Culture’ and ‘Reproductive Rights and Histories.’ The two-day conference was well attended, drawing not only TRU students but also their peers, families, and members of the broader community. Several students from the University of Alberta and UBC Okanagan also made the trip to share their research, with loved ones in tow.
“[It’s been] a good outlet to network and meet more people that are like-minded,” shared Simar Sandhu, an honours history major at UBCO. On Feb. 7, Sandhu presented her thesis work on authority and expertise surrounding childbirth. Throughout her presentation, Sandhu traced the shift from midwifery, characterized by female-led, intergenerational knowledge and experiential learning, to the modern, medicalized field of obstetrics.
Despite being the first panel of the day, Sandhu’s presentation was followed by a lively discussion and question period.
“I really like the conversation, asking each other questions,” she said. “It shows that people are engaged. It shows curiosity. It shows people wanting to learn. I think that’s a big part of what a conference should be like… The back and forth is what I’m really here for.”
Sandhu added that she also enjoyed the diversity of topics presented throughout the conference, reflecting each presenter’s background and interests.
“It’s a mixture of [the presenter’s] intersectionality,” she said. “What they’re learning at school [and] of what matters to them in life.”
Radhika Tabrez, a student presenter from TRU, said she walked away from the conference with many new perspectives on her own research. As a candidate for the human rights and social justice master’s, Tabrez valued attendees from other fields helping her to “chisel” her ideas.
Dwindling attendance in previous years prompted conference organizers to make some major changes to the 18th conference. The PHP Banquet, which caps off the event on Saturday evening with a buffet dinner and dance, used to run students a hefty $45. This year, the $15 student price ($40 for faculty) helped draw over 60 attendees, selling out the banquet.
“That was a change that we discussed as a group that needed to happen,” conference co-chair Eden Stewart explained. “Making those tickets more affordable… It’s not even a question, really. This is how we bring our students into these spaces, by making them more accessible.”
“[The conference organizers] did a really good job, especially as undergraduate students themselves,” Sandhu said. “To take time out of their school year to organize such a big event where people from Alberta, people from Kelowna, everywhere else, are coming to watch and participate, I think is really important … they should commend themselves for it.”
“This conference has been on my radar ever since I started my program,” Tabrez said. “Philosophy, history, politics are the most important things that we should be talking about. I’m blown away, honestly, with all the presenters and the depth and expanse of topics that they have brought. They’re all such topical conversations. Now more than ever, we need to have these conversations.”