TASA 2025 Conference Postgrad Bursary: Tarun
Posted By:
Tarun -
Posted On: 2026-02-03T02:05:54Z
Attending the 2025 TASA Conference as a postgraduate member was a deeply enriching experience. It was my first time participating, and I was fortunate to attend alongside several colleagues. Throughout the conference, I joined multiple sessions, workshops, and book launches, and I was struck by the breadth of sociological work being undertaken by researchers in Australia and beyond. I particularly enjoyed sessions organised by thematic groups I am affiliated with — Migration, Ethnicity and Multiculturalism; Risk Societies; and Environment and Society. Additionally, those from other groups such as Gender and Sexuality, and Rural Issues. These sessions left me with a wealth of ideas and a renewed sense of intellectual curiosity.
Some of the most meaningful moments, however, occurred in the informal spaces over coffee and lunch breaks and casual conversations where I engaged with different colleagues from the conference. Presenting my work through a more creative, visual mode of photo exhibition allowed me to share my research in new ways and prompted thoughtful discussions that challenged and expanded my perspectives as an early career researcher. It was especially encouraging to see fellow sociologists’ interest in visual methods and in extending Michel Foucault’s thought into different facets of sociological research.
Beyond the formal sessions, the conference provided generous opportunities for connection and dialogue in more relaxed environments. The conversations often ranged from politics and pedagogy to the everyday challenges and joys of academic life. Amid these exchanges, I felt a strong sense of care and solidarity, a collective resistance at a time when the humanities and social sciences face increasing precarity and funding pressures around the globe.
Receiving the TASA bursary made my participation possible, and I am sincerely grateful for this support. It not only enabled my attendance but also affirmed the importance of nurturing our scholarly community. The conference enabled many wonderful connections and new friendships, and the conversations continue to inform and inspire my research.
1 PhD Candidate, School of Global, Urban and Social Studies, RMIT University
2 Centre for Urban Research, RMIT University
3 Social Equity Research Centre, RMIT University