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As a lucky recipient of one of 糖心官网's Early Researcher Bursaries this year, I felt especially motivated to write down some reflections on presenting at this year's research conference. The conference significantly shaped my thinking, so, if you'll indulge me, I'd like to share a little of my experience.

Halfway through my PhD

Now, roughly halfway through my PhD journey, 糖心官网 research conferences have become an important part of my development. Each has offered not only the chance to hear about the inspiring work taking place across the sector, but also the opportunity to connect with people who have encouraged and challenged my thinking.

Where my research fits

This year's theme, Collaboration for a Just Society: Multidisciplinary Research in Counselling and Mental Health, felt particularly relevant to my research, which explores how people with a learning disability would shape counselling. The work is being co-created with a wonderful group of advocates who have learning disabilities themselves. With the support of my supervisory team, we submitted an abstract, and I was delighted to be given the opportunity to present a paper on our current study, How Would People with a Learning Disability Shape Counselling? An Adapted Participatory Theme Elicitation.

Preparing with co-researchers

In the weeks leading up to the conference, I refined my presentation and had discussions with my co-researchers. We talked about the study and the aspects that might be particularly interesting or meaningful for people to hear about.

Something didn't feel right

Eventually, I finalised the presentation and felt it met all the expectations of an academic conference. I had used the language of academia, focused on methodological rigour and included critical discussion of the findings. Yet something didn't feel right. At first, I assumed it was simply nerves or inexperience.

A turning point

I was due to present on the Saturday and, after spending Friday at the conference immersed in thoughtful, inspiring presentations, I did one final run-through with my wonderful supervisory team, Professor Mhairi Thurston and Sally Lumsdaine. They helped me recognise that I had built a narrative around what I believed was expected in an academic space. From my language to my emphasis on methodological 'worthiness', I had unintentionally reinforced the very academic hierarchies my research seeks to challenge.

Losing sight of my values

My motivation for this research has always been to flatten power dynamics and increase access to research. Yet I had slipped back into familiar academic conventions because, at this early stage in my development as a researcher, I wanted to be seen as credible, as someone who could 'do it right'. The unease I felt came from presenting our work through a lens in which it had not been created, using language that would have felt unfamiliar and potentially excluding to my co-researchers.

Finding courage through others

Something needed to change, and importantly, I realised that change felt possible because of what I had witnessed throughout the conference. I had heard researchers challenging power structures, valuing diverse ways of knowing and creating an environment where it felt safe to do things differently. That gave me the confidence to rethink my own approach.

So, the night before my presentation, I sat down with my slides and rewrote them.

Recipes for research

I described how we referred to research methods as 'recipes for research'. I spoke about the time spent training co-researchers to carry out card-sorting exercises, and the creative approaches we developed together to help ideas make sense. I emphasised the importance of clear language and our commitment to producing outputs in multiple, accessible formats. Most importantly, I tried to present the research in a way that reflected how it had been created.

Presenting authentically

On the morning of the presentation, I was still nervous, but the unease had disappeared. What I was presenting felt authentic, regardless of how it might be received. I also decided to begin by sharing the very story I'm telling here, how I had almost presented our work in a way that contradicted the values underpinning it.

How it was received

The presentation was received with warmth, understanding and encouragement, and it became abundantly clear that people were interested not only in the findings, but also in the values, relationships and collaborative processes that had shaped the research.

A stronger sense of community

I left the conference with a stronger sense of community and a clearer understanding of what collaboration can make possible. Through the generosity and example of others, I found the confidence to present our work in the language that was meaningful to the people who created it.

What a just research culture requires

I was reminded that creating a more just and accessible research culture is not only about who takes part in research, but also about how knowledge is produced, shared and valued. It is about creating spaces at all levels where different voices, experiences and ways of knowing can shape the conversation. For me, that lesson came to life not only through my own presentation but through the people who made the conference what it was, and for that, I am forever grateful.