At the 2024 Canadian Association for Graduate Studies (CAGS) conference, Kateryna Yakubets presented findings from a project exploring graduate student experiences at academic conferences.
The work highlighted several important challenges faced by trainees, including pressures to network while feeling unwelcome or excluded, financial barriers to conference participation, and concerns regarding safety and misconduct at academic events.
The findings also suggested that many negative experiences go unreported due to fears of retaliation, lack of meaningful change, or uncertainty regarding reporting processes. The project identified opportunities for clearer conference Codes of Conduct and improved communication around available supports and reporting mechanisms.
This was an important topic to bring forward, particularly as universities, conference organizers, and academic communities continue working to create safer, more inclusive, and more supportive environments for trainees and members of equity-deserving groups.
Representing the project at a national conference, Kateryna Yakubets was the sole student presenter on the team and did an outstanding job sharing the work. Presenting alongside faculty researchers and established academics, Kateryna Yakubets demonstrated both poise and professionalism, highlighting the strength of student-led scholarship within C4 and contributing meaningfully to ongoing conversations about conference experiences and participant safety.
The work contributes to broader discussions about how academic conferences can better support graduate students and foster environments where all participants feel welcomed, respected, and able to fully engage in scholarly exchange.
References:
Rabi D., Kozak S., Yakubets K., Christie T., Forlini S., White A. (2024). Graduate Student Perspectives of Safety at Academic Conference. Presented at the Canadian Association for Graduate Studies Conference (CAGS 2024)
