My First Conference

Last week, I attended my first academic conference as a PhD student: the 2025 Cambridge Graduate Conference in Political Thought and Intellectual History held at the Faculty of History, University of Cambridge.

I gave a paper on Frederick Denison Maurice’s theology of citizenship, and to my great surprise, people actually listened and responded. It was both terrifying and wonderful.

What struck me most was how wide-ranging the conversations were. I found myself speaking about Christology, adult education, and spiritual belonging alongside papers on Paradise Lost, Burke and Francis Bacon. Somehow, it all fit together.

What meant the most to me was how kind and curious people were - fellow PhD students, senior scholars, strangers. For someone new to history (my background is in literature), it was a reminder that academic spaces can be generous as well as rigorous.

It’s easy to feel like you’re on the margins when your work sits between theology, politics, and education. But this conference made me feel like those margins are also where new conversations can begin.

I’ve come away with ideas to develop, people to keep in touch with, and a new sense of courage. I’m so glad I went.