BISA at 50: Reflections and perspectives - 'Fast research' and perfectly targeted events
As part of our 50th anniversary reflections and perspectives series, we asked some #BISA2025 delegates to share their reflections of the 50th anniversary conference which took place in Belfast. Here we share reflections from Lauren Rogers, a PhD student at Edinburgh and social media officer for Review of International Studies, and Mariana Vieira, Book Reviews Editor at International Affairs.
Lauren Rogers - Academic standards in the time of ‘Fast Research’
The 50th anniversary BISA conference was the fourth I have attended, and it resonated in particular with me as I am coming to the end of my PhD. I was invited to take part in a roundtable discussion during the conference reflecting on the role of 'fast research' as an early-career researcher, and the conversation resonated strongly with me as I begin to take my first steps onto the academic job market. Unlike the paper-based panels, this roundtable challenged me to reflect on the stage I am at in my career and talk about the ways in which both the academic and publishing industries could serve the community better. The roundtable was chaired by Soumita Basu and I was joined by Toni Erskine, as a senior scholar, Monika Barthwal-Datta, as a midcareer scholar, David Mainwaring from Cambridge University Press. We discussed our own experiences with publishing and conducting research in an era in which AI tools are more prevalent, pressures are even higher, and 'slow research' is increasingly undervalued. We also discussed the best ways to cope with myriad academic pressures and how to best adapt to new technologies. It was fascinating to hear experiences from the audience, some of whom shared my concerns as an ECR and some who offered advice. Overall, it was one of the most memorable discussions at the conference this year, and I am grateful to have been a part of it!
Mariana Vieira - A wide range of panels and events that perfectly targeted junior and senior academics alike
This year, BISA marked its 50th anniversary with a wonderful conference boasting a wide range of panels and events that perfectly targeted junior and senior academics alike. From the pre-conference early-career training sessions, including a fantastic public speaking workshop that I attended, to the memorable public lecture with Cynthia Enloe, there were key networking moments that I benefited from as a PhD candidate.
As an exhibitor representing International Affairs, the exhibitor hall provided us with opportunities to meet new and old authors, increase the profile and visibility of our publication and promote our content. The programme had plenty (and occasionally overlapping) panels of interest, as well as special sessions focusing on career and professional development. BISA remains one of the best IR associations, not only for the strong programme it offers during the conference, but also for its political sensitivity to the past and to the present. Being held in Belfast and at the Europa Hotel, this yearly gathering was attuned to the local history and BISA offered several walking tours to supplement its programme. Being held at the height of Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, BISA should also be commended for making space to organize, discuss and increase solidarity with the plight of the Palestinians.
While this is the fourth BISA conference I have attended (or sixth if we also include the smaller ones held by BISA’s working groups), it continues to be a worthy investment and an absolute pleasure to go wherever BISA takes us. Brighton 2026? Count me in!