One of the most exciting things about the conference I attended in Virginia was that I had the opportunity to visit the site of the first settlement at Jamestown. To the non-historians among you this may not mean very much, but in general terms it really brought my research of the last 7 years to life, and that was really inspiring.
Not all academics research by reading books, but those that do will understand the joy of being
able to visit the places you have read about for years. But even those scholars who work in labs with equipment other than books, you can understand the loneliness and isolation of intensive research.
Sometimes it is easy to forget why we are doing this, especially when working on a project that seems interminable. It can be hard to come back home after a conference, especially an exciting international one, and get back to your research, ploughing that lonely furrow. But if you get the opportunity to get out to conferences, to meet like minded individuals but also to revitalise that love of the subject you once had then seize that opportunity with both hands! It’s wonderful to remember that there are people in the world who are just as enthusiastic about your subject as you are! Not to mention the fact that conference attendance looks great on your CV and if you have given a paper you may have the chance to get it published.
How do you make sure your research project stays ‘vibrant’ and ‘interesting’? Do you have any tips for overcoming the isolation of working on a project alone?
