#HumanMachineCommunication #PhDresearch #SonicProxemics #ImmersiveTheatre
Reflections on My First ICA : Challenges, Triumphs, and Takeaways
I had the great honor of presenting the initial progress of my PhD project at the 74th Annual Conference of the International Communication Association (ICA)! Since my PhD journey only began last September, I felt a mix of pressure and excitement as I rushed to prepare my research in such a short time. One of the most exciting parts was learning how to review others' abstracts, assigning scores, and crafting constructive feedback.
I want to express my sincere thanks to Dr. Jihyun Kim (University of Central Florida), the current chair of our Human-Machine Communication (HMC) Interest Group, who generously helped me navigate the complex ICA online submission system and resolved issues with the articles. It was incredibly refreshing to read the work of others in my field, but from such diverse perspectives. I hope I can do more of this in the coming year :)
The journey from Galway to Gold Coast was the longest trip I’ve ever taken, but this 10-day trip (4 days on the flight) to ICA was absolutely rewarding. At first glance, some keywords and topics seemed unrelated, but through panel discussions and ongoing dialogue, I started to notice a certain chemistry between these ‘seemingly independent’ topics, which have the potential to broaden my research, such as:
Perceived Authenticity
Disability Studies
(Para)social Interaction
Interpersonal Closeness vs. Community Engagement
Just to name a few. Here are my top three takeaways from ICA 2024, a milestone in my academic journey:
1. Choose ICA-Recommended Accommodations
ICA warned participants about potential issues with accommodations outside their recommendations, but I thought I could rely on my previous good experiences with Airbnb. Unfortunately, I was wrong. Right in the middle of my conference prep, I found myself in a stressful situation with an aggressive host. I’m deeply grateful to Ms. Laura Sawyer, ICA’s Executive Director, whose immediate support helped me find a safer and more comfortable stay at the Star Residence & Star Grand for the remainder of the conference. This not only offered security and a stunning view of the Gold Coast but also saved me time on transportation, even allowing for quick breaks between sessions.
If you’re presenting at a conference, I highly recommend opting for the accommodations suggested by the conference committee. It’s worth the investment to avoid unnecessary risks in unfamiliar countries and to ensure a high-quality experience during your stay.
2. Prepare Early and Test Equipment Upon Arrival
This was my first time visiting Australia, so I attended the online webinar ‘Conferencing at ICA 101,’ hosted by Postdoctoral Scholar Lakelyn E. Taylor (University of Vermont). The session was informative and incredibly supportive (thank you Lakelyn!). Knowing my Mac has an Asian plug, I usually carry an Asian-to-European adapter and then use a European-to-UK/Ireland adapter for charging. Thanks to the webinar, I knew to bring an adapter for Australia, which I did.
Everything worked fine during my four flights (I could even charge my Mac at Changi Airport in Singapore). But when I settled down to finalize my slides in the evening, my Mac suddenly wouldn’t charge. Well, PANIC set in. Unsure which adapter had failed, I rushed to the nearest convenience store (not 24-hour) at 23:00 and bought an expensive Asian-to-Australian adapter. Thankfully, the issue was with my European-to-UK adapter, not my Mac's plug, and I could continue working till the dawn.
When traveling, even a small mishap can disrupt your plans.
It’s essential to test all your equipment as soon as you arrive in the country.
3. Be Brave and Engage with Others, Even Outside Your Division
Besides the insightful panel discussions, participating in ICA Yoga was another highlight for me. Not merely did it provide a much-needed stress relief with a beautiful ocean view of Broadbeach, but it natually led to fresh conversations with other ICA participants. I’m grateful for this opportunity, not just for the mindful workout led by Maya (@Aconsciousstate), but also for meeting Chen, Katharina, Taylor, and Kathryn. They were from completely different divisions than mine (HMC) but were open-minded and willing to share their academic experiences and unique career paths.
In contrast, I was a bit shy during the ICA 2024 Michael Haley & IDEA Travel Grant Recipients’ Reception and regret not initiating more conversations. Perhaps volunteering at the conference next year could be a great way to overcome this hesitation :)
Finally, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Biyiing Wo-Ouyang (Chinese University of Hong Kong) for coordinating our panel so well, and to Borui Li (Simon Fraser University) for kindly filming my presentation. I’m truly thankful to all the scholars (listed below) who generously shared their insights and advice on my project during ICA 2024. I look forward to staying in touch for future events and conferences :))
With Gratitude (in alphabetical order)
▪ Austin Frederick (Wayne State U, USA)
▪ Chen Liang (Peking U, China)
▪ Dayeoun Jang (Michigan State U, USA)
▪ Freddie Jennings (U of Arkansas, USA)
▪ Jeff Jianfen Lan (Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China)
▪ Jessica Szczuka (U Duisburg-Essen, Germany)
▪ Jindong Leo-Liu (Chinese U of Hong Kong, Hong Kong)
▪ Jing Zhang (Communication U of China, China)
▪ Jingzhi Chen (Zhejiang U, China)
▪ Junqi Shao (U of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA)
▪ Junru Huang (Nanyang Technological U, Singapore)
▪ Katharina V. Hajek (LMU Munich Germany)
▪ Kathryn Thier (George Mason University, USA)
▪ Maqymseahe Ninces (The Minspeaker, Independent Scholar, New Zealand)
▪ Naa Amponsah Dodoo (Emerson College, USA)
▪ Qiling Wu (Renmin U of China, China)
▪ Qin Li (Renmin U of China, China)
▪ Soyoung Jung (Dong-A U, The Republic of Korea)
▪ Taylor Strnad (Ohio U, USA)
▪ Tingting Yang (Nanyang Technological U, Singapore)
▪ Xuezhi Du (Simon Fraser U, Canada)
▪ Yifan Xu (U of Texas at Austin, USA)
▪ Ziran Zhao (Monash U, Malaysia)
BONUS ➊ Gold Coast ╳ Whale-Watching
BONUS ➋ Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary ╳ SkyPoint
【Credit】
Music: 'Poco a Pocp' from TV series <Do You Like Brahms?> (1st video), 'Flash' from TV series <Extraordinary Attorney Woo> (BONUS 1), 'Ils parlent de moi - Promenade Ver.' from TV series <Towako's Diary (My Dear Exes)> (BONUS 2).
Photography & Film: Hua-Chun Fan
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