May 2023 marked a significant milestone in my academic journey: my first-ever conference presentation! It was the moment I had been building up to since starting my PhD in 2022—an opportunity to present original research to a global audience of peers and experts. The conference took place in Ferrara, Italy, and although I didn’t have the chance to be physically present, I was fully immersed in the experience from the comfort of my own home.
The paper I was presenting, Racial Disparities in Environmental Auditing, was a collaboration with Anca Balietti. The subject matter was close to my heart, combining my passion for environmental issues with the pressing need to understand racial inequalities in how environmental policies are enforced. As excited as I was to share our findings, the pressure of presenting in front of a seasoned academic audience weighed heavily on me.
Nerves, Excitement, and a Virtual Setting
I remember logging into the virtual room early, my heart racing as I watched the participant count rise. Each new entry felt like another wave of anticipation, a reminder that the audience was there to critically assess my work. This was my first time presenting at a conference, and the nerves were hitting harder than I’d anticipated. My hands hovered over the keyboard as I prepared my slides, rehearsing the opening lines in my head again and again.
The Unexpected Fire Alarm
Just as I started gaining confidence, things took an unexpected turn. Halfway through the presentation, right as I was hitting one of the most critical points of our paper, an alarm began ringing. At first, I froze. The sound was sharp and persistent, and my mind scrambled to figure out what was going on. I wasn’t in Ferrara, yet the alarm felt as though it was interrupting my train of thought in real time.
It took a few seconds for the situation to sink in: a fire alarm had gone off at the conference venue in Ferrara! There I was, sitting at home, presenting to an international audience, while my colleagues in Italy were scrambling due to an actual fire alarm. The irony wasn’t lost on me—this was supposed to be an online presentation, safe from the unpredictability of live events. But it turns out, some things can’t be escaped, even in the digital age.
Pressing Through the Chaos
For what felt like an eternity (but was probably only a few minutes), the beeping persisted. My mind raced: should I stop? Should I keep going? Would the audience at the venue hear me over the noise? I decided to press on, though it was far from smooth. The interruption threw me off, and I could feel my nerves creeping back as I struggled to regain my focus.
The alarm eventually stopped, and I was able to wrap up the presentation. But by then, I felt like I had lost a bit of my momentum. When the time came for questions, only two were allowed, which felt disappointing. After all, this was my first big chance to engage with others in my field, and I had been hoping for more in-depth discussion. Still, I was grateful that the two questions I received were thoughtful, and they gave me the opportunity to clarify key points of the paper.
Looking Back at My First Conference Experience
Looking back, the whole experience was a whirlwind. The mix of nervous energy, unexpected disruptions, and the final sense of relief created an emotional rollercoaster I’ll never forget. But in hindsight, there was something strangely fitting about the chaos of that moment. This was my introduction to the world of academic conferences, where nothing ever goes entirely according to plan, and where you have to learn to roll with the punches.
Despite the fire alarm, despite the nerves, the overall experience was positive. It was my first glimpse into what academic life beyond the classroom really looks like, and in its own way, it was thrilling. I may not have been able to walk the streets of Ferrara or experience Italy in person, but the experience still gave me a taste of that Italian conference atmosphere—even from thousands of miles away.
Have you ever had an unexpected interruption during a presentation?
Yes
No
Not yet, but it’s bound to happen!
In the end, it felt like a rite of passage. No academic journey is complete without some bumps along the way, and mine just happened to come with the added drama of a fire alarm. It was a reminder that, no matter how much you prepare, some things are simply out of your control. All you can do is keep moving forward, adapt to the unexpected, and, most importantly, enjoy the journey.
I look forward to future conferences—hopefully without the fire alarms—but this one will always hold a special place in my memory. It was the beginning of my PhD conference journey, and despite the chaos, I wouldn’t change a thing.
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