This was my second year attending the Annual Conference of the European Association for Taiwan Studies (EATS), but my first in a more active capacity as a Student Helper from Sapienza University of Rome.
Upon arriving at the conference, months of digital interactions finally materialized into in-the-flesh encounters: Isabelle Cockel, Max Dixon, and Stefano Pelaggi (Sapienza professor who has long been my point of reference for EATS conferences) were orchestrating the vibrant gathering of over 140 researchers and Taiwan enthusiasts.
Together with my fellow Portsmouth based student helpers—Loveleen, Susmita, Lukshin, and Jason—we were struck by the scale and intensity of the event. Seeing so many insightful presenters in a single venue was remarkable. What stood out most was the diversity of Taiwan Studies: from strategic-geopolitical analyses to sociological perspectives, from ethno cultural research to studies on political democratization.
The photography exhibition and the exhibition of ‘dangwai zazhi’ (黨外雜 誌), political magazines banned and confiscated magazines published by dissidents between the 1950s and 1990s, were particularly significant. These elements added a deeply human and historical dimension, making the scholarly experience of the Martial Law period more immersive and tangible, especially for those who have not directly lived through those contexts.
Beyond the academic panels, what emerged just as strongly was the intellectual generosity of the participants. At every lunch break and networking moment, researchers showed immense enthusiasm in explaining and sharing their work.
A moment I will long remember was the reception on the first evening, where we, as student helpers, had the chance to greet Vincent Chin-hsiang Yao, Representative of Taiwan in London, and Mohammed Abdul Kadir, Lord Deputy Mayor of Portsmouth. What remains with me most clearly is this: what we gained from this experience was immeasurably greater than what we could have contributed.