
In his blog, Justin Cho shares his experience of the 9th International XR-Metaverse Conference.
This year in May, I was given the opportunity to present a collaborative research project that I am currently working on at the 9th International XR-Metaverse Conference held in Busan, South Korea. This was my 3rd attendance at a conference, and in this blogpost, I’d like to talk about how attending these conferences has shaped my PhD journey as well as me as an individual.
I first started my PhD journey as an MRES student. Unsure about what to do after graduating from my undergraduate degree, I enrolled in an MRES purely out of interest in the research topic. As my research journey progressed, my interest grew into enjoyment and passion, leading me to convert my MRes research topic into a PhD. A few years down the line, I am now nearing the end of my PhD as a completely different person to who I was when I started. Although many different factors have influenced me, I believe that attendance at conferences (always supported by my department and the Doctoral College!) have been of particular value in two main ways.
Firstly, I now love to talk to people about my research. To be honest, my first presentation at a conference was terrifying. Having to present in front of academics that I regularly cite, having to answer questions from experts in my field – I was absolutely horrified. I wasn’t sure about what I was doing, and I had very little confidence in my research skills and presentation skills. However, with the constant opportunities to practice, the encouraging and positive feedback that I received, and taking note of how other academics presented their research, I was able to gradually build up my confidence. Fast forward to May this year, I couldn’t wait to present my research. I found myself thinking of different ways to engage the listeners and actively seeking out conversations and feedback afterwards. I never would have thought that I would come to enjoy speaking in front of people!

Secondly, I also love to listen to other people’s research. As much as I believe my own research topic to be interesting, I always find myself fascinated by the work that others are doing in my field. Conversations with other academics and companies provide insight into the latest ongoing research. Sometimes, these conversations even lead to collaborative opportunities! For example, this year I presented a research project that I started last year with another PhD student currently studying in Belgium.
Overall, conferences have played a significant role in shaping the researcher that I am today. Presenting in front of others and numerous networking events have helped to build my confidence in presenting; constructive feedback from leading researchers has guided my PhD research; conversations have led to research collaborations; and I have made some good friends along the way!

This year’s conference was as expected – amazing. Some non-academic key moments included fun social events, meeting great people, and the amazing food! I understand that not all universities are able to support the attendance of such conferences, and I am deeply grateful to Manchester Metropolitan University for its support. I truly believe that my fellow PhD colleagues should attend conferences at every opportunity!