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On the morning of the last day of the conference, I hope you'll indulge a little reflection from us.
Whatever else #AskHistorians2020 has done, we have shown the value and potential of holding scholarly conversations on platforms like @reddit.
Whatever else #AskHistorians2020 has done, we have shown the value and potential of holding scholarly conversations on platforms like @reddit.
Part of that is about audience.
We didn't really know what to expect, and still don't have the full picture, but we can already conclude that our presenters reached orders of magnitude more people than is possible at just about any in-person conference or event.
We didn't really know what to expect, and still don't have the full picture, but we can already conclude that our presenters reached orders of magnitude more people than is possible at just about any in-person conference or event.
But just as important, in our eyes, has been the way that platforms such as ours can be levellers.
The traditional academic conference is hierarchical and subject to implicit or explicit gatekeeping as to who can even attend, let alone take part.
The traditional academic conference is hierarchical and subject to implicit or explicit gatekeeping as to who can even attend, let alone take part.
The scholarship we've showcased in #AskHistorians2020 has come in part from those traditional circles, but it has been in conversation with a much wider array of voices.
Not just through the Q&As and other forms of audience participation, but also in the panels themselves.
Not just through the Q&As and other forms of audience participation, but also in the panels themselves.
Take our very first panel on Indigenous histories, power and sovereignty.
It's difficult to imagine this panel at most scholarly conferences.
We challenge anyone to watch this talk and conclude that these voices have no place in scholarly conversations.
It's difficult to imagine this panel at most scholarly conferences.
We challenge anyone to watch this talk and conclude that these voices have no place in scholarly conversations.
That said, there is much more to come over the course of today for #AskHistorians2020!
Please take the time to check out today's schedule, and everyone is welcome to join in the panel Q&As and live networking events... https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/iugiah/megathread_its_the_final_day_of_the_askhistorians/
Please take the time to check out today's schedule, and everyone is welcome to join in the panel Q&As and live networking events... https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/iugiah/megathread_its_the_final_day_of_the_askhistorians/
