Centre for Scottish & Celtic Studies

Through generous CSCS seedcorn funding, Roslyn was able to present at her first in-person conference organised by the Northern Early Modern Network. The NEMN is a regional network for early modern scholars based in Scotland and the north of England, specifically targeted towards postgraduate and early career researchers. The multi-disciplinary conference showcased the research of PGRs from numerous Universities across Scotland and the north of England. Topics discussed ranged from ‘A playful Historiography of Early Modern Music’ to ‘Representation Disputes & Identity Construction in Digger Pamphlets (1648–1652)’ and ‘Unquenchable Stenches and Infected Chambers: The Smellscapes of Seventeenth-Century Plague Outbreaks’.

Roslyn was able to present on an aspect of her recently completed MPhil thesis which covered the literary, musical, and print legacy of John Forbes’s Songs and Fancies (first printed in 1662). Although she was a little nervous, her presentation was well-received, and she was able to answer several questions from the audience. Post-conference conversations provided her with additional time to discuss her research and how she came to be interested in seventeenth-century Scottish literature and song culture, in a less formal setting. She was also able to obtain some friendly and constructive feedback on her presentation style, which she will take forward into future papers. She made connections with members of Durham University’s Medieval and Early Modern Student Association (MEMSA), and she was able to ask them about their recently established podcast. As an established broadcaster herself, she has been considering setting up a podcast focussing on medieval and early modern Scottish literature, language, and history. The insights she received from members of MEMSA was illuminating and inspired her to take her idea forward.

Overall, her trip to the NEMN Conference in Newcastle was an invaluable experience and she was inspired by the sheer variety of alternative methodologies, approaches, and perspectives. The whole event was a stimulating experience which has certainly improved her understanding of her own topic, as well as how to navigate life as a PGR. Importantly, she was also able to build positive relationships with other PGR scholars, something that has been difficult across these recent pandemic years.

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First published: 27 January 2022