My Encounter with APAN

As an undergraduate student with a a long-standing passion for research, attending an international conference like APAN had always been my dream. My awareness of the APAN Fellowship Program began when my mentor shared details about this scholarship program is also open to undergraduate students to engage. When I received the acceptance notification for APAN60, I was overwhelmed with gratitude and astonishment; this milestone felt both surreal and deeply motivating. As a first-time conference attendee, I approached APAN60 with a mix of nervousness and determination, eager to absorb insights, engage with experts, and contribute to discussions related to human geography.

A Week of Learning, Connecting, and Discovering

Attending my first academic conference has proven to be an invaluable experience, filled with transformative learning and meaningful connections. Over a week of learning at APAN, I was constantly inspired by the wealth of knowledge shared through keynote speeches, panel discussions, and workshops led by industry pioneers and accomplished researchers. The opportunity to observe and participate in these exchanges has not only expanded my technical understanding but also introduced me to innovative research methodologies from diverse disciplinary perspectives.

Besides, seeing researchers from different countries gathered to address pressing challenges facing our world has influenced me a lot. I witnessed how different perspectives, different knowledge and different cultures became strengths rather than barriers. This week has reaffirmed my belief in the power of collaborative innovation to create a more interconnected world.

Beyond the academic sessions, it’s extremely fortunate to have met so many outstanding researchers and fellows in APAN60. I have learned about the languages and cultures of many different countries and have a very wonderful memory here.

Looking forward

I feel extremely honored to be the first Chinese fellow of APAN and sincerely grateful to  APAN for giving me this opportunity to come here and learn from all the excellent people. The conference may have ended, but I’m not pressing pause, hoping to attend future APAN meetings with deeper knowledge and more contributions to give back.