On the 12th and 13th of April, the UBASEECAS held their second annual Conference, which was hosted online this year due to most of the Committee studying abroad. The Conference featured a total of 13 attendees, with 7 Student Speakers and 2 Guest Speakers. The UBASEECAS would like to extend their utmost gratitude to everyone who participated! 

Please find below the Conference Programme, as well as information on each of the Speakers and their talks: 

Yelena McCafferty has been running Talk Russian since 2002 and has seen a whole range of factors affecting her business, both industry-wide and geopolitical. In this insightful session, Yelena offered a behind-the-scenes perspective on the realities of the language profession, discussing the current challenges faced by translators and interpreters. She also shared practical advice on the essential business strategies language professionals should consider after graduation to ensure a strong and successful start to their careers.

About the speaker: Yelena McCafferty is an award-winning Russian translator and interpreter who moved on from teaching English as a foreign language to establish a Russian translation business. She is regularly featured in media publications and on the radio as a language expert. In 2017 she received a special commendation as a language industry ambassador.

This presentation was a workshop addressing the burning issue of using grammatical cases in speech and in writing. Dr. Natalia V. Parker from UCL  shared the insights from her research investigating learners’ cognitive processing of morphology (e.g., cases) during oral production, as well as suggested strategies on more effective learning of cases. Natalia is a researcher, a language teacher and a textbook author; her latest research was funded by UK Research and Innovation. Her teaching experiments are based on Russian but their outcomes are applicable to other morphologically complex languages. In this presentation, Natalia discussed why the majority of Slavic and East European languages need cases for their language systems to function, and demonstrate what cases do in a sentence, which might help you view cases from a different perspective and see them more as an aid, rather than a hindrance. She explained which two things you need to know to handle any case and how to identify those. Natalia also talked through, step by step, how to start using correct case endings in your speech – no matter what your level is. She also proposed a long-term plan for developing your grammatical accuracy. The presentation was orientated on practical application, and all suggestions were illustrated by concrete examples.

https://www.routledge.com/Russian-in-Plain-English-A-Very-Basic-Russian-Starter-for-Complete-Beginners/Parker/p/book/9780367415402  

Locating ‘Ukraine’ in the Geographical Imagination of Early Modern Travellers

This presentation discussed the formation of Ukrainian identity through the perceptions of the foreign travellers who visited it during the early modern period, focusing on its geographical location and the geopolitical discourse surrounding it. In the 16th and 17th centuries, Ukraine is alternatively described as Europe’s last wilderness, the frontier between civilisation and steppe wasteland, and the locus of the struggle between Christendom and Islam. To some, it is territory under foreign control, to others, simply a blank space on the map. I discussed the naming of these lands, views of the Ukrainian population, and the role of wilderness in shaping external perceptions, including the Black Sea steppe, and the creatures, real and fantastical, which inhabited it.

Christianity in Armenia 

Armenia is arguably one of the most significant nations in the history of Christianity, despite being relatively little-known today. Lying on the edge of the Middle East, the country is a key site for various biblical or religious events, and was the first country to adopt Christianity in the world; its rich heritage is displayed in the ancient Christian sites scattered across its landscape. I talked about the historical importance of some of these places (most of which I have visited), as well as the role Christianity has played in Armenian national identity of the past and present. Key sites include Geghard Monastery, Hovhannavank Monastery, Etchmiadzin Cathedral, and Mount Ararat (which, although in modern-day Turkey, is a major national symbol of Armenia). Armenians, meanwhile, hold Christianity and the Apostolic Church in great reverence, and consider their religion to be a core part of their culture – as it would be, when their homeland is much reduced from its historic extent, and their modern population is deeply homogenous (98% ethnic Armenian and 95% Apostolic). Armenia continues to be in a perilous political situation, sharpening the importance of cultural identity to its population, both in terms of national self-perception and the image it seeks to project to the world. I look forward to exploring the past and present role of Christianity and its cultural consequences in this presentation.

Cultural Learnings of the Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan for Make Benefit the Rest of the World 

Inspired by her time living in Kazakhstan, in this presentation Alice aimed to dispel some of the assumptions and ignorance about the country. Kazakhstan, while increasingly playing an important role in global economics and politics, has largely been forgotten and overlooked in western knowledge. Any awareness we do have about the country is heavily shaped by stigma and largely inaccurate. However, Kazakhstan has played a key role in shaping the modern world, and undergone some remarkable social and political changes since the collapse of the Soviet Union that makes its history essential. One example is the Nevada-Semipalatinsk movement, a popular and governmental movement to close down the USSR’s main nuclear test site and question the role of nuclear weapons in the global future. Understanding the Nevada–Semipalatinsk movement is just one way that can help us learn why Kazakhstan should not be alienated from our awareness, and instead understood as a significant actor in the modern world.

Alexandre Benois and His World of Classicism

Influenced by Art Nouveau in Western Europe, 'Mir Iskusstva (World of Art)' was a dominant artist group in Russia at the end of the 19th and the early 20th century. Alexandre Nikolayevich Benois (1870-1960), a leader of the group, is extremely well-known for contributing to the establishment of 'Mir Iskusstva' in the field of painting, but at the same time, he was an enthusiast of the classical themes. Notable examples include his paintings based on Versailles and stage designs. This presentation discusses the examples and what led him to reconsider the old time from three perspectives. The first perspective is Benois’ attempt to redefine 'Russian art' based on Russia as a native land portrayed by many 'Peredvizhniki (The Wanderers)' artists and Russia as a part of Europe. The second perspective is his emotional and psychological experience from the multiple visits to Versailles. The third perspective is an opportunity he had to interact with classical themes during his work in the field of theatre. Through all of the perspectives, I explored what classicism meant for Benois.

Studying Abroad in Kyrgyzstan

In her presentation, Anne discussed her time studying in Kyrgyzstan.

How can Scientific Collaboration Be Reestablished in a Progressively Militarised Arctic Region? 

The talk explored the growing militarisation of Russia’s Arctic region and its impact on Latvia’s defence policy amid rising tensions between the two countries. Over the past decade, Russia’s Arctic strategy has shifted significantly, driven by climate change, resource exploitation, and geopolitical considerations. I reviewed Russia’s Arctic legislation and the region’s military, economic, and social development, highlighting the interplay of diplomacy and military expansion. The Arctic’s vast natural resources, including significant oil and gas reserves, have intensified competition, particularly with NATO and the EU. Despite Western sanctions, Russia continues to invest in Arctic infrastructure and military presence. For Latvia, this militarisation threatens national security, especially as it remains dependent on Russian energy imports.

A Product of History and Society – A Case Study in Balkan Pop-Folk Music

This presentation explored the social attitudes and the legacy of complex historical factors in shaping Balkan pop-folk music. It will include case studies from Chalga music ( Bulgaria) , Manele music ( Romania) , Turbo-folk music ( Serbia ) and Tallava music ( Albania and Kosovo). This talk used music to explore the legacy of the Ottoman presence in the region, attitudes towards ethnic minorities and the emergence of internet culture in shaping nation and identity.