.jpg)
On 11 April 2026, students, researchers and members of the public met at the University of Liverpool for the Viking Society for Northern Research Student conference, hosted by Professor Clare Downham from the Institute of Irish Studies.
As a PhD student of Irish Studies in Liverpool, I wasn’t surprised to see a few familiar faces, nor was I surprised to hear such a melting pot of accents from the UK, Ireland, USA and elsewhere. I was, however, surprised to see so many members of the public at an academic event, which had filled one of the lecture halls of the Rendall building, and I even recognised some familiar faces from the Viking Tour of the Wirral which Dr James Davison and I guided just a week or so previously. Merseyside must have clearly taken to the Viking bug, with members of the public enthusiastically interrogating early career academics about their talks, engaging with the Viking reenactors from Wirhalh Skip Felagr (Wirral Vikings) who arrived in their shiny metal armour, weaponry and jewellery, and taking several books from the free book stall which Professor Downham had set up.
-450x255.jpg)
After a few words from Professor Downham, the day started with Professor Howard Williams’ plenary lecture on Viking death and burial, a talk which clearly chimed with the room which was filled with questions about the effect of movies and television, how Vikings are presented in the media, and sobering discussions on how the extreme far right can have damaging effects. It was fascinating, and clearly very relatable, to hear about the misconceptions of Viking burial which have been taken by television programs such as Vikings and even farther afield in places like Japan where the anime Vinland Saga has grown popular, but it was also interesting to hear how such forms of media can usefully promote interest in Vikings.
Then came the student papers. First to present was Ségdae Richardson Read (pronounced SHAY) (University of Liverpool), who applied queer theory to the genealogies of Old Norse texts, and Colin Fisher (University of Iceland), who discussed the negative connotations in literature of the Judaic figure Abraham and the Old Norse character Aurgelmir. My own paper on transgression and normativity, which mapped the troublemakers of Orkneyinga saga, swiftly followed before Martin Brockett and Ed Moore closed off the session with papers which brought attention to areas not too far from Liverpool, in Cumbria and the Lower Lune Valley. Martin explained his theories for Eiríkr blóðøx and possible routes and roads which were taken to the battle of Stainmore in c.954 and Ed outlined his project on the visibility of stone sculptures, explaining the map of his findings which had been expertly collated. Overall, I felt that I was presenting my research alongside some great research projects; I felt proud of myself that my own paper had featured alongside such other developed and fascinating papers.
The day was fittingly capped off by the book launch of Dr Eleanor Barraclough’s Embers of the Hands which, very much like the conference itself, provided the perfect mix of scholarly consensus and public engagement, which importantly renders scholarly research into digestible and enjoyable as content which can be accessible for all. It was very enjoyable listening to Eleanor’s experience of writing her book, and I found it especially reassuring as a second year PhD student to hear that more senior figures in the field also experience their writing struggles which manifest in activities like lying on the floor or hiding in a toilet (entirely relatable experiences to myself!).
Overall, the conference was an engaging and enjoyable day of presenting, listening to papers and connecting with others who are just as fascinated and encapsulated with the Viking World as many of us are. What particularly chimed with me, though, was the thought-provoking experience of listening to the established academics Howard and Eleanor talk about the barrage of abuse that one can receive (ranging from borderline comical to deeply disturbing) when placing oneself under the public eye, and how vulnerable it can feel when one becomes the target of the far-right keyboard warriors. On a positive note, however, it is clear that people of the room were unified in their attitude to such nonsensical comments and, more importantly, that we as academics can and should feel comfortable talking about such experiences to one another, and that much of academia has fostered a supportive and understanding environment, which may render the pressures of professional life that little bit easier.
In all, I feel incredibly grateful and proud that I had the opportunity to be involved with the VSNR student conference, and I look forward to seeing how the next one may play out.