In the evening I was flying across the vast lands of Central Asia, and by afternoon I was sitting on Regent’s Campus, attending my very first DEN conference, the 9th Annual International Student Conference. As a pharmacology student, walking into DEN felt like a genuine culture shock, in the best possible way. The idea of a community where students, academics, and even the Vice and Deputy Chancellors come together to discuss global issues, democracy, and the world beyond their textbooks was immediately intriguing to me.
Growing up, I always excelled in humanities and linguistics, yet I quietly chose to pursue STEM, not fully realising how rich and prosperous the pathways of non-STEM degrees could be. Over the years I served as a student representative, sat on the school council, led assemblies, participated in Model UN, and took part in the Jack Petchey Challenge, always finding ways to balance my passion for diplomacy and democracy alongside my academic journey. Starting university has not changed that. If anything, it has strengthened it.
The conference was genuinely insightful. Hearing so many students speak about their experiences and their contributions to the published book was fascinating and moving. It made me realise the true extent of the impact DEN has on the people within it, and I found myself wishing I had discovered it earlier in my university journey. I often wonder how much easier the academic path might be for life sciences students if a network like this existed within their world too.
What stands out most to me about DEN is its diversity and interconnectivity. Anyone can become a member, regardless of their degree, their specialisation, or their location. Seeing WIUT students who I had met at the TIMUN conference in Tashkent travel all the way to London to present at the conference was truly admirable. There were participants from different corners of the world, and it was a beautiful reminder of what a university community can look like when it genuinely opens its doors.
It made me reflect on how much we have on our doorstep here in London, and how easy it is to overlook it. I am glad I finally found my way to DEN, and I very much look forward to being part of it going forward.
Better late than never.
Summayah Syed