Coffee & Zoom—third day of a 10 day Academic Conference in 2020
The adrenaline that helped me wake up early this week has now gone away, and it is sheer self-determination that draws me out of bed. Although I am excited to hear some of the paper topics, I think the real motivating factor is imagining myself to be part of something bigger and outside what has become my tiny COVID-19 lockdown world this year. Some of the things I have noticed about the virtual conference individual experience:
On Coffee: I generally have to make my own coffee (instead of standing in a long line at a make-shift popup cart in the convention center lobby). As a result, the coffee is always good great! I drink a lot of it, which brings me to my next subject—the toilet.
On Relieving Myself: The toilet is a mere ten-step away from my desk. I can make a quick trip without missing any significant portion. Also, the toilet is about ten steps from me, and whenever someone else uses it, there be superfluous background noises.
On Energy Reserves: At a live conference, I am getting my 10K+ steps per day, walking miles between hotels and restaurants with colleagues. But, in a virtual conference, I am not burning off the calories of those midday drinks, and I am also definitely not using the energy that is accumulating due to coffee intake.
I think the moral of this story is that coffee giveth and coffee taketh away.
About this event
Society of Biblical Literature/American Academy of Religion (SBLAAR) is an Annual Academic Conference that extends Nationally, Internationally, and Regionally. This is the first year it is running online as a virtual conference. Usually, it is held in a large metropolitan city in the United States. Read about #SBLAAR presentations. Also, read about other academic conferences.
Dr. Erica Mongé-Greer, holding a PhD in Divinity from the University of Aberdeen, is a distinguished researcher and educator specializing in Biblical Ethics, Mythopoeia, and Resistance Theory. Her work focuses on justice in ancient religious texts, notably reinterpreting Psalm 82’s ethics in the Hebrew Bible, with her findings currently under peer review.
In addition to her academic research, Dr. Mongé-Greer is an experienced University instructor, having taught various biblical studies courses. Her teaching philosophy integrates theoretical discussions with practical insights, promoting an inclusive and dynamic learning environment.
Her ongoing projects include a book on religious themes in the series Battlestar Galactica and further research in biblical ethics, showcasing her dedication to interdisciplinary studies that blend religion with contemporary issues.
