Further information

The Essex Student Journal is an open access journal run by students, for students, and managed by the University of Essex Library. It publishes the work of undergraduate and postgraduate taught students at Essex, with peer review being undertaken by Essex postgraduate researchers.

Few universities have a student journal, making this a rare opportunity for Essex students to experience the academic publishing process in a supportive environment. To date, the Journal and its predecessor, ESTRO, have enabled over 150 students to publish their writing, giving them official recognition for their hard work and helping to kickstart their academic careers.

If you have any questions about the Essex Student Journal or the ESJ Conference 2025, please contact the Essex Student Journal Team.

Presentation abstracts

Daniel Steven Harris - The green industrial revolution and the future of steel production: using the Innovative Sheffield Cell

My presentation will offer an overview of my essay ‘The Green Industrial Revolution and the Future of Steel Production: Using the Innovative Sheffield Cell’, and why this type of research is important for the green economy. From here I will explain how I came up with the idea of the cell, as well as my inspiration for the essay based on current research taking place at the University of Essex. I will also provide some historical insight into the name of the cell and its connection with Sheffield, before finishing with what opportunities the paper has given me.

Maja Futrell-Fruhling - Narrative of the suicide bereaved 

Suicide deaths have continued to rise, one of the ways to understand the complexities around suicide and its prevention is to speak to those left behind. To understand their experience, perspective, and story. This research took this approach by conducting a qualitative study of suicide bereavement. Suicide-bereaved participants took part in interviews. A narrative analysis was conducted, highlighting their process to gain a greater understanding of suicide. The research was exploratory in nature. The findings showed, chaos, disorientation, survival, reorganization, and with participants living with the duality, and advocacy.

Nasima Rahman - My time will come...

"My time will come..." is about a health care practitioner waiting in hope, for her moment to prove why she is worthy of being here, in England. The presentation will cover the following topics; my journey as a creative writer, my publishing journey, my recent publication, and highlights of the poem (background, inspiration, impact).

Marc Viau - Feline ownership and well-being during COVID-19 mandated lockdowns

Extant literature on how pet ownership impacted individuals’ well-being during the global COVID-19 pandemic is inconsistent, with some studies reporting a positive impact and others reporting a null or negative impact. This paper presents the results of a case study that explored the lived experience of cat owners and how cat ownership affected their sense of well-being during periods of COVID-19 mandated self-isolation. The study employed a semi-structured interview with a single participant, which was analysed using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis, with some data approached through the lens of attachment theory. Findings revealed that the impact on the participant’s well-being was mostly positive and the result of assuming the role of attachment figure.

Somidha Ray - What is in a label? Exploring how labelling shapes refugees’ experiences

This essay explores how being labelled as a refugee affects refugees’ identities and experiences in the post-displacement context. First, it provides a background to the concept of identity, looking at some of the theoretical perspectives on identity and briefly highlighting how forced displacement impacts the identity of a refugee. Second, it explores the multi-faceted nature of labelling and how once people become labelled as “refugees” they are perceived and treated according to this assigned label. Third, it highlights how labelling can also be actively challenged or reframed by refugees, as conformity is not the only choice available to them. This essay explores how being labelled as a refugee affects refugees’ identities and experiences in the post-displacement context. First, it provides a background to the concept of identity, looking at some of the theoretical perspectives on identity and briefly highlighting how forced displacement impacts the identity of a refugee. Second, it explores the multi-faceted nature of labelling and how once people become labelled as “refugees” they are perceived and treated according to this assigned label. Third, it highlights how labelling can also be actively challenged or reframed by refugees, as conformity is not the only choice available to them.

Sean Smith - Experiments in equations - the fun in nonsense

My presentation will briefly discuss the nuances and techniques used in my work, alongside a brief outline on what Oulipo is. I’ll emphasise the importance of publishing my work, as it granted me the opportunity to begin establishing a creative portfolio. The second half will focus on the publishing process, and how easy it was to apply and communicate with staff.

Juliana de Oliveira Guerra - The intention underneath: can the motor system ascribe intentions? 

This talk covers my research experience, current projects and future perspectives, emphasizing research in Brazil and the role of publications in career opportunities. Afterwards, the paper will be discussed, focusing on how some experiments have "proven" the motor system’s single role in ascribing intentions. I will present counterarguments, highlighting the necessity of prior knowledge of outcomes for correct stimulation in these experiments. Findings suggest that evoked potentials rapidly shift from imitation to complementary actions in response to social cues. Ultimately, the audience will gain insight into how intention ascription relies on a chain of events and associative learning.

Llinos Evans - Is Middle English a koiné language?

This presentation will detail the Middle English Koiné Hypothesis I presented in a past paper, including the history of the hypothesis, the linguistic data that implies its possibility, and the environment in which koineisation could have taken place. A historical, sociolinguistic approach will be taken, and some new factors will also be presented.