IMC 2025 Interview: Special Thematic Strand Coordinator Sita Steckel
As IMC 2025 draws closer, and the administrative team pull together the nuts and bolts of the conference, we would like to take a moment to share and celebrate the IMC voices of those who make valuable contributions to the congress. We know that IMC would not be the incredible, immersive experience that it is without the contributions and efforts of every delegate, bookseller, artist, craftsperson, performer, and events/excursions leader at the conference.
In our first interview feature, we had a conversation with this year's IMC Special Thematic Coordinator Sita Steckel (Historisches Seminar, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt). Sita has worked very hard with the IMC team to coordinate a substantial part of the IMC programme, and has organised the programming of keynote lectures.
How did you first learn about the IMC?
"As a doctoral candidate, I was roped in as a replacement speaker by the graduate school at my university (Münster), without really knowing what awaited me..."
How many International Medieval Congresses have you attended?
"More than I can remember! According to the archived programmes, I have attended in 18 separate years since my first congress in 2005 – I have only failed to attend when I was moving to another country or busy with my newborn daughter. As my notes say, however, I missed two of those years because of illness or short-term ‘life happens’ stuff."
What is your favourite part of attending IMC?
"The sessions and papers, though I also enjoy all the other parts. You never fail to learn something new and hear inspiring new research in the sessions!"
Which IMC Special Thematic Strand was most inspiring to you?
"Heresy and Orthodoxy in 2009 was very inspiring, as the topic was highly relevant for my own work, and I was in a career phase which allowed me to fully engage with all the research that was being presented. That congress gave me impulses which lasted for many years. But I think the upcoming ‘Worlds of Learning’ has already inspired me as well and I look forward to the momentum the congress will generate for the history of learning."
What is your most vivid IMC memory?
"I carried a very strong impression away from my first IMC (in 2005): Just a year earlier, I had attended the German Historical Association meeting, and felt rather out of place there. Though that must have been something of a skewed impression, it felt like I was the only younger woman in an overwhelming mass of middle-aged men in suits, who all seemed to look alike. When I wandered across the IMC the next summer, I had this overwhelming impression of colourful variety instead – everyone seemed to be and look different, so I fit right in."
What do you wish you had known before your first IMC?
"On the intellectual side, I wish I had known a little more what sort of paper would work for the congress format – I was trained to very different formats, and really had a steep learning curve to move towards a 20-minute paper with interesting new content but without too much specialisation. On the networking side, I wish I had been more assured in approaching people or following up on papers I found interesting (or that I missed!) – I learned that over the years."
What is your favourite thing about the IMC?
"I do love the socialising and it’s definitely taking on a ‘class reunion’ feeling for me at this point. Put more generally, the IMC is one of the few events where you can really get a feeling for current international trends and developments across the many fields of Medieval Studies, rather than just for one region or discipline – and you meet lots of friendly colleagues at the same time!"
What was the best interaction you’ve had at the IMC?
"I think the honour must go to the multiple sessions on “Bad religion” with a bunch of really lovely colleagues in 2016, which became a publication in 2018. But I also have many fun memories of the dances and surprisingly coherent late-night discussions in the pub 😊"
Most surprising thing you’ve learnt at the IMC?
"That there are some rather harmless looking colleagues who really dominate the dance floor."
Describe the IMC in 3 words
"Medievalists’ second home!"