Interview with Ms. Ngoc Nguyen—Winner of the Religions Travel Award

1. Congratulations on winning the Religions Travel Award! What does this recognition mean to you, and how has it impacted your research and professional development? Can you share with us your feelings about winning the award?
Receiving the Religions Travel Award gave me the tremendous opportunity to attend an important international conference, gain valuable feedback on my current research, and interact with other experts in the field. I was thrilled with this opportunity and remain grateful for the experience that I gained.

2. Where did you learn about how to apply for this journal award? Can you briefly introduce which conference or conferences you plan to attend with this award?
I was informed about the possibility of applying for this travel award through an email from my academic institution. I felt that it was a perfect opportunity for me to participate in and attend the annual World Christianity Conference that was held in Recife, Brazil, in March 2026. This conference regularly features a vast array of international scholars who conduct research on Christianity beyond the narrow scope of a European or North American context. The theme of this year’s conference allowed me to join a panel that discussed aspects of interreligious and ecumenical relations in the realm of Asian Christianity.

3. Do you have any suggestions for improving the visibility of these awards?
I was fortunate to receive the email from my institution. I hope that this is advertised to students at universities throughout the world. I am sure that many of my colleagues in my native country of Vietnam had not heard of this opportunity.

4. Attending international conferences is an essential part of scientific collaboration and growth. How did the Religions Travel Award support your participation, and how do you plan to promote the journal at the conference? Do you have any thoughts on how the promotion of the journal at conferences could be more effective?
I would not have been able to participate in this conference because of the travel costs, but this travel award allowed me to participate as an in-person attendee in Brazil. I ensured that the slides in my presentation clearly identified that my travel costs and participation were enabled through the journal’s Religions Travel Award. While the people who attended my panel presentation were able to learn about this, the other conference attendees were not aware. I think that promoting the journal could be more effectively done with representatives who could also attend the conference and show examples of what the journal has to offer.

5. How do you view the role of open access journals (such as Religions) in academic communication? Will you consider reviewing or contributing to them in the future?
I think that open access journals are very important because they allow access to a wider audience, especially for those in other countries that are not able to access the paywalls and firewalls that block many of the academic publications that are available in Europe and North America. This is especially important for many of my colleagues in Asia, including those from Africa and Latin America who attend conferences such as the World Christianity Conference. Yes, I would be happy to contribute to an open access journal such as Religions.