Geography Undergrad Michelle Liu Attends Scholars at Risk Conference in Innsbruck, Austria

In February, 2026, Michelle Liu attended the Scholars at Risk European Student Advocacy Days conference in Innsbruck, Austria. Michelle is a fourth-year student completing a Bachelor of Arts dual degree in Political Science and Sociology at Sciences Po Paris and Urban Studies in the Geography Department at UBC. She is a scholar at the Office of Regional and Community Engagement (ORICE), working on their Scholars in Prison engagementship to advocate for academic freedom. She is also an editor and author for Trail Six, the UBC Department of Geography Undergraduate Academic Journal. Michelle is passionate about critical and anticolonial geographies, interdisciplinary and alternative forms of knowledge production applied to community organizing, and participatory research. Currently, she is combining her interest for social justice and academia through projects related to uncovering the histories of Chinatowns, Chinese cemeteries, and Chinese migrant workers in B.C. in collaboration with scholars and community organizers. In her free time, she plays classical piano, cooks for her roommates, and discovers new spots in the city with friends.

The Scholars in Prison Engagementship group at the SAR European Advocacy Days.

Tell us a little bit about the trip and the conference! What did you do in Innsbruck?

From February 19-20, 2026, I attended the Scholars at Risk European Student Advocacy Days conference in Innsbruck, Austria. Scholars at Risk (SAR) is an international network of institutions and individuals who fight for academic freedom and advocate for specific scholars who are in danger of being or have been incarcerated. As part of my scholar program with the Office of Regional and International Community Engagement (ORICE), I am co-leading UBC’s Scholars in Prison project as a chapter of SAR. The European Student Advocacy Days, hosted by MCI | The Entrepreneurial School®, were an opportunity to connect with students from universities across Europe, Australia, and North America who are involved with SAR. During the conference, we heard from a diverse range of speakers such as former European Parliament members, scholars who themselves have been imprisoned like Dr. Stella Nyanzi, and faculty leading SAR programs.

Michelle presenting the Scholars in Prison Engagementship group’s work.

What motivated you to apply for the ORICE Scholar program and the Scholars in Prison Engagementship?

I first became familiar with ORICE when I was searching for opportunities at UBC to apply my studies to real-world action, as I felt increasingly frustrated with the insular and theory-based nature of academia, which does not often offer pathways to create tangible change. I was inspired by their commitment to engaging students in community organizing initiatives worldwide, as well as their critical and theory-backed approach to advocacy for the purpose of community empowerment and capacity building. I was particularly interested in the Scholars in Prison project because of its focus on specific scholars’ cases, as it felt like tangible advocacy that could be conducted with precedent of wrongfully imprisoned academics being released.

How did this experience connect with your interests and major in Urban Studies?

Urban Studies and Human Geography are incredibly interdisciplinary, tying in much of my foundation in Political Science and Sociology, as well as reaching nearly every other field in the Social Sciences. My passion for community-engaged and participatory research in the field of Geography is what led me to ORICE in the first place, and there are many geopolitical implications to understand when conducting advocacy abroad and among government officials.

Michelle with her conference badge.

What did you gain from participating in this program?

It was an honour and an adventure to travel to Austria. I found it very valuable to exchange ideas with fellow students, discuss important aspects of advocacy such as community care, and learn from the various workshops offered. I came back to Vancouver feeling invigorated, and within four days of my return, my group held our first event of the semester—a screening of “All Static and Noise” followed by a fruitful discussion of Dr. Ilham Tohti’s case and the overall plight of the Uyghur people. I look forward to continuing my advocacy with a new, international lens.

Advice or insight for other Geography students interested in participating.

If you are interested in community-engaged work, meeting likeminded students, and gaining opportunities to travel, I highly recommend applying for ORICE programs! This role has helped me develop my leadership and facilitation skills, as well as providing me with a more nuanced view of human rights and advocacy in general.

Michelle’s Scholars in Prison Engagementship group exploring Innsbruck.