RootsTech in Review

RootsTech was an online event again this year, which means that even even though the event has closed, we still have plenty of time (all year) to watch the talks. Which is just as well because there are so many great talks to watch. But more of them in a minute.

First, I want to make another comment on the theme of the conference: #ChooseConnection. I have already written about the way this resonated for me with regards to the current war in Ukraine, but I have also been making new connections of my own. Three weeks ago we got a little puppy, Cassie. Because we have been taking her to the grass at the front of our home to do her business, and because she’s so cute and adorable, people have been coming up to look at her and sometimes to pat her. This means that I have got to know people who live two doors down, and others from all over our estate. These are people who’ve been here for years and years, but only now have I got to meet them. These are wonderful new connections I have made! And it has enhanced my sense of community in the enclave in which I live.

Anyway, back to the talks in this year's RootsTech Connect. There are so many to choose from, and (unsurprisingly) I have not yet had time to watch all the talks that I am interested in. But here are some of the ones I have particularly enjoyed.

First, just some of the keynote speakers:

Apollonia Poilâne – this quietly spoken, gentle young woman was faced with tragedy aged 18 and now controls her family’s business https://www.familysearch.org/rootstech/session/steve-rockwood-and-apollonia-poilane-main-stage-general-session-1

Matthew Modine – how incredible to find that you had ancestors who lived within a stone’s throw of the place where you chose to live yourself! https://www.familysearch.org/rootstech/special-session/matthew-modine-acting-and-the-power-of-connection

Molly Yeh – a wonderful story of the connections forged through food https://www.familysearch.org/rootstech/registered-session/molly-yeh-shaping-her-legacy-through-food

And, of course, some of the many other talks:

Sophie Kay - Ancestral Hide-and-Seek in the Roaring Twenties: The 1921 Census of England & Wales. An excellent talk about the newly released 1921 census https://www.familysearch.org/rootstech/series/ancestral-hide-and-seek-in-the-roaring-twenties-the-1921-census-of-england-wales

Nick Barrett - When Harry met Dotty – using DNA to break down brick walls. An interesting case study (I always enjoy those). https://www.familysearch.org/rootstech/session/when-harry-met-dotty-using-dna-to-break-down-brick-walls

Daniel Horowitz - Genealogy of the Food Brands. A fun way to illustrate the records available on MyHeritage by examining the families who are the names behind some famous food brands. https://www.familysearch.org/rootstech/session/genealogy-of-the-food-brands

Ugo Perego - What does it mean to have Neanderthal ancestry. A very interesting talk about the evolution of homo sapiens and Neanderthals, and what your DNA can reveal about any neanderthal ancestors you may have. Particularly interesting for me as apparently I have more neanderthal DNA than 85% of my contacts (no comments about my height, please!) https://www.familysearch.org/rootstech/session/what-does-it-mean-to-have-neanderthal-ancestry

Janet Few - How to Handle Sensitive Topics in Family History (aka Family History Warts and All: How inclusive is your family story). Not so much how to handle them, but an examination of the type of things that might crop up (criminals, mental health problems, illegitimacy, slavery etc) https://www.familysearch.org/rootstech/session/how-to-handle-sensitive-topics-in-family-history

Maxine E Meurs - Researching the identity of my Chinese Great-Great-Grandfather. Growing up in Australia I am often guilty of only thinking about the European history of my country in the 19^th Century, so this was an interesting and eye-opening talk about the family of a Chinese man who came to Australia during the gold rush. https://www.familysearch.org/rootstech/session/researching-the-identity-of-my-chinese-great-great-grandfather

Why not go to RootsTech Connect 2022 and watch some of the talks and let me know which ones you liked!