Academic conferences are a vital part of developing your academic profile and growing as a researcher. It’s exhilarating to engage with other scholars in person; you suddenly have the chance to listen to a variety of authors whose academic works you’ve been reading. You also have the opportunity to meet and talk to them at lunches or in the coffee queue.
With unique opportunities for learning, developing, and networking, an academic conference can sometimes be a frightening experience. And this is especially true for newbies. Developing your unique way of handling and dealing with academic conferences is crucial. Are you preparing for an academic conference? Let’s discover everything you need to know about it.
How Can You Survive Your First Academic Conference?
It’s normal to be terrified, especially when you’re new to academic conferences. But how can you get started successfully? Let’s look at some tips that can help you.
Prepare Yourself
Hardly any attendee can manage to send their paper the evening prior to the conference without having to get a bad reputation. Once your paper is accepted for the forthcoming academic conference, have a plan in mind. Before the conference begins, in one or two weeks, you’ll be required to circulate or upload your paper.
Be sure to reserve enough time to prepare perfectly before the deadline. Ensure you also schedule enough time, which can be a few days prior to the conference, to go through other papers on your panel. You should also inform yourself about your discussant and chair. Make your preparation as professional as you can.
Be Yourself
It’s vital to learn from the tricks and tips of experienced academic conference goers. But you should have your own way to utilize them. Understand what you’re comfortable with and discover your own way of engaging yourself and interacting genuinely.
While you need to be professional, you must be willing and ready to show why you’re excited about your academic research. Don’t try to show off or pretend. You don’t want other scholars to remember you for being the pretentious and arrogant scholar who can’t listen or take recommendations.
Be Human
Academic conferences are simply social interactions: listen, learn, and socialize. Watch, listen, and learn from others, including their way of asking questions, communicating, and presenting.
If you’ve got enough time, don’t just visit panels in line with your narrow research subject but also other panels. You’ll be able to catch up with academic research trends in a broader field. Don’t limit yourself to thinking you’re only there to present your paper or research.
You’re there as an important part of your community. That means you must invest and be able to engage and interact beyond your panel appearance. As part of an active audience, ask questions and show a lot of interest.
How Do You Make the Most of an Academic Conference?
From researchers and mentors to doctoral students and graduate learners, all academics participate in or attend academic conferences at some point. These conferences can be beneficial in enabling young scholars to build a reputation for themselves in a given field, learn new concepts, and make networks that could easily result in new projects on funding.
Academic conferences are a perfect investment for your funds and time. That is why it’s vital to get the most out of these academic conferences. There is plenty you can do prior to or during the conference that can help you maximize its value, including the following:
- Research to be sure that the conference you’re applying to present or planning to attend is well-received and legitimate
- Familiarise yourself with the presenters
- Make efforts to know other attendees
- Arrive early
- Do not take it personally
- Balance your day
- Follow up
- Do not miss the poster sessions
Academic conferences offer a perfect way to:
- Share your study or research
- Learn about trends in your field
- Solicit vital feedback
- Connect with like-minded people
These events offer a valuable experience that can enable you to build your career and enhance your CV.
