The art of conference attendance: common pitfalls and how to avoid them

Dr. Jo Pike – Room 319, Wilberforce Building, j.pike@hull.ac.uk

Tel: 01482 466364

Introduction

• Conference attendance as an art – not a neutral activity but should be part of an overall strategy to help you achieve your aims.

– Pros and cons with attending conferences (as member of audience)

– Pros and cons with presenting at conferences– A personal example of strategic conference

attendance

“Always have a plan, and believe in it. Nothing happens by accident.” - Chuck Knox, American Football Coach

Cinderella, you will go to the conference!

• You’ve just got funding and you’re happy

• But what are you hoping the outcome will be?

• Networking? Learning more from the field? Meeting your idols?

What are conferences for?

• Disseminate your work

• Listen to other people’s work

• Attract people to your institution

• Develop potential ideas for future projects – research, writing, seminars etc.

• Open up avenues for future employment

• Invites to other institutions

• Tips and advice for career.

Attending as a member of the audience

• Positive -

– You don’t have to give details of your work– You don’t get nervous– You can evaluate the field

• Negative

– You have to be proactive– People may not remember you– Can be a bit uncomfortable

Attending as a speaker

• Positives

– People approach you!– People remember you (and your work)– Feedback

• Negatives

– Nerves– Unhelpful comments– Getting your ideas out there

Personal Experience

• Recent conference in Jan resulted in

– Press and academic interest in topic– Strengthened partnership between University and

local provider– Interest from leaders in field – Nascent advisory board for future project related

to this work– Invite to speak at conference in June

Tips and techniques

• Choose conference wisely (limited funding etc.)

– Who will be there? Why do you want to network with them?

• Do your homework – contact ahead of conference, open dialogue, find out who is interested in what

• Have a back up conversation topic

• Be open, but keep something back (don’t give away all your research)

• Be prepared to be underwhelmed by your ‘idols’. PhD students often far more interesting.

• Take handouts, business cards etc.

Thanks for listening! jjp j @ ullj jujieh a c