Whether you need to attend for an assignment or just want to further your knowledge, academic conferences can be tremendously beneficial for your educational and professional career.
Academic conferences—also known as research conferences, academic congresses or symposiums—are subject-based events where students and researchers can present their findings and learn about the latest developments in their field. These gatherings are usually organized by professional associations or groups of independent researchers, making it an educational hub and a fantastic opportunity for networking.
Here’s how you can maximize the benefits of attending these events:
Utilize the Networking Events
Conferences are a great opportunity to start conversations with people in your field from all areas of the world. While many networking opportunities do happen organically on the convention floor or after a panel, these events often have designated mentoring programs, one-on-one sessions and group conversations where you can be connected with a certified professional in your field. This removes the need for awkward introductions and can be an encouraging start to networking.
If these programs aren’t available, you can also use these events to learn more about researchers in your field and send them a direct message to try and establish a connection. Keep your message concise, mention your shared research interests and specify what you hope to discuss during the meeting.
Attend Receptions and Social Events
In addition to sessions and mentorship programs, these conferences will likely offer social events and mixers for a more informal atmosphere. These can also be fantastic opportunities to make connections with your professional network, especially as these settings tend to be more relaxed. Even if you’re new to the field, these events can be a great entry point for meeting peers and mentors alike.
Participate Actively in Sessions
While it’s tempting to only attend your own presentation, going to other researchers’ sessions can introduce you to innovative research areas and methodologies you might not have encountered otherwise. Before attending the conference, look at the different sessions being offered and find the ones that best align with your interests. Doing this beforehand can relieve the stress of trying to ender panels at the last minute or missing them completely. You may consider attending sessions that are:
- Related to your field of study or those hosted by a relevant section.
- Feature researchers whose work you admire.
- Are specifically linked to the conference’s overarching theme.
Engaging in these sessions will expand your knowledge and provide opportunities to ask questions, engage with speakers and spark meaningful conversations.
Plan Ahead and Stay Flexible
While you’re choosing what sessions you would like to attend, you’ll also want to review the conference schedule in advance and mark the activities you would like to do. Remember to leave time for unexpected networking opportunities, as well as time to explore the convention hall.
You may also want to set goals for yourself like, “Attend five sessions on a particular subject” or, “Talk to 10 new people,” to help you get the most of your conference experience.
Follow Up Post-Conference
The connections you make at a conference don’t end with the event. Make sure you follow up with the people you met by sending them an email or LinkedIn message, referencing who you are, what you talked about and how you want to stay connected.
This step will strengthen your network and possibly allow for future opportunities.
Read more articles for the ConnectComm Community here.