Listen to this article
0:00/1:34
Listen to this article
0:00/1:34
Study Skills
How do I plan for attending a conference?
Study Skills
How do I plan for attending a conference?
Study Skills
How do I plan for attending a conference?
Summary
Conferences are a great way to meet other scholars in your field and hear about the newest research. However, they can be stressful, as they are a change from your regular routine and you may not know many people going.
Here are some tips you can try.
Scope out the location beforehand
Travel strategically
Identify people to talk to ahead of time
Take a go-bag
Summary
Conferences are a great way to meet other scholars in your field and hear about the newest research. However, they can be stressful, as they are a change from your regular routine and you may not know many people going.
Here are some tips you can try.
Scope out the location beforehand
Travel strategically
Identify people to talk to ahead of time
Take a go-bag
Read this article
2m
Scope out the location beforehand
Familiarising yourself with the location of a conference before you go can help lower anxiety about attending. Conferences often publish a map online or email one out ahead of time, or doing some research ahead of time with Google or Apple Maps may be helpful. Useful things to look out for include toilets, quiet areas, coffee shops, food options, and distance from the travel arrival or departure points.
Travel strategically
Thinking about your travel ahead of time is often helpful. You might be able to travel to a conference with a friend, or meet a friend or colleague after you’ve arrived but before the main events start. Having flexible tickets where possible, so that you can arrive late if you miss a train, or depart early if you need to is always a good idea. Remember to build in extra time to your journey for preparation so that you don’t have to rush.
Identify people to talk to ahead of time
If you're attending a conference where you don’t know many people, it's a good idea to identify potential conversation partners in advance. This could be other postgraduates, researchers in your field, the conference organisers, or even people who have announced their attendance online. Many large conferences also have representatives, including postgraduates, whose role is to facilitate networking and make attendees feel more at ease.
Take a go-bag
Consider taking a bag you can carry around each day, perhaps within your main bag or a pocket that includes things to help you manage situations. This might include headphones for noisy environments, snacks, a phone charger, a map, or travel arrangements.
Read this article
2m
Scope out the location beforehand
Familiarising yourself with the location of a conference before you go can help lower anxiety about attending. Conferences often publish a map online or email one out ahead of time, or doing some research ahead of time with Google or Apple Maps may be helpful. Useful things to look out for include toilets, quiet areas, coffee shops, food options, and distance from the travel arrival or departure points.
Travel strategically
Thinking about your travel ahead of time is often helpful. You might be able to travel to a conference with a friend, or meet a friend or colleague after you’ve arrived but before the main events start. Having flexible tickets where possible, so that you can arrive late if you miss a train, or depart early if you need to is always a good idea. Remember to build in extra time to your journey for preparation so that you don’t have to rush.
Identify people to talk to ahead of time
If you're attending a conference where you don’t know many people, it's a good idea to identify potential conversation partners in advance. This could be other postgraduates, researchers in your field, the conference organisers, or even people who have announced their attendance online. Many large conferences also have representatives, including postgraduates, whose role is to facilitate networking and make attendees feel more at ease.
Take a go-bag
Consider taking a bag you can carry around each day, perhaps within your main bag or a pocket that includes things to help you manage situations. This might include headphones for noisy environments, snacks, a phone charger, a map, or travel arrangements.
Written by Dr Cat Quine
Written by Dr Cat Quine
0:00/1:34
Summary
Conferences are a great way to meet other scholars in your field and hear about the newest research. However, they can be stressful, as they are a change from your regular routine and you may not know many people going.
Here are some tips you can try.
Scope out the location beforehand
Travel strategically
Identify people to talk to ahead of time
Take a go-bag
Read this article
Conferences are a great way to meet other scholars in your field and hear about the newest research. However, they can be stressful, as they are a change from your regular routine and you may not know many people going.
Here are some tips you can try.
Scope out the location beforehand
Travel strategically
Identify people to talk to ahead of time
Take a go-bag
Scope out the location beforehand
Familiarising yourself with the location of a conference before you go can help lower anxiety about attending. Conferences often publish a map online or email one out ahead of time, or doing some research ahead of time with Google or Apple Maps may be helpful. Useful things to look out for include toilets, quiet areas, coffee shops, food options, and distance from the travel arrival or departure points.
Travel strategically
Thinking about your travel ahead of time is often helpful. You might be able to travel to a conference with a friend, or meet a friend or colleague after you’ve arrived but before the main events start. Having flexible tickets where possible, so that you can arrive late if you miss a train, or depart early if you need to is always a good idea. Remember to build in extra time to your journey for preparation so that you don’t have to rush.
Identify people to talk to ahead of time
If you're attending a conference where you don’t know many people, it's a good idea to identify potential conversation partners in advance. This could be other postgraduates, researchers in your field, the conference organisers, or even people who have announced their attendance online. Many large conferences also have representatives, including postgraduates, whose role is to facilitate networking and make attendees feel more at ease.
Take a go-bag
Consider taking a bag you can carry around each day, perhaps within your main bag or a pocket that includes things to help you manage situations. This might include headphones for noisy environments, snacks, a phone charger, a map, or travel arrangements.
Written by Dr Cat Quine
Dr Cat Quine (she/her) is a former research fellow and assistant professor at the Universities of Oxford and Nottingham. She is autistic.
Written by Dr Cat Quine
Dr Cat Quine (she/her) is a former research fellow and assistant professor at the Universities of Oxford and Nottingham. She is autistic.