Scientific conferences: What to expect, how to prepare, & how to make the most of your time there!

Описание: Scientific conferences are one of the key ways in which scientists present their work to other scientists - and scientists get to learn about the cutting-edge work going on in other labs. There’s also networking, workshops, & goodies. So here’s a quick guide to help you make the most of your conference-going experience!  
  
blog: https://bit.ly/scientificconferences_...
  
note: Today’s text is just an outline - if you want a longer post, see: https://bit.ly/scientific_conferences   
  
Key components of scientific conferences:  
 
Research talks  
 
Selected from abstracts   
Some shorter (10-15 min) others longer (30 min or so)  
Typically close-to-publication or recently published (or in preprint)  
Often given by Postdocs & PIs (heads of labs)   
 
Invited speakers  
Usually 30 min - 1 h  
Sometimes in conjunction with receipt of an award   
Sometimes called “keynote” or “plenary” lectures   
Usually given by “big name” scientists - prominent people in the field  
Plenary talks are often given by the really big ones, often at a later stage in their career about a sort of overview of their work to a wider audience   
 
Flash talks (sometimes)  
5 min or so, often in conjunction with a poster (so a sort of preview to get people to come to your poster)  
 
At large conferences, there will be lots of talks going on at the same time, so plan out your schedule ahead of time (based on abstracts) to make sure you get to the ones you really want to see  
 
The talks are usually arranged into “tracts” so related research is presented in the same room so you don’t have to try to race across the conference center to see another talk only to find out that the session isn’t on time!  
 
Poster sessions  
Usually present works-in-progress   
Often given by students and Postdocs   
At large meetings, there are poster sessions over multiple days and you’ll just have your poster hung up for one of them  
Typically posters are up all day and then there are specified times where the people who have even-numbered posters stand by theirs and other times where the people who have odd-numbered posters stand by theirs  
 
If you’re presenting:  
Consider making a QR code taking people to PDF version (if PI is okay with it being public), video walk-through, preprint, etc.  
keep your nose out of your phone no matter how awkward you feel!   
Try not to make your poster too cluttered  
Let figures and graphics do the heavy lifting rather than text   
Use bullet point summaries  
Include a graphical abstract (overview in infographic form)  
 
If you’re viewing:  
Scout out ahead of sessions (through abstracts and walking halls when people aren’t around)   
Make note of ones to return to when the presenter is there  
Ask people to walk you through their poster - especially students - and especially people whose posters aren’t getting much traffic   
 
Formal networking and career development events  
Workshops on CV preparation, job searches, etc.  
Meet-ups of people at similar training levels and/or research interests  
 
Workshops  
Learn how to use equipment, techniques, etc.   
 
Informal networking  
Meet people at poster sessions, in hallways, etc.  
Try to connect with people you’ve met virtually or through friend-of-a-friend connections   
 
Exhibit halls  
Vendors try to sell you stuff - but also give you discount codes and SWAG  
Can be a fun way to learn about techniques and fancy equipment you know you will probably never have access to - as well as stuff you might!  
 
more posts on topics pertaining to scientists-in-training: https://bit.ly/gradpostdocetc      
  
more about all sorts of things: #365DaysOfScience All (with topics listed) 👉 http://bit.ly/2OllAB0 or search blog: http://thebumblingbiochemist.com                                 
  
#scicomm #biochemistry #molecularbiology #biology #sciencelife #science #realtimechem