Conferences are valuable opportunities to learn, network, and showcase your work, but they can also be costly and time-consuming. How can you make sure you get the most out of your conference experience without breaking the bank? Here are some tips on how to evaluate conferences effectively on a budget.
Before you register for a conference, ask yourself what you want to achieve and what you can afford. Do you want to present your research, meet potential collaborators, or learn new skills? How much are you willing to spend on travel, accommodation, and registration fees? How will you measure your return on investment? Having clear and realistic goals and expectations will help you choose the right conference for you and plan your budget accordingly.
Identify who you wish to meet for a substantive conversation, use your networks to find out if they are attending. Connect with them before the conference, just a simple email will do and try to arrange to meet them.
Once you have a shortlist of conferences that match your goals and budget, do some research on their quality and relevance. Look at the conference website, program, speakers, and sponsors. How reputable and credible are they? How diverse and inclusive are they? How relevant and current are the topics and trends? How interactive and engaging are the sessions and formats? How accessible and convenient are the location and dates? Doing your research will help you avoid wasting time and money on conferences that are not worth it.
Even if you end up getting this wrong, there is always something to benefit from. Ensure you make at least 3 new (real) connections even if they seem unconnected to you or your work.
Another way to evaluate conferences effectively on a budget is to seek feedback and reviews from previous attendees, speakers, or organizers. You can use social media, blogs, podcasts, or online forums to find out what people liked and disliked about the conference, what they learned and gained, and what they would recommend or improve. You can also ask your peers, mentors, or colleagues who have attended the conference or similar ones for their opinions and advice. Seeking feedback and reviews will help you get a more realistic and honest perspective on the conference value and quality.
Fragen, fragen und nochmals fragen! Jede Industrie hat Leitmessen und zentrale Konferenzen. Als Neuling kann man an erster Stelle diese Events identifizieren und hierauf aufbauen. Neben den zentralen Events gibt es kleine Veranstaltungen, die durch die Teilnehmer leben und bei denen es wichtig ist, Teil der Community zu werden. Diese identifiziert man am besten im Gespr?ch mit anderen Experten aus der jeweiligen Industrie. Daher nochmals: es gibt keine dummen Fragen. Immer frei raus Kollegen und Freunde fragen.
Once you have decided to attend a conference, plan your agenda and activities carefully. Review the conference program and select the sessions, workshops, panels, or posters that interest you the most and align with your goals. Prioritize the ones that offer opportunities for learning, interaction, feedback, or networking. Avoid overloading your schedule or skipping breaks. Plan your travel and accommodation in advance and look for ways to save money, such as booking early, sharing rooms, or using public transport. Plan your activities outside the conference, such as sightseeing, socializing, or relaxing. Planning your agenda and activities will help you make the most of your conference time and money.
Don't only plan your agenda but also position yourself in advance. Why are you a great person to talk to at the conference? What can you offer to other participants that they don't have or what they need? Are you looking for stipends or funding? Prepare some teasers of your work - a 4-pager will do a good job - and be ready to hand them out. Bring enough business cards. Ideally with a QR Code for fast processing. Yes, bring them printed. You don't need to play the "American Psycho"-style game, but handing over a printed piece of paper still makes a huge difference. And if your company does not provide printed business cards anymore, get your own ones. Trust me, it's worth it!
After the conference, follow up and reflect on your experience. Connect with the people you met, exchanged contacts, or had meaningful conversations with. Send them a thank-you note, a follow-up question, or a resource. Share your insights, feedback, or outcomes with your peers, mentors, or colleagues. Write a blog post, a report, or a presentation about what you learned and how you will apply it. Evaluate your goals and expectations and assess your return on investment. What did you achieve and what did you miss? What did you enjoy and what did you dislike? What did you learn and what do you need to learn more? Following up and reflecting will help you consolidate your learning, strengthen your network, and improve your future conference experiences.
And if you follow up: Be helpful and not annoying. Sharing ideas, sending a paper, piece of work or some pictures is much more rewarding than asking favors of some people you just met. They will remember you differently if you take this approach.
Der Netzwerkgedanke darf auf Konferenzen nicht vernachl?ssigt werden. Bzw er ist sogar der relevanteste Bereich. Wenige werden sich an den Vortrag oder das fachliche Input erinnern, im Ged?chtnis bleiben aber besonders die menschlichen Aspekte. Sind Sie also ein aufmerksamer Gespr?chspartner. Biete Sie kleine Gefallen an: Gemeinsames Taxi, Mitfahrm?glichkeit oder sonstige Reisetipps. Organisieren Sie pre- oder Post Konferenz Dinner oder Events. Ein gelungener Abend kann spannender sein, als ein paar langweilige Vortr?ge und Kontakte fürs weitere Leben erm?glichen.
For those embarking on the academic conference journey, cold self introductions can be daunting. Everyone already seems to know everyone else. But this won't be true. Just go for it.