28. How to get the most out of attending a conference

Whether virtual or in person, conferences are without question one of the best ways to meet people and hear about new work in your field. Amongst other things, they can also be fantastic places to find jobs, collaborators, and thesis examiners. But to get the most out of attending a conference, it really pays to prepare before you go, to be brave once you get there and then do some follow-ups afterwards.

This week Michael and Jen chat with our wonderful colleague Dr Linden Ashcroft about our strategies for getting the most out of attending a conference, particularly when it comes to networking, which can be challenging for all of us.

Here are a few good reads for more advice on networking at conferences:

Introvert’s guide to conference networking - how to get the most out of conference working whilst preserving your social energy

How to get the most out of attending conferences - an article that talks about why conferences are important, how to pick which ones to go to, mistakes to avoid and how to make the most of it when you're there

The Scientific Conference Guide (Or, How to Make the Most of Your Free Holiday) - an excellent guide that takes you through what to expect at a conference, and how to conduct yourself at each of these stages

10 Tips for grad students to make the most of a scientific conference - a great guide for attending conferences when you're early in your research career

Advice: how to network at conferences - this is some really high quality and down to earth advice on how to behave when it comes to networking at conferences. I highly recommend reading this one if you're new to the conference scene!

The Guardian - 5 tips on how to make the most of academic conferences - some more tips on networking at conferences

Transcript: https://go.unimelb.edu.au/za2e