Researchers often focus so much on laboratory work and publishing papers that they often forget another important aspect of a successful profession: professional networking! One way to get out of the lab and meet new colleagues is to hold a conference or workshop. Conferences are usually large events focused on presenting research, while workshops are smaller practical events that teach a skill or method. In this post, we will discuss some of the benefits of holding such events.
How to Make an Event Successful?
Many factors affect the success of a conference or workshop. As an organizer, you can record the details and plan the venue, reception, or arrangement of the guests, as these may make your conference a success or a failure. In fact, people generally attend conferences for creating a professional network, brainstorming, and participating in professional development. For this reason, the details and quality of the presented work are very important.
Choosing a well-known keynote speaker or workshop instructor is one of the best ways to attract people to your event. When people see famous names, they will be more eager to participate. An exciting and successful conference or workshop also presents high-quality work that is shared in innovative ways. You can pick a specific topic, while many organizers choose something general like “Emerging Trends in …” to ensure that they receive a lot of articles. Receiving a large number of articles increases the chances of including good research in your event.
Why Should I Organize a Conference?
The idea of organizing a conference or workshop seems quite tedious. However, before you say no, consider the benefits of doing this as a researcher.
- Events are a great way to network and organize and get you in the spotlight. You will be in touch with all the speakers and will have the opportunity for personal interaction. This can open the door to personal relationships that will help your career in the future.
- Organizing events can help you improve your soft skills. Communication, teamwork, and organization are all valuable skills that can help you progress later.
- It might not always be possible to control the agenda because financing organizations may have their own demands. But as an organizer, you can focus on specific papers or emerging research. You can use the people you think are relevant and influential in your discussion.
- If you are participating in the organization of a conference, you can also play a key role in editing the final accepted papers. This can increase your publication history.
Financial support
You can finance your conference by asking for financial support from the government, companies, or universities. Many conferences charge a fee for attendance. However, make sure that the cost is reasonable and consistent with other similar conferences. Otherwise, it may not be successful.
Do you have the experience of organizing a scientific conference or workshop? How did it affect your career? You can share your experiences with us in the comments below.