With having recently presented at a conference, I find myself eager to present again. There’s nothing better than being in front of a group of people who are genuinely interested in my research topic. Conferences may offer a line on one’s CV, but they also offer you a way to “geek out” while still maintaining a valorous attempt to ask new questions, learn, discuss sensitive topics that are often shied away from, as well as one of the many ways to join the Great Conversation.
Before conferences were fun to me, they were nerve wrecking. In fact, I remember going to the Undergraduate Research Symposium at Sam Houston State University and presenting my first oral presentation at a conference and poster presentation all in one day. I remember not sleeping the night before because I was still making one of my presentations! I also remember blanking on a basic question that I was asked.
My presentations went well, in that my audiences were engaged and interested, but had I taken more time to prepare, practice, etc., some of these issues would have been avoided and the experience would have been less stressful. That’s why I want to offer some insights on the process of submitting, preparing and going to a conference for those who haven't been to one. This is what the process might look like if you give yourself time.
It's something I’ve learned as I’ve stumbled.
1. Submitting your prospectus
Once you find a call for papers (CFP) on a topic you’re interested in, you can begin meeting the requirements of the submission. The usual requirement is for the writer to submit an abstract of about 250 words. An abstract is a concise synopsis of your research paper. However, it isn’t uncommon for writers to submit a prospectus if they don’t have the papers already written.
Side Note: The word abstract is used interchangeably with the word prospectus. The biggest difference between these two synopsizes is the tense. An abstract uses past tense, while a prospectus uses the future tense. For example, an abstract would use this tense: “my research discusses...,” while a prospectus would use this tense: “my research will discuss....”
When writing your prospectus, think about it as writing a concise introduction to your research topic, what your research will discuss, what your research has found or will find, and what you expect the significance of your findings to be, if any.
Next, make sure to revise and edit your abstract before submitting it. The language should be clear and concise.
Lastly, if you look at the CFP listing, there should be a name and an email to send your abstract to. When you write your email, use the proper address, express your interest, make a mention of how your topic relates to the conference’s subject, and give thanks. Don’t forget to attach your abstract/prospectus before you submit.
2. Prepare
When you get a response from your CFP conference, either you will be rejected, ghosted or asked to submit a brief biography. You also might need to pay for registration. This can cost anywhere from $10-75. (If your’re an undergraduate, ask about a fee wavier. If you’re a graduate student, look into applying for travel funds.)
The next task is to finish your research if you haven’t done so already. Will you write a paper to read aloud, present a PowerPoint presentation or a combination of the two? Will you hand out copies of your bibliography? Decide on your approach.
If you decide to present a PowerPoint, then keep in mind white space and design. White space is how much blank space fills each slide. The design of a PowerPoint is important in that it should balance text, images and spacing. The design should reflect the text while adding more to the story, if possible.
3. Practice
No matter the approach, public speaking will be crucial, but don’t overthink it. Everyone gets nervous. When you present, be prepared to know how long you have to present. Try not to go over your time because it’s considered rude. Time yourself as you read. After a while, you’ll have a firm grasp on your reading pace.
When you read, make eye contact with the crowd by scanning the room.
Be prepared to not always get to look at what you wrote. This means you’ll need to practice your presentation out loud more, practice gestures and be aware of your nervous ticks.
4. Dress to impress
The typical dress code for a conference is business casual to formal.
For a man, this might mean wearing anything from jeans and a button-up with nice shoes to wearing a full-on business suit with dress shoes.
For a woman, it’s complicated. Business casual can be a cardigan over a blouse paired with jeans; a dress paired with a blazer; a skirt and a blouse; etc. Formal wear can be a skirt and a blouse; a dress paired with a blazer; a pantsuit; slacks, a blouse, and a cardigan; etc. In either case, women don’t necessarily have to wear heels, get their nails done or do their makeup. However, there are societal pressures to do so.
For those that identify as a “them,” navigating how to dress professionally might not be clear-cut. I would suggest trying to dress neutral, but dress how you identify.
5. Legacy
While conferences can be for gaining a quick line on one’s CV, they can lead to a creating a legacy. How can you make sure your research has a lasting life beyond this conference?
Publication should be the goal because it creates a legacy for your research. If you write a paper, you can network and, possibly, talk to the director of the conference about submitting your research to print in an associated journal. If not, look into local, state, regional, or national journals.
Going to your first conference can be fun, but it can also lead to opening new doors. Give yourself time to find the perfect topic for you, to prepare, practice, dress to impress, and build a legacy.
