Conferences

Tips for finding good conferences:

Your School and researchers in your School

• There may be a list of recommended conferences, meetings and seminars already available in your School
• Researchers in your School might have suggestions of conferences they have attended

Associations and Societies

• Check websites of an official association or society that governs or is reputable in your discipline
• Subscribe to their newsletters, blogs, discussion lists

Researchers in your field

• Follow high-profile researchers via blogs, Twitter, GoogleScholar or LinkedIn to see which conferences they attend

Previous conferences

• Check out what the participants thought of previous conferences by using social media, e.g. conference Twitter or hashtags
• Conference information may also be available via Facebook or blogs

The format of conferences can be discipline-specific. Consider these points in relation to your field:

Conference type, duration and location

Is this manageable considering your other commitments? Presenting at an international meeting may be more prestigious and offer opportunities for expanded collaborations, but may be more expensive and be more time consuming.

• How long is the conference?
• Is the conference or meeting one in a series or an inaugural conference?
• Is it a domestic or international meeting?

Organiser

Consider what you wish to gain from this event, and if this is the best forum for the purpose. Will your target audience attend this event?

• Is it an academic or a vendor conference?
• Is the organiser an industry or business?

Cost

Consider if these expenses are included in your budget.

• Is the registration fee in line with other conferences in your field?
• Is the cost reasonable relative to the duration of conference and what is included?
• What associated costs will you incur from this conference?

Submission of papers and abstracts

Larger events usually have a call for abstract submission long in advance, between 6-12 months ahead of conference. Consider if this will affect future publications of your data.

• Will your results be available for submission in time to be considered for presentation?
• Will abstracts /papers be published?

For an additional tool to help you evaluate your conference please use the UQ Conference Checker.

Well established conferences should make information about previous conferences available.

In particular look at:

• Previous papers presented and who presented them
• Sponsors of the conference
• Trade show exhibitors, if applicable - who are they