Index of Topics

• Keys to making your conference experience a success

• Good advice from experienced conference-goers

Keys to making your conference experience a success

Being prepared for your conference can make it much more enjoyable and less stressful. Here are some tips:

1. Make a list (in Word) of where you need to be and important information, in chronological order:
   • Flight information (Airline, flight number, date, time)
   • Shuttle info to get from the airport into the hotel
   • Event times and locations, e.g., the poster session
   • Workshops and sessions that you would like to attend
     
      
2. Download the conference app to help with finding events
   
    
3. Bring your poster and 11" x 8.5" printouts of your poster, which are nice to hand out to interested people
   
    
4. Bring your ID, debit/credit card, and business cards (if you have some)
   
    
5. Pack comfortable, but professional attire

Good advice from experienced conference-goers

1. Preparing for Conferences - by a graduate student, with good advice for anyone presenting
   
    
2. Getting the most out of scientific conferences, professionally and personally - by a Maryland Sea Grant Research Fellow
   
    
3. How not to talk about your research - by a grad student

Here are some tips from those articles:

• Presenting a poster? Read up on your own research so that it is fresh in your mind
• Practice describing your research if you are giving a poster, or practice your talk
• Work on your “elevator speech” (make it simple and show the relevance of your work)
• Ask good questions: at talks, panels, and to individuals
• Be ready for tough questions
• Be confident!
• Talk to people at sessions of interest; ask them about their work, grad school, the work force, and more.

Go forth, and make new connections!