So, you're having yet another fulfilling day in the tropical paradise of Hong Kong. The air's fresh, the water crystal clear and there are no packs of marauding wild dogs anywhere near your field-site. Your research is going well, but there's something missing. Whenever you talk to your colleagues about your work, their eyes glaze over, and you get a sneaking suspicion that they don't really understand what you're doing. What is needed is someone (other than your illustrious supervisor) that you can bounce ideas off, who'll give you their honest opinion and maybe even some new ideas. People outside of the captive audience (and I use the word cautiously) who so enjoy the Friday seminars.
Its time to start looking for a conference, an event where people actually pay to sit and be enthralled by your research findings. Firstly you have to decide whether you go to the local meeting on shrew ecology in Hong Kong, with 15 participants who know everything about the subject, or the 5000 participant international conference in Australia on all things small and furry. There are obviously pros and cons to each type, and what follows are the harrowing tales of two students who gave oral presentations and survived to tell their story. All names and events have been changed beyond recognition to protect the innocent.
Case 1: Shrews
After spending her whole scientific career within the cosy confines of HKU, Mary decided she wanted to try a conference overseas, but one where she wouldn't be overwhelmed by huge hordes of evil senior scientists. So, when the opportunity arose to broaden her horizons, she jumped at the chance. Her choice, was a local conference aimed at postgraduates on the West Coast of the USA, in order to "see how students conduct their research" outside of Hong Kong.
Mary was stunned beyond belief at the scientific wonders that unfolded before her. She learnt a "totally different approach to research", as it seemed to be OK to stand up and proudly talk about your negative results to the throng, as at least you could stop others making the same mistakes. It was also immediately apparent that US research was leaps and bounds ahead in the use of hi-tech equipment. For example, someone had even "used a submarine to work on the gut contents of jellyfish" (now that's something that the department doesn't have: maybe next year).
Apparently, David Dudgeon would have been over the moon, as the constant "suggestion" at Friday seminars, that there should be a clear and valid reason why research is being conducted (seen as a strange idea by some) had apparently been taken to heart by everyone. NOT ONCE did anyone suggest that the whole reason they did something was only because their supervisor had told them to. While her talk went well, and people were interested in her work and gave some interesting feedback, Mary found the meeting too local. She expressed concern that the local students all knew each other well, and were reluctant to mix with others, a comment that was shared by some of the other participants who attended the conference. She did however manage to visit one of the most well known institutes on her subject, and meet some senior scientists there. Oh, and they had a nice shop, so all ended well.
Case 2: All things small and furry
Joseph had other plans in mind with his conference aspirations. He decided to go to THE international conference of the year, where everyone who was anyone was sure to be. Subjects included man/species interactions, behaviour, biodiversity, genetics, etc. You name it, it was talked about. It was also in Washington, where Joseph had never been, but of course, that was nothing to do with his choice of meeting ..
The presentation went well, and he had plenty of time to answer the multitude of questions that were thrown at him from the floor, all of which were of some use no matter how ridiculous they may have been, providing new ideas on how he could improve his work.
The only problem he encountered was that the organisers had somehow managed to find the only overhead projector on the planet that was not big enough for A4 pages. However, quick thinking and constant tinkering solved this problem.
In contrast to his colleague's experience, Joseph made numerous friends at the meeting. And indeed managed to visit one in Japan (where he'd also never been, but that's also beyond the point), where he was distraught to find that most field-sites were unsuitable for his work. These contacts and the increase in knowledge made this meeting highly successful. Oh, and also all of those wonderful electric goods that were on sale in Japan made it all worth while.
So, what's the overall point I'm trying to make? Maybe, just that if you get off your arse and go to a conference, you may well find out something useful, be able to gauge your work against others, meet people who can help you in some way, and have a good laugh at the same time (I did). And remember, if things don't all go according to plan, you can always go shopping (for that submarine maybe?).
Neil Hutchinson
PS: My supervisor made me do it.P.25
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