Conferences – both research and in practice – are wonderful events for students, practitioners, and researchers to come together and discuss current issues and research in what is going on in terms of the industry and profession. We had a graduate workshop here at the University of Tennessee where students and faculty got together to hear two research presentations (one via PowerPoint and one poster), and discuss any questions or concerns people had when it came to presenting at a research conference. I have participated in both research presentations, poster sessions, and rountable sessions – all have their different formats, but all are a great activity to be a part of and discuss with others at the conference your research and ideas for future research.
There are of course some best practices in how to conduct yourself in a research presentation and poster session, and here are some that I have learned and have worked for me over the last couple of years:
Always be prepared for anything!: Whether it is the technology not working or your luggage or poster does not arrive, these are all important things to think about in preparation of going to a research presentation. These things do happen, so it is best to be prepared for them.
Here I am at the Reputation Institute Conference in Amsterdam (2009)
Realize that you are on.. not only during your presentation, but for the entire conference: You want to make sure that you are aware that people are aware of how you conduct yourself with others not only during your presentation, but also at social activities. Make sure that you are aware of this – you never know who might be making their first impression of you as a future research scholar and professional at these conferences. It is always important to proactively think of these things ahead of time and manage your reputation.
Practice and invest in your presentation: Make sure that you take the time to present the best presentation you can and make sure that your visuals and how you present your presentation – whether it is via a poster or through a PowerPoint presentation, you have invested a lot of energy, time, and resources with your research – you want to make sure that it is presented in a visually appealing manner as well as being professional.
Make me an international researcher / PR professional!: Branch out your presentations to include those not only here in the US, but also in other countries as well. Whether it is in China or the Netherlands, Greece or Brazil – all of these are not only great research experiences in terms of presenting at these international conferences, but it is a wonderful opportunity to learn and experience another culture and network with fellow professionals in the field. I strongly encourage you to take advantage and invest in going to these international conferences – they are a great learning experience in both practice, research, and personally as well.
Standout from the crowd: Be memorable, creative, and engaging with your research – you want to showcase your energy and enthusiasm with your research with others. You also want to make sure that you can clearly articulate the main concepts, methodology, and the implications of your research to both theory and practice. This bridge is very important to communicate with not only fellow students, but also faculty as well.
In summary, conferences and presentations are a lot of fun. I have really enjoyed the various conferences I have attended and presented in over the course of the last four years. From public relations conferences like AEJMC and IPR to reputation management conferences like the annual Reputation Institute conference to psychology conferences like APS. Speaking of conferences, I will be attending the NCA conference in a few weeks in San Francisco – I am very excited about attending and presenting at this conference – this will be the first time that I will be at NCA, so I am looking forward to it! 🙂
Hope you all are having a wonderful and fabulous day!
Best Wishes,
Karen
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