It’s a simple fact: nobody can attend every conference in their field. Even the most well-funded scholars are limited by calendar availability, and the rest of us have to carefully decide where to focus our limited financial resources. It’s an annual source of frustration for many interdisciplinary scholars because there are so many wonderful conferences out there, and they each offer something a little different.
Should you go to a scholarly association’s giant national meeting? It features all the big names, plus dozens of panels, roundtables, and meet-ups. But that can also be overwhelming. Maybe this year you want to focus on regional or thematic gatherings that offer more opportunities for connections. Or maybe your conference paper got rejected from one event, but you rewrote the abstract and it was accepted by another. These and many other considerations go into planning and managing conference participation.
No matter what you decide, some events you’d love to be at simply won’t fit in the schedule or budget. But there are still exciting, innovative conversations happening at the conferences you opt out of. Does not going mean you’re shut out completely? Not necessarily! In some cases, nothing compares to being in the (virtual or physical) room. But there are many ways to engage in meaningful conference participation from afar.
Conference participation through social media
The simplest way to follow and engage with the conversations happening at a conference is via social media. Start by going to the conference website. It will usually have links to social media accounts and list official event hashtags (if the website itself doesn’t have the hashtags, check out social media posts). Following those will help you see what people are posting.
It’s also useful to look at the variety of hashtags that conference participants use during the event. Organic variations often emerge. For example, if the official hashtag is “SCMS2024,” you might also check “SCMS24,” “2024SCMS,” and so on.
Keep in mind that you might have to do a little digging to find out where the conversation is happening. For a long time, the platform formally known as Twitter (X) was the go-to for academic conferences. As X becomes less relevant, many discussions are shifting to places like Instagram, Mastodon, and Threads.
Not all platforms use hashtags. In that case, it’s helpful to follow the conference host account, as well as individual people who will be attending and whose work interests you.
Don’t forget, social media is also a fabulous way to signal-boost gatherings you want to support, even if you can’t be there. You can post about a panel that sounds great or repost announcements that are important to your field. That’s what that share button is for!
Use the conference program to connect
Conference programs are incredible resources and are usually publicly accessible—they’re not just for registered participants.
There can be a particular pleasure that comes from sitting in a hotel lobby, draping your lanyard around your neck, and flipping through a paper program, highlighter poised above the page. But the online version has the benefit of being searchable. You can look for topics connected to your research, see what new themes are coming up, find scholars you know and check out their new work, or find new folks whose research you want to follow.
Since most conference programs list the presenter’s institutional affiliation, this can even be a way to initiate a conversation. When approached professionally, most scholars appreciate respectful enthusiasm for their work.
Look for public and offsite events
If you live in the region, be sure to check the program and social media for offsite events. Local businesses and community groups often coordinate related gatherings like author readings, performances, and happy hours. Informal events like these can be fun, low-pressure ways to get in some solid conference participation without having to commit to several full days.
If you’re nearby (or if the event is online) and there are official events you really, really want to attend, look into buying a single-day pass. Further, many conferences also have some public events or offer passes for specific occasions such as keynote speeches and receptions.
Don’t forget to visit the exhibitors. The exhibition hall is frequently open to the public. It’s a great opportunity to get feedback on your book manuscript, meet with acquisitions editors, and browse new books in your fields.
For instance, Ideas on Fire offers free manuscript consultations at conferences. We’ve got links to schedule your consultation—in person where we’re an exhibitor or over Zoom—on our conference hubs. The conference hubs also have resources like event hashtags, new books by IoF authors, and themed podcast playlists featuring conversations with scholars, artists, and activists.
The most thorough conference experience will always be attending the full event, whether online, hybrid, or in person. And of course, the significant labor, time, and resources that go into organizing a great conference deserves to be supported and celebrated. But just because your budget or calendar is limited doesn’t mean conference participation is out of reach.
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