Guide for new s

5.3.3.At the conference

More importantly, do the things for which conferences were created. Make sure you have read the conference program. Students tend to miss the most interesting parties and tours because it does not occur to them to study the program. Mark the events and presentations of interest to you, and write them down, so that you have your schedule figured out.

Learn by listening to a few presentations of your interest. Do not sit in presentations that bore you, there are other things to do, just attend the interesting ones. If you are bored with the subject, try to learn something about how to make presentations, watch the audience, and try to understand the true meaning of questions and comments.

Go to poster sessions, and select a few of your interest. Do not be arrogant. Ask your questions, learn from others, and educate them on what you do. Attend work group meetings and workshops.

Build your contacts. The rapport you build up with your fellow students now will be invaluable when you all graduate and meet each other several years later. Meet professionals, they are the people who can help you get jobs and internships, provide you with critical research data, and make recommendations to others. Print your business cards in advance (you can do it cheap with a laser printer), and bring a few business cards of your advisor. You may strike an important contact, which will immensely benefit the project and, later, might lead to a fantastic internship opportunity for you. Help your advisor to make contacts with other universities, companies, and government. The advisor cannot be everywhere and you are his ambassador. Advisors are judged by their students and vice versa.

Do not sit with your friends at lunches and dinners; do not stay around them at wine-and-cheese parties. Instead, circulate, meet new people, introduce yourself, and have them introduce you to others. If you feel uncomfortable striking a conversation, learn a few “party tricks.” For example, “be the host.” Learn where food is or where to put dirty plates, and help people to find their way. Or, notice something special about the person and make a comment about it. Almost always, people will be happy to talk to you. Especially other students: oh, many of them look so helpless at the receptions and will be very happy to talk to you. Organize a night out with some of them. Again, do not limit yourself to your circle of friends.

Make notes. You will get dozens of thoughts and ideas. Try to get a big picture, position your project with respect to others and see how it fits with the industry or discipline.

You are likely to participate in some kind of a student contest. Those are winnable, even the tough international ones. Many SEAL students by now had won national and international contests. It is a big lift for your resume; give it your best effort. Remember to take a digital picture when you make a presentation, or get an award.

Conferences are very enriching and fun experiences, make the most of it. Hopefully, you will want to go again.

After returning from the conference, it is a good idea to share your experiences and new information with your group.

In response to one of the earlier questions: you do not need to be an annoying salesmen of the lab. The subjects of conversation can be anything. If you spend some of the time discussing research issues, it is good, but it is not necessary. However, if you do not show up or only talk to each other, then there is no chance of anything good happening.