Conferences

Like much of academic life, I have a love/hate relationship with conferences. There are two general types: the large, international ones (like the one I'm currently at), and the smaller, more focused ones (either regional, or on a specialized topic).

At the large ones there are well-known keynote speakers, numerous tracks arranged around different topics, presentations, panels, workshops, etc. I've found that I get the most value out of the interactive sessions, usually panel discussions and workshops. The paper presentations are generally stiff, stilted, and boring.

In a typical paper presentation session there are young faculty, anxious about presenting their work to a room full of people whose work they've studied as a student. The young 'uns are scared to death that they'll do or say something foolish or offensive to the Big Names, and as a result are wound up tighter than a seven-day watch.

In contrast, the Big Names deliver their papers much as the Pope delivers a sermon (or whatever it is the Pope delivers), expecting rapt attention and respectful commentary.

The Q&A period after each paper oscillates from the dull and obvious to the ever-popular "My work shows that..." It's much like a political press conference. The question is used as an avenue for the questioner to make a statement regarding his or her opinion. The response rarely directly addresses the question, but instead wanders off on some irrelevant tangent.

And yet I keep going. Why? Because every time I go to a conference I learn something. Either from the formal sessions, or, more typically, in informal discussions with colleagues in a corner of the lobby, or in a bar. The barroom discussions are a little more free-flowing, obviously fueled by the liquids dispensed therein. But that doesn't make them any less valid. In fact, its often just the opposite.

Conferences are also a good time to renew old relationships and make new acquaintances. Several of my research projects have come about as a result of what started out as a casual conference conversation.

So I'm willing to put up with the tedium and boredom in exchange for new and fresh insights.

Besides, the next one I'm going to is in Hawaii...