Chapter 48 : The Attendee’s Guide to Scientific Meetings

Abstract:

There are many aspects to the business of going to a scientific meeting. Different protocols are required for meetings of different sizes and classifications. A general meeting, such as the massive ASM or ASBC gatherings, attract many people with many justifications for attending; it is difficult to provide guidelines for meetings of this type unless you are an invited speaker or a poster presenter. In these latter cases, being as you are there as an invitee, you must make the effort to justify your invitation. You are there to perform, to present your scientific efforts to a larger audience for evaluation. As a privileged attendee, it is your responsibility to showcase your work in the best possible manner. If giving a talk, rehashing old PowerPoint slides simply will not do; your audience is expecting something new, interesting and stimulating (more on this to come later).