Editorial

I was so impressed when I was reading the abstracts from this year’s annual conference. The quality and diversity was really impressive and Leigh’s editorial echoed many of my own thoughts about how conferences are about so much more than just listening to talks and presentations.

As an academic a major activity for me is attending professional conferences both as a speaker and as a delegate. The benefits are hard to quantify however here are a few thoughts from my experience.

The first benefit that comes to mind is of course the opportunity to present, not only scientific research to others but also to present case studies and/or changes in practice. This can often be a really daunting undertaking, however anyone who has attended an ANNA conference will know that the conference is really supportive of first time presenters and it is a great platform to share your work in a friendly environment.

The second area that is often overlooked as being important when attending conferences is the opportunity to participate in workshops and breakout meetings. Short interactive workshops are now a norm at most conferences, often over breakfast or lunch, these short sessions allow delegates to network and learn new skills. These are a great opportunity to cover topics that are not suited to lengthy courses and when attending a conference, it’s always good to make the most of these opportunities.

The final area that I find invaluable for brainstorming, networking and making vital connections are social events. Many a collaboration has begun with networking between sessions or during a social event. Getting to know potential collaborators occurs more naturally in person where genuine impressions are made. So never underestimate a social event, always make the most of conference workshops and always remember that conferences are an invaluable experience beyond the presentations themselves.