Academic Conference Presentation Advice?

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Orson, Sep 15, 2002.

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  1. Orson

    Orson New Member

    I have been accepeted to deliver my first academic paper at an interdisciplinary conference this November.

    Although I've attended around half-a-dozen such proceedings in my life, I thought the more experienced members of this bulletin board might enjoy sharing the benefits of their experience with me and others similarly uninitiated.

    Any advice?
    (My presentation will involve slides, voice, AND words!)
    Thanks to all!

    --Orson
     
  2. pbocij

    pbocij member

    Here's the advice I was given by my research supervisor when I was about to present my first paper... The people who come to listen to your talk have already read the paper or will do so later on. This means that you should give them something new or extra (to the content of your paper) when you speak. As an example, you can develop a slightly different theme, or look at the topic from a slightly different angle.

    Although some people might disagree, this approach has always worked for me - even at national conferences where you tend to find the most pedantic and unfriendly audiences.
     
  3. telfax

    telfax New Member

    You never know! It's 'culture' specific!

    I've addressed all sort of conferences, seminars and the like all over the world in the last 20 years. I recall arriving in Singapore one one occasion to give a 90 minutes lecture (!!) ona book I had recently written on management learning. We were due to start at 6pm. When I arrived at the institution I was told no one in the audeience (170 people) spoke English and they ahd brought in an interpreter who would explain in Chinese (mandarin) what I was saying! After 30 minutes I stopeed the whole whole thing.

    At conferences these things are 'cutlure specific' - for example, if there are academic Italians speaking (and inthe audience) they DO NOT expect to be critized per se. You can make general comments that are vaguely semi-negative about the person's presentation but it is not in the culture to open criticise - unlike in the UK where academics will truly 'wage war' against one another.

    In the USA? It varies. Some US academics are truly combative but most are not. You only have to look at the major news channels int he US where the 'anchore' often shakes hands with the person beign interviewed - that WOULD NEVER happen on British TV! Imagine Jeremy Paxman shaking hands with anyone! Therein lies the difference and theirein lies the difference at conferences.

    Find out who is going to make up the audience and find out who will speak before you. Audiences often take out their grievances on the 'next speaker' if they have not got of their chests something that lingers from the speaker's comments.

    Be to the point. NEVER over run on time - you deserve to be crucified (and they will do it!) if you do so. If you go into another speaker's allocated time the organizers may axe one or more speakers (who have spent as much time as you preparing their presentation!) and they don't get to speak.. I've had this happen to me over the years when the guy before has gone 20 minutes over his time. On one occasion the speaker before me went 45 minutes over and the organizers didn't stop this guy because, in his field, he was (still is) one of the world's leading authorities. My presentation was axed!

    Could go on but will stop here!

    'telfax'

    The other advice you've been given here thus far is also sound.
     
  4. Orson

    Orson New Member

    Hmm...Thank you both!

    Thank you both, Paul Telfax!
    Both have provided me with useful and impressive advice.

    I have one secondhand story to relate regarding the "clash of different culture" phenomenon. A Professor friend told me of an almost ugly confrontation at a conference involving and old mutual professor.

    The latter tought at the University of Minnesota, was THE leading authority in his field, and one of the small group of pioneers in American legal history. The tradition in this field, American history, is collegial, accepting, and criticism is normally couched in mutually respectful, polite tones.

    However, after he spoke came a Big Gun from the University of Chicago Law School (yeah--where their ALL Big Guns). This respondent ripped into him combatively. (And I know the former was always apologetic about NOT having a law degree; self-effacement was in his nature.) He was chastised for his understanding of Adam Smith, John Locke, and rebuked for his (mis)characterization of the American Founders.

    After this tirade of whithering criticism--by all acounts, more common in law school than anywhere else!--my friend was mortified! It was ugly. He was in pain at the abuse heaped upon his former Prof--this scene made all the more painful by being friends to both men! (MY friend apologized for the Chicago Law Prof to him and could only feel terrible yet helpless.)

    I don't know how the old mutual Prof felt--I can only infer through having known him that it must have embarassed him if it didn't bruise his ego badly; my friend thought he had been ambushed. He (the victim) died perhaps a couple years later, and
    thus I never had the chance to find out.

    So--the lesson of a clash of academic cultures was burned into me by this tale. Beware of one's audience, just as telfax counsels! And know one's fellow panelists.

    Telfax writes: "...unlike in the UK where academics will truly 'wage war' against one another." Any comment, Paul?--since I've never attended any conference in the UK.

    --Orson
     
  5. pbocij

    pbocij member

    Re: Hmm...Thank you both!

    My personal experiences have always been good. I'd like to think it's because I'm a good speaker with lots of interesting things to say, but it's probably because most people take pity on you when you have stand up in front of a few hundred people and open up your professional life/work to criticism.

    Of course, I have been to lots of conferences where speakers have received a really hostile reception. However, this tends to be when people who have become established in a given field come into contact with a potential rival. Often, the established person will criticise the newcomer as a way of protecting his/her position. If this worries you, remember that there are lots of ways around this. One approach is to simply focus your work on an area where your competition lacks expertise.

    I certainly agree with everything Telfax has said, particularly the part about finishing on time. Personally, I tend to finish a couple of minutes early. My reasoning is simply this: people who are bored will sigh with relief, people who are interested will want to know more and might even buy me a drink at the bar later on!

    I suppose another piece of obvious advice is to make sure your paper is interesting, free of errors and presented properly. The same goes for any visual aids you use. I've often heard people groan when they spot a spelling mistake or other error in the printed paper or a slide. I have to admit, I groan too because I think at our level (meaning lecturer/academic, etc.) we really should be able to write coherent, grammatically correct and well-presented prose. I have also heard some people suggest that if there are errors in a slide or paper, it implies that the work itself may be flawed due to the inattention of the author.

    Good luck with the talk.
     

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