How do I submit a proposal for a talk at an academic conference?
It is common for scholars to present at academic conferences in their areas of specialization
Conference presentations often precede publications—the presenter describes work that is completed but has not yet been published. It’s a chance for the audience to hear about the newest scholarship.
Conversely, some scholars who have already published an article, chapter, or book present at a conference to publicize their work.
Why should I attend conferences? Aren’t publications more important?
Yes, publications are more valued in academia than conference presentations.
Nevertheless, conferences can be important:
• You will meet scholars who are doing work in areas similar to your own. This may give you ideas for future research or even collaborative projects
• There may be workshops about writing, publishing, or other skills relevant to your scholarship
• There are often book exhibit areas where you can meet with editors of publishing companies about a future book
• If you feel isolated in your department or university, you will meet a community of scholars with whom to discuss your work
Conference presentations have several formats, including a:
• Poster presentation, where your research is displayed on a large poster board. You stand near the poster and answer questions about your research or discuss it with conference attendees who walk by. These sessions usually take place in a large room and may include several dozen posters.
• Conference talk, where your presentation has been assigned to a small group of scholars doing work on similar topics. Each presenter usually speaks for 10-15 minutes.
• Symposium, where a scholar has organized and invited a panel of speakers (usually 3-4) on a topic. The session has a chair whose role it is to introduce the speakers and keep time. There may also be a discussant who summarizes and evaluates the talks.
• Workshop, which often lasts several hours and is more hands-on than a talk. The purpose is often to teach specific skills. Health and mental health professionals may receive CEU (continuing education unit) credits towards their license or certification for attending workshops.
• Keynote speakers, who are usually prominent scholars or celebrities. They are invited to give a longer talk, often at the beginning or end of the conference.
• Roundtable, which is often a structured discussion among a group of scholars. There may be a moderator, and the audience may observe or ask questions. More informally, some conferences literally have large round tables where attendees can take a seat and join a specific discussion.
It is possible that the conference organizers may assign your proposal to a specific format.
Students and junior academics are more likely to get assigned to a poster session or a regular conference talk.
How do I apply to give a conference talk?
Get on the conference website and read the application form carefully. There are often word limits for the title of conference talks and abstracts.
Note the deadline for proposals, which is often months before the conference takes place.
The work involved in submitting a conference proposal is often minimal. The application form might just require your contact information, a title of your talk, and a one-page abstract describing your topic.
It is likely that your proposal will be evaluated for how well it fits with the conference theme. For example, if the conference theme is “Education in a Global Context,” make sure that your abstract (and possibly even the title of your talk) refers to education and to global issues.
Your proposal might also be evaluated for its significance. Your abstract should make it clear why your work has important implications.
It may take the conference selection committee a few months to let you know their decision.
What if I have co-authors?
Conference posters and talks based on research typically list all authors of the research, even if only one author attends the conference and gives the talk.
That presenter is usually listed as first author of the presentation, even if they are not first author on the subsequent publication.
Make sure that all co-authors know you are submitting a proposal to a conference, and send them any drafts as well as the final version of your submission. It is especially important that they check the accuracy of their names and affiliations, because that is how those will be listed on the conference program. And be sure to notify them when you hear back that your proposal is accepted or rejected.
Next week: How do I prepare to present at an academic conference?