If you’re new to running an event and want to find out what your delegates, speakers and sponsors thought, you could benefit from these tips from four experienced conference organizers
Credit: Farknot Architect/iStock/Getty PLus
I first got involved with the Materials Research Society as a symposium organizer 12 years ago. It was a great way for an early-career researcher to get experience in organizing meetings, and I now chair the meetings committee, where I help to coordinate the work of MRS staff and the organizing team to put on large events with 5,000–6,000 attendees from around the world.
Conference technologies including mobile apps are also a great way to disseminate information and collect feedback from attendees. We have explored the use of apps on smartphones to provide real-time feedback and solicit questions during a presentation or conference session to enhance engagement.
Sometimes feedback is unclear or contradictory. At one conference in 2016, we switched from a physical poster-presentation session to electronic ones. Attendees had to scroll through the electronic poster database. They looked only at posters in their research fields, and told us they missed those ‘surprise’ findings from walking randomly around a poster hall getting coffee and having quick chats.
Biogate Scientific Centre is a start-up that aims to bring together leaders in academia and industry during scientific events. But for attendees who register to speak and promote their products or brands, and who tend to care more about airtime and networking outcomes, we might ask ‘Was the time allocated sufficient?’ or ‘Were you able to interact with potential clients?’
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
What if Math Is a Fundamental Part of Nature, Not Something Humans Came Up With?Nature is an unstoppable force, and a beautiful one at that. Everywhere you look, the natural world is laced with stunning patterns that can be described with mathematics. From bees to blood vessels, ferns to fangs, math can explain how such beauty e
Read more »
Molecular biologists: let’s reconnect with natureA New Year’s resolution for bench scientists is to step out of the lab to study how life really works.
Read more »
Collect feedback to improve your event experienceNature speaks to four conference organizers who share the art of the feedback form.
Read more »
'Cosmic monster' star spits energy with the force of a billion sunsScientists just collected the first measurements of violent eruptions in extremely dense magnetic stars called magnetars.
Read more »
Boston Scott Scores 2 TDs As Philadelphia Eagles Beat Washington Football Team, 20-16🦅 EAGLES WIN 🦅 Boston Scott scored two touchdowns as the Eagles beat the Washington Football Team, 20-16, on Sunday.
Read more »
Eagles Beat Washington 20-16, Get Help To Clinch Playoff BerthFLY EAGLES FLY | The Birds won seven of nine since starting 2-5 and clinched an NFC wild-card spot hours later when Minnesota lost to Green Bay.
Read more »