Excellent suggestion! What are the types of meetings and the types of "rewards" associated with each?
WT At 02:11 AM 8/6/2007, William Silvert wrote: >This has been an interesting discussion and it might be of value to consider >the different types of meetings and the rewards of attending each. Also >there are different kinds of meetings in different parts of the world, and >this is an important factor. > >The US has a lot of really big meetings with many parallel sessions, and >although I have attended some of these I really don't like them or find them >of much use. Europe is fragmented by many different languages and although >we have many international meetings with one or more official languages, >there are also many national or regional meetings defined by language more >than geography. The meetings I really find valuable are small international >meetings devoted to relatively narrow fields, where you meet just about >everyone in the world in your field. > >Of course which meetings you attend can also depend on your objectives. If >you are looking for a job teaching ecology in the US, then probably the ESA >meetings should be your first choice. My favourite meeting on the other hand >was the first, and probably only, meeting of the ICU* in Halifax about 30 >years ago -- there were ten of us there and we had a great time! > >Bill Silvert > >* International Ctenophorologists Union > > >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Malcolm McCallum" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: <ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU> >Sent: Monday, August 06, 2007 3:59 AM >Subject: Re: Skipping meetings > > > > There are several reasons to go to meetings. > > There are undoubtedly more reasons. I think most people should be going > > to 1-2 international/national meetings per year. These should be selected > > very carefully. For example, my international meetings would be one > > ecology-natural resource meeting (ESA, SCB, Wildlife SOc.) and the > > herpetology meetings. Then I may go to regional meetings when they are > > within a hop-skip-jump of my location. For example SWAN has been near my > > location three times in the last five years, and I attend. Then I try to > > attend one of the local state academy meetings if I have time. Needless > > to say, time and money are usually the determining factors. > > > > IF you are new, you need to attend on organization religiously so you get > > known. The old guard can pretty much do what they want as Bill stated, > > they have already convinced everyone of their prowess. > > > > Malcolm McCallum
