Workshop

This two-part workshop on writing and giving conference papers combines an introduction to international academic conferences, writing abstracts and preparing presentations, with a practical session on the second day (run as a mock-conference) in which participants have the opportunity to rehearse the delivery of their presentations, handle questions and receive feedback. The programme is as follows:

DAY 1 (afternoon only)

• Ice breaker: how not to give a conference paper! Group exercise and discussion

• Identifying conferences in your subject

• Calls for papers and abstracts

• Writing the paper

• Delivery

• Using Powerpoint (or equivalents) Sample presentation and discussion

• Handouts: when and how to use them

• Handling questions and feedback

• Getting the most out of conferences

DAY 2

Our mock conference:

• Participants’ presentations, grouped into panel sessions

• Questions from the audience

• Group feedback on presentations and abstracts, and discussion

There will be tea/coffee breaks and lunch in between the panel sessions

Workshop tutor:

Josie Dixon is an experienced research training consultant and specialises in running workshops for postgraduates, postdoctoral researchers and staff in the humanities and social sciences. She has over 80 university clients in the UK, USA, Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Norway and Finland. Principal areas for training are publishing research, conference presentations, peer review, impact and research communication skills. She was previously Publishing Director for the Academic Division at Palgrave Macmillan and before that spent 11 years in commissioning and managerial roles at Cambridge University Press. She has presented papers and given keynote lectures on her own research and on publishing at international conferences in the UK, Europe and the USA.