How to Make Scientific Conferences More Rewarding for Attendees and Speakers

A few years ago, I became involved in a project that made me think about this topic. How can we make symposia and conferences more rewarding for attendees and presenters while offering added value to all stakeholders?

Many of us have attended scientific conferences to learn about the latest treatments and research in our field. During the lost years of COVID-19, when all in-person conferences switched to online formats, opportunities to meet medical and scientific heroes disappeared. However, attending conferences became more inclusive during this period because the cost of participating in an online symposium was usually much lower than attending in person. Still, presenting work, discussing issues, troubleshooting problems, networking, and socializing tend to be more effective and rewarding when done face-to-face.

Personal stories

Imagine gaining an insider’s perspective on what each speaker is truly “bringing to the table.” These key opinion leaders (KOLs), subject matter experts (SMEs), accomplished clinicians, or scientists all have a personal story to share. How did they reach where they are in their careers? What inspired them? Who were their mentors? The audience listens to their presentations of the latest results from clinical and preclinical experiments, paving the way for the next therapeutic breakthrough. This is exciting, but what if there was another resource available to conference attendees?

Paying it forward

A resource where they can learn about their favorite speakers, gain insight into their life’s journey, and discover what shaped them into the person they are on stage. This would elevate these meetings to a new level. Young and impressionable PhD and medical students, post-docs, and interns alike could understand the presenter’s background and possibly relate to them personally, feel inspired, follow their example, or adopt some of their advice. It's a way of “paying it forward” in a community where collaboration is essential for success and progress.

Inspiring leaders

Of course, as a medical writer, I focus on conferences in the biomedical field. I find personal satisfaction and inspiration in the chance to speak with highly talented physicians and scientists who are shaping the future of science and medicine. Recently, I interviewed a few KOLs in hematology-oncology for an annual meeting called the Annual Indy Hematology Review. The organizers of this conference publish a yearly journal that features a few speakers who will be presenting. This journal plays a valuable role in motivating attendees, inspiring speakers, and fostering a general sense of excitement around the event.

Personal growth

Circling back to the big picture, conferences should be welcoming spaces for mentorship and personal growth that go beyond any specific field of interest. This should include every conference within the STEM community (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). Those of us in STEM careers are applying knowledge and skills from these fields to solve problems, develop new technologies, and deepen our understanding of the world around us. Think about it for a moment. The implications are limitless and potentially life-changing.