Doctors/Scientists/Professors/Professionals who go to 'conferences' are so full of it

[Phokus]

My dad is a scientist/professor who has gone to London and Austria this summer for conferences. He's going to San Diego for another conference in a month. As far as i know, he's been to Canada, France, Italy, China, Hong Kong (some of these places he's been to multiple times), among others i'm probably forgetting Yeah... "Conferences"... riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight dad.

I guess i'm just jealous/bitter. Pretty damn nice perk to have such an excuse to travel the world. Sigh.

 

[spidey07]

Conferences are fun. Why the hate?

You learn a ton, get to network with others in your profession and they normally provide beer, entertainment and good food. It's like a week long party.

 

[TheChort]

When I become a doctor I'm gonna go to as many of these free conferences as I can.
Hey, if the pharmaceutical companies want to pay for a free vacation, and I don't have to promise shit, I'm gonna milk them for all they got.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: TheChort
When I become a doctor I'm gonna go to as many of these free conferences as I can.
Hey, if the pharmaceutical companies want to pay for a free vacation, and I don't have to promise shit, I'm gonna milk them for all they got.

For a lot of the medical community they are required as "continued education" to maintain whatever certification they have.

 

[FoBoT]

i call them boondoggles

 

[Capt Caveman]

Great networking opportunities

 

[TheChort]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: TheChort
When I become a doctor I'm gonna go to as many of these free conferences as I can.
Hey, if the pharmaceutical companies want to pay for a free vacation, and I don't have to promise shit, I'm gonna milk them for all they got.

For a lot of the medical community they are required as "continued education" to maintain whatever certification they have.

I agree, but my point is a different one.
I'm talking about [insert drug company here] offering docs trips to Aspen where you are required to sit through a 4 hour seminar where said company advertises their product. Then you go ski.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: TheChort

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: TheChort
When I become a doctor I'm gonna go to as many of these free conferences as I can.
Hey, if the pharmaceutical companies want to pay for a free vacation, and I don't have to promise shit, I'm gonna milk them for all they got.

For a lot of the medical community they are required as "continued education" to maintain whatever certification they have.

I agree, but my point is a different one.
I'm talking about [insert drug company here] offering docs trips to Aspen where you are required to sit through a 4 hour seminar where said company advertises their product. Then you go ski.

Oh. That's different. That's professional development.

 

[ilovecolombia]

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
Great networking opportunities

AKA Greys Anatomy style orgies....

 

[Whisper]

Conferences are indeed great. The workshops are usually very well-done (depending on the host organization) and are put on by leading names in the field...and it doesn't hurt that members typically tend to vote for locations that include awesome amenities nearby.

 

[Tiamat]

Originally posted by: Phokus
My dad is a scientist/professor who has gone to London and Austria this summer for conferences. He's going to San Diego for another conference in a month. As far as i know, he's been to Canada, France, Italy, China, Hong Kong (some of these places he's been to multiple times), among others i'm probably forgetting Yeah... "Conferences"... riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight dad.

I guess i'm just jealous/bitter. Pretty damn nice perk to have such an excuse to travel the world. Sigh.

They are a great resource for "catching up" on the latest research being done. They are also a great way to start international collaborative projects. They are not cheap, most conferences I know cost 600$+ just to attend! While, they also have a great "vacation" type environment, they are usually more for making sure you keep up with whats going on in the field and to better understand the direction of your field.

 

[George P Burdell]

If I busted my ass to get through doc school...

 

[Reel]

False in my experience.

 

[JohnCU]

engineering conferences are the best. the last one i went to they provided a few 15 year old single malt scotches at the open bar. nothing better than a few drinks and technical talk.

 

[aphex]

My brother was invited to speak in Tokyo about his MEMS project...

 

[LS20]

more reasons to go into those fields. your company pays for flight, lodging, attendance, and you get open bar. whats better?

 

[hiromizu]

I love conferences indeed...especially when the entire weekend tab is on the client for a 2 hour conference and we spend the rest of the time boozing and going to high class strip clubs.

 

[SaltBoy]

My Dad's a university professor and has traveled all over the world going to "conferences". Heck, I got to attend a reception with him in Florida. I had my first taste of alligator there - tastes like chicken.

 

[imported_Baloo]

Originally posted by: spidey07
Conferences are fun. Why the hate?

You learn a ton, get to network with others in your profession and they normally provide beer, entertainment and good food. It's like a week long party.

Not to mention that it doesn't cost them anything, taxpayers pay for it all.

 

[imported_stev]

When I was a grad student, I went to a climate conference. It was boring as hell. It was 8-9 hours per day of lectures or poster sessions. At any given time, only a handful of people in the room were engaged in the lecture because so many people seem to study their one tiny area and nothing else. Besides, many scientists are really good at research, but not so good at talks so they were tough to follow or very dry (I have the same problem with my talks).

Also, if anyone goes to a conference to "network", I hate you. Meet some people who study similar things that you do, that's great, but if you're going there thinking, "Time to further my career." Then, again, I hate you.