Posted By: Ann Klinck, Communications & Marketing Assistant, ASHG; Amanda Olsen, Meetings Assistant, ASHG; and Emily Davenport, Member, ASHG Training & Development Committee
You’re reading part two of our three-part blog series on attending the ASHG Annual Meeting. If you want to check out part one about budgeting, click here.
The ASHG 2018 Annual Meeting is getting closer each day, and advance registration is only open until October 15.
This month, we’re going to talk about best practices for navigating a meeting or conference alone, and how to enjoy the process.
Know What to Expect
If you’ve never attended an ASHG Meeting before, it might help you to look at materials from previous meetings such as blogs, videos, or tweets. Visualizing your setting is likely to relax some nerves.
Planning your days helps you focus your attention on networking instead of worrying about where to go next. The printed Program-at-a-Glance includes a schedule overview, scientific session information, and maps of the convention center. Check the schedule online, and learn about the app in advance.
Emily Davenport, TDC member, shares that the ASHG meeting is an introvert-friendly environment: “I was nervous, but there were a lot of people at meal times willing to eat together, and you’d be surprised how often you can find a friend-of-a-friend. Science is a smaller community than we think!”
Do What Makes You Comfortable and Confident
Know your limits! If you feel like you’re overextending yourself, then go to a relaxing place to unwind for an hour. You’ll get more value out of the rest of the day if you take that time. Think about where that relaxing space is for you, whether it’s your hotel room, your car, a coffee shop around the corner, or the inspiration lounges. ASHG also has a Prayer & Meditation Room at the meeting each year.
Wear clothes that you feel confident in. When you feel confident, you’ll act more confident, and you’ll be ready to mingle. Think sensibly when it comes to footwear.
Talk about subject matter that interests you, and chances are you’ll find someone who has similar interests. Posters are organized by scientific topic, so if you’re presenting a poster, you’ll be surrounded by people with similar interests.
Realize You’re Not Alone
Many attendees don’t come with colleagues, so you’re not actually alone. You’re surrounded by friends you’ve yet to meet! Think about where people are likely to be looking for some conversation filler: in line for an event or food, or waiting for a session to start.
There are many social events built into the meeting, such as: the opening reception; ancillary, satellite, exhibitor events; and inspiration lounges. Use the online schedule filter to see ancillary events, or ask exhibitors directly if they will be hosting something. Trainees should check the trainee events page and watch the video below.
Use twitter to find fellow attendees by using the social media badges, the meeting hashtag #ASHG18, and the trainee hashtag #ASHGTrainee. People are often on Twitter looking for exercise partners and sightseeing buddies. You can also attend the Tweetup social event.
The most important thing to remember when attending alone? Everyone is in it together! If you’ve never attended a meeting or you’ve attended a dozen times, there are new people all around you just as interested in mingling as you are. Come meet our friendly staff at ASHG Central throughout the entire meeting. We can’t wait to see you there!