Interdisciplinary conferences: what are they, why do they matter, and should you attend one? These are the questions we will be answering in today’s article.
The benefits of attending academic conferences
Before we dive into the subject of interdisciplinary conferences, let’s cover some of the many benefits of attending academic events.
- Career-boosting opportunities: Academic conferences can help you open doors to new, exciting opportunities. For example, presenting at a conference and getting published in prestigious academic journals will significantly strengthen your resume. They demonstrate to potential employers – or grant committee members for that matter – your dedication to research, continuous development, and knowledge exchange.
- Network expansion: An academic event is the perfect time to meet fellow researchers, scientists, and educators. Having a dynamic, nurtured network can go a long way in helping you find research partners, discover funding or job opportunities, stay on top of emerging trends and pressing subjects in your discipline, source feedback on your research paper, and more.
- Intensive learning: The program of academic events is typically curated by scientific committees. This means that every presentation – be it poster or oral – has been carefully selected for quality, relevance, and authenticity. Immerse yourself in this pool of knowledge as you listen to the presentations, engage with the presenters, and share your perspective on challenges and strategies in your area of study.
Interdisciplinary conferences vs intradisciplinary events
In general, there are two types of academic conferences: intradisciplinary and interdisciplinary.
Interdisciplinary conferences feature programs and presenters from a wide range of disciplines. For example, a conference on social sciences may feature paper presentations from disciplines such as anthropology, humanities, civil rights, society, psychology, feminism, mass media, and so on.
Intradisciplinary events, on the other hand, are narrowly focused on a single discipline.
Each type offers its own set of benefits.
Intradisciplinary conferences zoom in on subjects within a discipline. They are an excellent way to explore topics in depth. Discussions at such events tend to be more focused, and networking opportunities are highly targeted.
The benefits of attending interdisciplinary conferences
While you will gain thorough insights at intradisciplinary events, here are just a few reasons why you should consider mixing things up and adding at least one or two interdisciplinary conferences to your calendar.
- Cross-discipline insights: The truth is that no discipline – or research subject – exists in a vacuum. There are inevitable connections to other fields of study. By attending an interdisciplinary event, you expose yourself to learnings from a diverse range of angles. This will enrich and broaden your perspective.
- Inspiring networking: Open yourself up to the idea of partnering up for your next research project with a scholar from a different – but relevant – discipline. You will be pleasantly surprised by all the additional viewpoints that can enhance your research. A paper written from a multidisciplinary perspective also carries a broader impact and distribution.
- Access to a wider audience: As a presenter at an interdisciplinary conference, you benefit from showcasing your research to a broader audience. This will help you boost your reputation as an expert in your field of study.
- Personal growth and skill development: Growth happens when we step outside our comfort zone. Joining an interdisciplinary conference will most definitely expose you to new ideas, people, and discussions.
- Innovation and inspiration: Listening to presentations covering topics outside of your discipline and engaging with speakers and attendees from unique backgrounds and specializations could be just what you need to get the creative juices flowing. You might get the dose of inspiration you need for your next research project, or learn about an innovative strategy or methodology that you could apply in your own work.
Interdisciplinary conferences offer an enriching experience that goes beyond the traditional boundaries of academic events. While intradisciplinary conferences provide a deep dive into specific topics, interdisciplinary gatherings offer the chance to explore a wider array of ideas and perspectives.
So, to make the most of your event budget, we suggest that you add both types of events to your calendar, maximizing the impact and benefits that you derive.
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