As researchers we need to share what we’re doing with each other and get feedback, so we can continue to learn and improve. One way we do this is through attending conferences. Now depending on the field of research the conference experience can be very different. I am going to walk you through my day at the Canadian Cancer Research Conference that was held in Calgary, Alberta this past month!
First things first I had to set up my poster, this is where I displayed my research along with 1000 other researchers! Having a poster set up lets people go and read about your research and they can even leave sticky note questions for you to answer and get back to them. Next, I head down to the main conference hall for the platform talks of the day! This year there was a big focus on big data and Immunotherapy! Platform talks are done by invited speakers who are very knowledgeable in their field!
Following the talks there is always time for questions and coffee! Which is a great time to socialize and meet people from different research groups.
This year the conference made a point to incorporate in the indigenous community, there were storytelling circles taking place during a lot of the break times. Hearing the stories told was an interesting experience and really added value to the conference!
The second half of the day is focused on smaller more specific topics where you can pick and choose what talks you want to attend! This year I attended one session where there were five different presenters all discussing different treatment methods, they are working on to make the patient experience better! I also attended a Breast Cancer specific session, focused on the most prominent findings in the field this year!
One of my favourite new additions to these small group sessions was the patient involvement. Prior to each talk, a patient partner would share a little about their story and how the research that was about to be presented had impacted them. This was a great way to connect both research with real clinical outcomes!
To round off the day, I head back to the poster hall – where thousands of posters are displayed – to grab some snacks and go chat with others about their research. It’s one of the best places to learn, network and feel inspired.
Photo by Product School on Unsplash
