We are starting to plan for the 14th BEAR conference – an event originally created to give PhD students experience in running a conference, as well as provide a showcase for the fantastic research done on services provided by Birmingham Environment for Academic Research (BEAR). With previous support from the Graduate School and our suppliers, we have been able to provide catering as well as prizes for the best talk and poster.
We are asking for PhD students and also early-career researchers (who can guide/help) from across the University to join the organising Committee. Preference is given to BEAR users, however enthusiasm is key for the role! The Researcher Engagement and Data Group will be on hand to support and guide the students, together with the BEAR User Group Chair (Dietmar Heinke from Psychology), the wider Advanced Research Computing team which run BEAR services’ and our suppliers.
The benefits of helping to organise a conference as a PhD student
Organising a conference as a PhD student might seem like a daunting task, but it comes with a range of benefits that can significantly enhance your academic and professional journey. Here are some key advantages:
1. Networking opportunities
One of the most significant benefits is the chance to network with experts, peers, and potential collaborators in your field. By being involved in the organisation, you get to interact closely with keynote speakers, panellists, and attendees, which can lead to valuable connections and future opportunities.
2. Skill development
Organising a conference helps you develop a wide range of skills, including project management, communication, and leadership. These skills are not only crucial for your academic career but are also highly valued in any professional setting.
3. Enhanced visibility
Being part of the organising committee can increase your visibility within the academic community. It showcases your commitment and initiative, as well as giving you experience in applying for funds, which can be beneficial when applying for grants, scholarships, or postdoctoral positions.
Being on the committee for organising the BlueBEAR Conference 2024 was a great opportunity. It allowed me to connect with fellow researchers throughout the university and gain an appreciation of how they use BlueBEAR and HPC approaches for their research. I also had the opportunity to get hands-on knowledge with the ‘behind-the-scenes’ aspects of a conference, which allowed me to apply my soft-skills to a real-world event – Will Peace ( secretary 2023 – 2024 )
4. Contribution to the community
By helping to set up a conference, you contribute to the advancement of your field. You provide a platform for the dissemination of new research, foster discussions, and help build a supportive academic community.
Key tasks of the committee:
- Assigning Committee roles
- Setting deadlines, including the date of the conference
- Arranging advertising (to disseminate via email, blogs and any other social media platforms)
- Utilising different technologies to accept abstracts / posters
- Reviewing abstracts & assembling a programme, including inviting Academics to be keynote speakers
- Arranging catering
- Sourcing funds & prizes from suppliers / Graduate school
- Creating a final publication of abstracts to be made openly available online
While organising a conference requires effort and dedication, the benefits it offers make it a worthwhile endeavour for any PhD student. It’s an opportunity to grow both personally and professionally, and to make a meaningful impact in your academic community.
Details on last year’s BEAR Conference are available in the BEAR Conference 2024 blog post. An attendee wrote about her experiences Reflection on the conference.
If you are interested in joining the Committee, please email us at bearinfo@contacts.bham.ac.uk and we will be in touch.
On behalf of Dietmar Heinke – Chair of the BEAR User Group