Organising an Academic Conference
(or Conferencing 101: How to Organise an Academic
Conference Without Losing Your Mind)
Katie Barnett
College of Arts and Law
(and my invisible colleague, Rebecca Isaacs)
Why organise a conference?
O Establish yourself in your
academic field
O Great for your academic CV
O Invaluable networking
opportunities
O Choose your own adventure
Before you begin
O Co-organisers
O A conference
email address
O Helpful contacts
The basics
O Pick a date
Pro tip: This can always be extended.
Pro tip: Pick a term-time date.
Pro tip: Weekends are convenient, but may
require you to pay for security.
The basics
O Choose a theme
Pro tip: Broad themes work well.
O Keynote speakers
Pro tip: Speakers from your own institution
cost less!
O Call for papers
Pro tip: Fake deadlines are your friend.
The basics
O Advertising
Website
49th P: http://49thparallelconference.wordpress.com
BAAS: http://www.americanfrontiers.co.uk
Mailing lists
Social media
University newsletters
Departmental emails
The details
O Room hire
Where / when do you want to hold the
event?
How many people do you need to
accommodate?
Do you need media facilities? (You do.)
O Security
The details
O Catering
Pro tip: Bring your own tea and
coffee.
Pro tip: Too much is better than too
little.
Pro tip: Don’t forget the
vegetarians!
O Finances
Pro tip: Publishers are a good
source of income.
Pro tip: Don’t forget the freebies!
The final countdown
O Picking the papers
Pro tip: Don’t do this outside on a windy day.
O Acceptances and rejections
Pro tip: Confirm your acceptances before you send
out rejections.
O Organising the schedule
O Registration
O Conference packs
Miscellany
O Arrive early (no, earlier than that)
O Alphabetical name badges
O Keep a record of payments
O Refreshments first!
O Know your building
O Make sure you’ve got enough chairs
Miscellany
O Software compatibility
O Don’t forget the milk.
O Don’t forget the sugar.
O DON’T FORGET THE CORKSCREW.
O Enjoy yourselves!
Thanks for listening!
This presentation was brought to you by
Katie Barnett and her invisible colleague
Rebecca Isaacs, who organised the BAAS
Postgraduate Conference in 2011, and the
49th Parallel Conference in 2012, and who
have just about regained their sanity.