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[dyst_uk]

In what feels like a short amount of time, I'll be attending my first conference; we haven't even had any internal postgrad ones within my department yet, so this feels like a slight leap of faith.  If I was just attending, I would probably be feeling fine, but I also need to do a 3' x 5' poster on my undergraduate research.  This would feel less intimidating if other students were presenting their work; the other people I know who are going are all experienced staff.

I have some very basic questions, and probably some more in depth ones to be posted after church:

i.  If a conference website says proudly, "We have 1800 delegates coming", I presume that means that there will be a lot of people there.  However, do many people actually turn up to poster sessions?

ii.  When they say that you should bring plenty of velcro to attach your poster to the boards, do they mean the self-adhesive type that one can buy from stationery shops?

iii.  How do you carry such a big poster safely on the train? I'm trying to decide whether to do that, or accede to a relative's offer to drive for 10 hours.

iv.  Any suggestions for conference behaviour generally?  If this was my (small) discipline, I'd know how to behave. 

[sir_lancelot]

How many people come for poster sessions depends entirely on how it is organized. If there is food and booze involved everybody will come!

A sturdy tube, like architects use for drawings, is great for transporting your poster. If the poster is too large, you can print it in several pieces. If you do it nicely, it will look great! If you can get the poster laminated it will be easier to keep it crisp and clean and you can hang it in the hallway of your institution when you come home.

Don't worry too much. You will do great!

[expatinuk]

i.  If a conference website says proudly, "We have 1800 delegates coming", I presume that means that there will be a lot of people there.  However, do many people actually turn up to poster sessions?

Generally people wander around poster sessions. Most poster sessions are set up in a large room and you need to be there for the entire time of the poster session. For example... a paper session will probably be 1.5 hours... but a poster session can be 6 hours. You just need to be there by your poster to chat with people who come by.

Additionally... don't sit around looking bored... you can certainly (and should) start to chat with people as they walk by and 'pull' them into looking at your poster.

Make sure your poster is big enough to see.

If you have a laptop set up a powerpoint slide show (on automatic) that runs to show further information. erm... point this to the audience!

ii.  When they say that you should bring plenty of velcro to attach your poster to the boards, do they mean the self-adhesive type that one can buy from stationery shops?

Yes

iii.  How do you carry such a big poster safely on the train? I'm trying to decide whether to do that, or accede to a relative's offer to drive for 10 hours.

Go to Staples and get a poster mailing tube. Roll your poster up and insert it in the tube. You can even go 'whole hog' and get a reusable fancy carrying tube with a shoulder strap. Additionally, you might approach your university's marketing department and see if they have one you can borrow. They have a lot of experience in traveling with 'posters' to promote your institution.

iv.  Any suggestions for conference behaviour generally?  If this was my (small) discipline, I'd know how to behave. 

I find that the best conference behavior is to be friendly and to chat with people. Don't sit and wait for someone to approach you... but be outgoing and friendly.

I was just at a conference in Valencia and I have to say that the huge number of doctoral students from Nottingham really impressed me with their demeanor. Several of them introduced themselves to me and asked me when my paper was being delivered. They then wrote down in a notebook the time/day/room.

I'm not saying that they were all there... *laugh*... but their behavior was respectful, engaging, and showed an interested in their surroundings.

Things NOT to do...

1. Get drunk
2. Argue with a panelist (even if you think the panelist is wrong)
3. Wear innapropriate clothing to any session

[dyst_uk]

I find that the best conference behavior is to be friendly and to chat with people. Don't sit and wait for someone to approach you... but be outgoing and friendly.

I was just at a conference in Valencia and I have to say that the huge number of doctoral students from Nottingham really impressed me with their demeanor. Several of them introduced themselves to me and asked me when my paper was being delivered. They then wrote down in a notebook the time/day/room.

I'm not saying that they were all there... *laugh*... but their behavior was respectful, engaging, and showed an interested in their surroundings.

Things NOT to do...

1. Get drunk
2. Argue with a panelist (even if you think the panelist is wrong)
3. Wear innapropriate clothing to any session

Thank you both for all the tips; I don't know any other students going, as nobody can afford to, I think I'll be able to avoid the first 'not to do' point (probability of most of the staff going acknowledging a mere Masters student outside their research group seems insignificant). 

I was planning on practicing the behaviour described above with the staff from my institution (as I don't really know them either), so that should be fine; I just wish that I was less short-sighted.  I'm still trying to weigh up whether it would be worse to take my white stick (and have people steering clear because of that), or leave it at home and be subjected to the usual, "I waved/smiled at you, and you ignored me".  I also need to decide whether to be at waist height to people (and be able to be spontaneous), or a little taller but likely to be less spontaneous. 

Normally I find the best solution is to get a friend to subtly point out that someone's trying to attract my attention, but I can't afford double conference fees (my institution only provides support to doctoral students, and I've already had a fair amount from our Access fund this year).  I could ask, 'friendly staff member who knows I can't see particularly well', but her poster is in the same session.

As far as basic design rules go, I've found information that suggests no more than 800 words on a poster, and am hoping to have a proper look at the ones on the walls of my faculty buildings now that the undergrads have gone home (although some of them seem badly designed).

[bewildered]

ii.  When they say that you should bring plenty of velcro to attach your poster to the boards, do they mean the self-adhesive type that one can buy from stationery shops?

Wow, this must be field-specific.  I made it all the way to full prof without the aid of velcro.  I hope you get the answer you're looking for :)

[terpsichore]

At meetings in my field, the poster sessions are very popular. You might have a lot of traffic. Poster sessions can be great for meeting people and quickly learning about the field.

Be prepared to give people a short summary (like a mini-talk) of 2 to 5 minutes explaining the main points of your poster. That will help break the ice when someone casually asks you about your work. Then with any luck, they'll ask you questions and the conversation can take off from there. But don't take it personally if the person you're talking to just says thanks and wanders off to the next poster.

Don't forget to talk to the people who are presenting posters near yours, to ask them about their posters.

[galactic_hedgehog]

One guy I know used to hand out roses to the women who came to his posters.  That made him pretty popular.

[terpsichore]

One guy I know used to hand out roses to the women who came to his posters.  That made him pretty popular.

Really? Sounds slightly creepy.

[galactic_hedgehog]

Actually, he's pretty charming.  And Italian.

[sirrah]

The best part of a poster session is that so many people stop by that you can actually meet a lot of people.  There is also that slightly awkward time between visitors that can make you feel a little silly standing around with no one to talk to (at least I do).  Just stand up straight, smile, and people will show up.  Good luck on your first conference!