A step-by-step guide for scientists who hate conference networking

It can be hard for early-career researchers to break into conversations at conferences. Credit: Noko LTD/Getty For some academics, conference networking can be energizing — offering a chance to connect, learn from others and explore new ideas. But for others, the prospect of ‘schmoozing’ at a reception crowded with senior scientists and other established figures can feel daunting. Networking is not always easy, especially in spaces in which everyone else seems confident and as if they already know each other. For early-career researchers in particular, approaching senior academics often feels intimidating, exposing feelings of uncertainty or ‘imposter syndrome’ — the idea that your success is somehow undeserved. When walking into a room where you know no one, it’s common to feel out of place, to struggle to break into a conversation or to worry about saying the wrong thing. Next time you join a conference lunch, coffee break or post-event drinks, perhaps with some trepidation, try to remember that networking can take many forms, and you might not be a stranger to it after all. If you’ve ever asked a colleague or mentor for advice, collaborated on a paper, contributed to a research group or chatted to a speaker after a seminar, you have networked. Networking also happens constantly during meetings, in research groups and committees and when chatting informally with peers. …