Conferences: you know you’re supposed to go to them, but exactly how to go about finding calls for papers, writing abstracts, and composing conference papers—these matters can be, well, intimidating.
So, the abstract workshop was an energetic step in the demystification of the conference process. Led enthusiastically by faculty members, Dr, Andrew Epstein and Dr. Nancy Warren, the workshop covered issues ranging from the general (why conferences are important to professional development) to the specific (what to do with titles, how strongly to word statements of methodology, why to use “confident” verbs). In the second half of the meeting, the workshop became just that: a workshop. The participants broke up into small groups, and those who had brought abstract drafts had the opportunity to receive feedback from faculty and peers. Sample calls for papers were passed around, and the conversation continued, as graduate students brought up a variety of thoughts and questions about conferencing. Issues great and small were talked—and laughed—about. And the laughter: this workshop was fun! Professional development may at times seem like a difficult or tedious undertaking, but not on this day with this group! It was a Friday afternoon well spent.
prose by Molly Hand and photos by Dustin Anderson
