Network! (Remember, the whole point of a conference is communicating with people.)
- Don’t be afraid to go up to a speaker or “famous” attendee or speaker and introduce yourself – they expect this at a conference.
Identify a couple of people who you’re interested in meeting and email them ahead of time. You may or may not set up a specific time to meet, but they’ll know to expect you when you introduce yourself in person. Make sure you’ve read their work and have a specific reason why you want to introduce yourself before you email. For example, if there is someone you want to postdoc for who will be at the meeting, this is a great way to show your interest and introduce yourself.
You are not alone! Approach random people. You should ask questions and learn from the thousands of related professionals from a myriad of backgrounds who are attending the conference with you. These individuals may currently, or in the past have faced the same challenges as you. If so, they'll have acquired the solutions you may need. They may also have the position you aspire to, seek them out as a potential collaborator or mentor.
Use the breadth of topics that are being covered as an opportunity to broaden your horizons – some of your best research ideas may come from going in sessions that are outside your usual area of expertise.
The exhibit hall can also be a good place to arrange to meet people – it’s often centrally located with tables and chairs and open spaces.
Poster sessions are a great way for students to meet other students and to have personal interactions with faculty. The mentorship session is another opportunity to meet attendees and faculty.