There are several websites where you can search for conferences, including https://www. papercrowd. com/, http://conference. researchbib. com/, https://www. cfplist. com/, and https://www. allconferencealert. com/. You can also conduct a general Internet search to find conferences on subjects that interest you. For example, if you are an art teacher, you might search for “Art teacher conferences. ” This would show you that the National Art Education Association is having a conference in March 2017 in New York City. [1] X Research source If you search for “animal care conferences,” you will find, among other things, that the National Humane Society is sponsoring the Animal Care Expo in May 2017 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. [2] X Research source

For example, using the phrase “call for papers in hotel management” results in a conference on “Advances in Hospitality and Tourism Marketing,” which is to be held in July 2017 in Cyprus. The website outlines a range of topics that will be accepted and provides the information for submitting proposals.

If you have an idea that you do not see listed in the call for papers, you should contact the organizers of the event to ask if they would consider your idea. Some conferences are more flexible in the papers they will accept, but you should not just assume this without checking. For example, a call for papers for an Animal Welfare Act conference at Harvard Law School contained a list of topics, but added, “Potential topics include, but are not limited to…”[3] X Research source

Each type will have its own requirements for length, the style of graphics or supporting materials you will use, and amount of material you are expected to cover. Know what you are applying for and meet the expectations.

Find out if you are applying to speak as part a panel (in which several people speak on the same topic) or in an open session (in which your presentation stands alone). If you’ll be part of a panel, ensure your abstract explains how your paper fits within the panel.

These conferences often receive many more applications than they need, so it would be easy for them to deny yours if you fail to meet a deadline.

It’s crucial that you don’t speak for longer than you are scheduled to. However, it’s okay to end a few minutes early.

Presentation formats may include conference panels, small workshops, large keynote addresses, round-table discussions, or general research reports.

Ensure your paper is written clearly so the audience can understand your points. Note that reading helps keep your audience engaged, while simply listening can make it more difficult for them to pay attention.

You can gauge your audience and the space that you have. If you are scheduled to begin at a particular time, but it is clear that many audience members are still entering, you may wish to delay briefly to let the space fill. If possible, you may wish to check with conference organizers to make them aware of the situation and get their okay.

Bear in mind that your presentation is only one of several that the audience will be hearing that day. If you become too detailed or too technical, you will lose people’s attention.

Even if you do not make contact with each person in the audience, the appearance helps personalize your presentation for everyone.

When you feel that you are speaking. . . unusually. . . slowly. . . , then. . . you. . . are. . . probably. . . speaking. . . just. . . right.