Going to PEARC24? Here are some things to consider, inspired by the last RCD Workforce Development Interest Group call.
For research computing and data (RCD) professionals, conferences are important professional development opportunities and are a cornerstone of professional development, offering unique opportunities to network, learn, and share within the community. These events are not just about acquiring new knowledge, but also about fostering relationships and laying the groundwork for future communications. By engaging with peers, exploring new ideas, we bring valuable information back to our institutions. The following is a result of the discussions during the July 2024 CaRCC RCD Workforce Development Interest Group call (thanks to all that participated).
Reasons to attend a conference:
- Networking: Meet colleagues, strengthen relationships, and lay the groundwork for future communications.
- Learning and Sharing: Understand the broader community’s solutions, share challenges and successes.
- Professional Development: Gain new skills, stay updated with the field, and improve services at one’s institution.
- Presentations: Deliver talks and presentations.
- Vendor/Product Information: Learn about new technologies and products.
- Workshops and Tutorials: Participate in learning sessions and report back key findings to the team.
Managing conference attendance:
- Pre-Planning: Study the agenda and select sessions of interest. Use the conference app.
- Scheduling: Plan essential sessions and allow downtime to process information.
- Communication: Coordinate with team members to cover more sessions.
- Flexibility: Be prepared to adjust your schedule based on information gained from others and prioritize relationship-building opportunities as they arise.
- Sessions: Stick to a full session as much as possible, too much is lost in switching. Don’t forget meals.
Bringing insights back to the institution:
- Training and Reporting: Share learnings through presentations and reports.
- Implementation: Identify and evaluate new ideas.
- Team Engagement: Include conference findings in regular meetings to explore new ideas.
Success indicators for conferences:
- Learning: Gaining new knowledge and skills.
- Networking: Making new connections and strengthening existing ones.
- Inspiration: Feeling motivated and inspired to work in the RCD field.
- Implementation: Bringing back practical ideas to improve services.
- Exploration: Experiencing new developments, future directions, and new perspectives in the field.
Bonus: networking tips for shy or introverted individuals:
- Story Sharing: Ask others about their journey into RCD (Research Computing and Data), everyone has an interesting story.
- Social Events: Attend socials, Birds of a Feather sessions, and workshops, in your area of interest and actively engage with others.
- Engagement: Join active tables and participate in conversations.