1. Conference

2. Conference
• gathering of people
• common interest or background
• to learn about and to discuss
issues, ideas on a topic of mutual
concern

3. Conference
• brings together people and ideas
• generating or working toward solutions
to problems or broader social change
• to advance knowledge or practical
application in the field

4. Types of Conferences
1. Academic conferences
2. Professional association conferences
3. Training conferences
4. Issue- or problem-related conferences

5. 1. Academic conferences
• centered around a single subject, and
sometimes on a single topic within that
subject

6. 1. Academic conferences
• presenting their research, work, and
theories, and defending, expanding, or
changing them in response to
questions, criticism, and other feedback
from colleagues

7. 2. Professional association
conferences
• focuses more on practical issues, both
having to do with the actual work
participants do

8. 3. Training conferences
• include workshops on methods and
techniques, information on new
regulations
• exchange of experience and methods
among people from a number of
different organizations

9. 4. Issue- or problem-related
conferences
• to inform and to energize people about the
issue
• to create a critical mass of concern about it
• to develop strategies for approaching it

10. Why organize a conference?
1. There’s an issue that needs examining.
2. The field needs a conference.
3. Your organization or group wants to
start an annual gathering.

11. Why organize a conference?
4. There’s a crisis or opportunity that should
be addressed.
5. You may want to establish the legitimacy
of the field.
6. Feedback from the field or the
community may demand it.

12. Why organize a conference?
7. A funder may demand it.
8. You may want to enlist people to advance the
field, either through their work or through
advocacy.
9. It’s a matter of prestige, credibility, or
credentials for you or your organization.

13. Phases in Organizing a
Conference
• Creating an organizing structure
• Planning the conference
• Publicizing the conference and recruiting
and registering participants

14. Phases in Organizing a
Conference
• Running the conference.
• Evaluating the conference and the
conference-organizing process.

15. Creating a Conference
1. Agree on the purpose of the conference.
2. Identify your target audience.
3. Set a length and date for the conference.

16. Creating a Conference
4. Plan the format
Keynote
Break out Groups/ Sessions
Final Speaker

17. Keynote
• a speech or
presentation, usually
by a well-known or
inspirational speaker
• introduce the theme
of the conference

18. Keynote
• kindle attendees’ enthusiasm, and/or
make them think

19. Breakout Sessions
• Lectures or similar presentations
– informative sessions presenting
practical or theoretical ideas or
methods relevant to the work

20. Breakout Sessions
• Workshops
– teaching of methods, techniques, or other
skills or related activities

21. Breakout Sessions
• Important factual information
– new regulations, political/advocacy
issues, state of the field, etc.

22. Breakout Sessions
• Show and tell
–sessions where participants share what
they’re doing in their work.

23. Wrap-up/ Final Speaker
• sends people home
thinking about the
issue, and feeling that
they had a coherent
experience

24. Creating a Conference
5. Address conference logistics
6. Coordination and troubleshooting.

25. References:
• Rabinowitz, P. (2013). Organizing a
Conference. Berkowitz, B. (ed.). University of
Kansas: The Community Tool Box. retrieved
from http://ctb.ku.edu/en/tablecontents/sub_section_main_125.aspx