Saturday, April 24, 2010

ESA- to go or not to go?

In my limited experience so far, I love conferences. I loved my first ESA conference. I was really looking forward to presenting a poster at ESA this year in Pittsburgh, but I stupidly didn't even start my analysis in time to remotely have any kind of results that I could submit with a poster abstract and so I missed the deadline and am not presenting anything. Boo.

I was planning to go anyways, since I think it will inspire me and I'll get to see a lot of friends. However, I have a few reservations. One is the cost. I'll be paying for it myself. Two is the time away from home. I'm looking forward to spending most of my time at home this summer tending my plants and spending time with friends, and the week after ESA we are going to the beach with Jon's family. I'd be away for two straight weeks.

I need to decide soon because I should book a dorm room (cheaper than hotel) because they go quickly. Readers, what do you think?

7 comments:

jaxzwolf said...

I think I would go. It's hard being away from home a lot, but in the end two straight weeks won't be a killer, and you'll be with Jon the second week, so that's a plus.

The potential for networking opportunities and the exchange of ideas at ESA would outweigh the cost of being away from home, although it does suck that you'll have to pay for it, and there's no way around it. Except maybe to be thankful that you're still a student so registration fees won't kill you.

You may end up meeting someone or talking to someone who knows someone or listening in on someone's presentation that really changes the way you think about Critters or about questions similar to the ones you've been asking, or perhaps about your methods or analyses, etc. I think the possibility of learning something incredibly useful might trump the rest, for me.

Just my opinion, though. :)

Unknown said...

You should totally go! Because even though I don't know you or what you're researching/studying, I *love* going to ESA conferences and I think you'd have a great time. Networking, having fun with friends you haven't seen in awhile.

Now back on planet reality, it would suck to be gone from home again and to pay for it yourself, so this is quite a pickle.

<3 Charzy

Unknown said...

You should totally go! Because even though I don't know you or what you're researching/studying, I *love* going to ESA conferences and I think you'd have a great time. Networking, having fun with friends you haven't seen in awhile.

Now back on planet reality, it would suck to be gone from home again and to pay for it yourself, so this is quite a pickle.

<3 Charzy

Eugenie said...

I'm going! Go!!!!!!

I don't know what I'm going to do for housing either... I'd like to split a room with someone to save some green too...

sarcozona said...

You can always submit a late-breaking poster (deadline is May 13 for an abstract).

gigirose said...

Come! I'll be there too!

If you're concerned about time &/or cost, you could just go for a few days. I know an entire week of conferencing is always a bit much for me, and I get burned out by the end.

Karina said...

Ok, I'm going. Thanks for your encouragement!