A few weeks ago, I travelled to Adelaide to attend the Australian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society’s (AMOS) Annual Conference. With a little over two months to go for thesis submission, I felt like the timing of the conference couldn’t have been better for me. I had two main objectives for the conference: share my research and look for job opportunities. One of the first things I did when the program was released was to carefully select the sessions I wanted to attend. I also tried to avoid jumping between parallel sessions too much. This helped me focus better on the talks and not subject myself to information overload. To make the most of my last PhD conference, I decided to give two talks (they also happened to be scheduled on the same day!). Giving two talks meant double the anxiety. During the last few days leading up to the talks, I kept tidying up my slides instead of practicing my talk. This went on for too long, so I decided to upload my slides in advance. This was a good call as it gave me the time to practice my talk instead of revising my slides. My supervisors had suggested that I mention that I’d be looking for jobs at the end of my talk. I was pleasantly surprised by the number of people who reached out to me afterwards, informing me about different opportunities. It was also nice to see some interest in my work. Positive feedback following a research presentation always helps ground me and reminds me that I am doing meaningful work. It was also interesting to observe how I felt more open to questions at the end of my talk. I remember when I started my PhD, I would dread question time. I still do, but I have also grown to understand that being asked a lot of questions means there is interest in your work. And that is better than the room being completely silent at the end of your talk. The two things I had missed the most about in-person conferences were traveling and meeting people. During the conference, there was ample opportunity to connect with other climate researchers. I always find it nerve wracking to present my work to a large audience. However, having spoken with some of them at various networking dinners helped ease the nerves. Research talks during the day followed by social events in the evenings meant that the day was packed. I had forgotten how exhausting conferences can be. This is why it’s important to carve out some time each day to quieten your mind and recharge! My friends and I found a place about a 30-minute walk from the conference venue. This enabled me to get in my daily exercise. I really enjoyed the morning walks, which showed me different aspects of the city. It was also nice to do that walk alone as I was interacting with people during the rest of the day. Looking back at AMOS 2022, I can say that it was a truly fruitful and refreshing experience. The conference has given me the motivation I need to wrap up my PhD. With just a few months left, I am feeling sad that my student days are numbered, nervous about figuring out the next steps and excited to see what post-PhD life has in store for me.
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AuthorBudding climate scientist from Sri Lanka, currently pursuing a PhD on heatwaves, at the Climate Change Research Centre (CCRC) at UNSW, Sydney. Believes in using effective science communication to bridge the gap between science and society :) Archives
June 2021
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