When thinking about conferences, we most often discuss academic conferences. However, throughout the twentieth century, the conference was an important meeting format for politicians and diplomats as well as academics. Some of the most important historical events of the century involved conference meetings which had a huge impact on national and international policy. One such key conference was the World Conference on Human Rights in 1993, which was the first human rights conference since the end of the Cold War and which was instrumental in specifying universal human rights.

The University of Edinburgh is a storied institution founded in 1582 which sits in one of the liveliest and most charming cities in Britain.

Conferences have been a force for development and diplomacy on the international stage throughout the twentieth century. Here are five of the most famous conferences which have shaped our modern world. Download the Conference Monkey Directory - 6 Month Conference List

The University of Southern California is one of the US's most prominent universities, with alumni including over 150 recipients of the Pulitzer and Nobel Prizes, Academy, Emmy, and Grammy awards, as well as the National Endowment for the Humanities.

As well as traditional, research-based universities in the Netherlands, if you are looking for a more hands-on approach to education you may wish to consider newer, more vocational-based universities for your studies.

Humboldt University in Berlin, Germany is home to more than 37,000 students across 190 degree courses, as well as being a renowned research institution. Famous alumni of the university include Karl Marx, Heinrich Hertz, and Alexander von Humboldt, as well as 29 Nobel Laureates, and Albert Einstein was once a Physics professor.

As a historic British university, the Warwick Campus was established in 1965 by the British government as an initiative to expand higher education.

The beautiful, historic city of York in the UK is both a charming location and the home to one of the most highly regarded teaching and research institutions in the country, the University of York.

Conferences are a key part of academic life, but they can be difficult events for women to thrive in. Much like in other spheres of life, women experience harassment, danger, and judgment. Conferences need to do more to help women at conferences feel safe, secure, and free to talk, share their ideas, and grow. Read on to learn more about the problems women face at conferences at what conference organisers can do to help.

Every academic seems to be perpetually carrying around a huge stack of papers to read, but it can be tough to keep track of all of the notes that you write when you read these papers. Here are five ways to keep your notes organised, whether you're reading at home or travelling to a conference. Download the Conference Monkey Directory - 6 Month Conference List

Learning and education professionals and researchers should be sure to check out these top conferences in education being held in Europe in 2018: Download the Conference Monkey Directory - 6 Month Conference List

Organising a conference can be an extremely rewarding experience. Not only can sitting around debating for a few days with a bunch of academics and experts be greatly intellectually stimulating, conferences are also a chance to learn new, predominantly soft, skills, as well as being advantageous for your career. However, organising a conference is no small feat. A lot of thought and careful planning goes towards getting together so many people, and not only from a thematic point of view - there's also promotion, social media, and logistical details like heating and lunch.

You've checked the program, you've prepared your slides, you've booked your accommodation, so now you're all ready to head off to your academic conference. Just one problem – you need to decide what you're going to wear and pack it before you leave. What is acceptable attire for a conference, and how can you make sure that what you're wearing is appropriate? We're here to help with our guide on what to wear to academic conferences. We've already covered what women should wear in a separate post, so today we're looking at tips for men.

We often talk here about the importance of networking while you're at a conference. The opportunity to meet and discuss research with your fellow academics will help with your own work, and getting to know people in your industry will help you with job hunting and other career issues.

Most academics have professional social media accounts now, but these aren't always used as effectively as they could be. Here are 6 ways to get the most from social media when you're attending a conference. If you're heading to a conference this year and need some light relief, check out our piece on the ten best jokes heard at academic conferences.

When it comes to attending conferences, there are some rules you should always follow. If you're in doubt, remember these five mistakes to avoid at a conference. If you're looking to attend a conference this year but aren't sure which one to go to, check out our Insight into the top 5 can't-miss conferences.