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.

Summer is often a quieter time in academia, with many people choosing to go away on holiday or to take time off for sabbaticals or other trips away. But that doesn't mean that there are no academic events that are worthy of note during this time – there are still massive and exciting conferences happening.

Public speaking can be scary, but there are techniques that you can try out which will make it easier and improve your talks. For a look at all upcoming conferences where you can put these strategies into action check out our conference listings. Download the Conference Monkey Directory - 6 Month Conference List

The USA is one of the top locations in the world for international academic conferences. Whether you're working in business, computing, neuroscience, geography, or the humanities, you'll find some of the largest conferences in your field are held in the US.

In every academic field, it is important that you take time to learn about different conferences that are happening in your field. Attending a conference allows you to find out about important new research and to get feedback on your work – not to mention the value of networking with other researchers and experts in academia and industry. If you are looking for an economics conference to attend in the US this year, then we recommend that you take a look at the following top conferences:

As an economics student, you already have a host of different topics that you study and a variety of methodologies that you use in research. However, you can also gain valuable knowledge and experience from studying topics from outside the field of economics. If you're thinking about branching out and studying some other subjects in addition to economics, here are suggestions for related fields that you could study alongside your economics degree:

Academic conferences are serious professional events, but that doesn't mean that they have to be totally devoid of fun! In fact, one of the great things about conferences is getting to know your fellow researchers face to face, and this is often easier when you're in a more informal environment. Between conferences dinners, parties, and other social events, there should be some time for fun as well as for work at a conference.

Academic conferences are serious professional events, but that doesn't mean that they have to be totally devoid of fun! In fact, one of the great things about conferences is getting to know your fellow researchers face to face, and this is often easier when you're in a more informal environment. Between conferences dinners, parties, and other social events, there should be some time for fun as well as for work at a conference.

Whether you are a student or a senior researcher in economics, attending conferences is a vital part of your academic career. As well as being able to present your work as a talk or as a poster, you can attend the presentations of other researchers to learn about the latest news and developments in your field. But more than that, conferences are a chance to discuss your topic with fellow experts and to get to know new people and to expand your network.

When you attend a conference, you can benefit not only from hearing about new research and networking with other academics, but also from engaging in discussion and debate with your fellow attendees. It's a rare chance to have researchers in your field from all over the world gathered in one place, so you should take up this opportunity to talk with them. One excellent way to engage in discussions is by staying for the question and answer session at the end of a talk or poster. Usually, there will be some time set aside at the end of a talk for comments from the audience.

As an academic, in order to promote your own work and to learn about the work being done by others in your field, it's essential that you attend conferences. This is especially true of disciplines like history which can be performed individually rather than as part of a research group. You need contact with other researchers in order to motivate yourself and to understand the broader context of debates currently being held in your field.

Poster sessions are an underrated part of conferences. While they aren't as high profile as talks or panels, you can still get a lot from attending a poster session if you follow a few key tips. For a look at all upcoming conferences where you can put these strategies into action check our listings.

Social functions are often the fun part of attending a conference, but they can be stressful in their own way too. Here's a guide to ease you into the essential points of attending a conference social function. For a look at all upcoming conferences where you can put these strategies into action check our conference listings.