So the ACS conference is no more. Actually, it feels like it’s been winding down since Tuesday, what with all the big banners saying “See you at the next meeting”, the posters advertising taxi services to the airport, and people wandering around with their luggage. I think it’s a shame that so many people have already gone home by the last day, especially for those who are still presenting. They may not be the biggest names, but it doesn’t seem fair that their potential audience is reduced before they even start.
As I mentioned before, this was my first ACS, and I think it’s lived up to expectations. I’ve enjoyed the chemistry (of course) but also the people watching. It seems that more senior chemists are predisposed towards facial hair (especially splendid moustaches), whereas the younger crowd are rebelling by generally being clean-shaved (although a trendy goatee beard is permitted).
Technology now allows for some mind-blowing multi-media presentations, but also inevitably to a random scattering of pop-up error messages. Still, I’ve enjoyed some of the visual humour. My favourite was the speaker who, when discussing the various organisms that have had their genomes sequenced, provided an image of each species. There was a picture of fruit-fly, a worm, and a chimpanzee. And right next to the chimp, representing humanity, there was George Bush. Say no more.
Anyway, I’ll be flying back home tomorrow (oh joy, another 8 hour flight with nothing to do but watch films about penguins. Why is it always penguins?), and then I’m going to lie down in a darkened room for a week. Really.
Andy
Andrew Mitchinson (Associate Editor, Nature)
Andy, your comment regarding the last day of the conference strikes home. I attended the Thursday sessions in order to ‘support the team,’ however there was little point in the presenters giving talks to people with whom they most likely communicate on a regular basis. I noticed one ‘Thursday Session Scientist’ had traveled a very long distance only to have not one, but both of his talks in a Thursday session attended by, perhaps, 5 people in a 200-person capacity room. This would be humiliating and demoralizing to me.
Should ACS limit the program to Sunday through Wednesday? They essentially do by closing down the Expo and Career Fair a day early. Should organizers be more critical of presentations, limiting the number of oral papers? Personally I would prefer having my abstract rejected rather than giving a talk to practically no one.
A better alternative, in my opinion, is for the “Thursday Session Scientists” to present posters earlier in the week. Their work will receive more exposure and they will have more networking opportunities.
Why is it always penguins? It’s simple. Just because the probability of seeing it in the jet window is the lowest 🙂
As one of these “Thursday Session Scientists” I can say that those who skipped their presentations—- ~30% in my thursday session—- were the smart ones. My session leader only bothered to show up after the first three talks were finished.
At least at MRS they structure the meeting so that there are big names schedule throughout the week.
Technology now allows for some mind-blowing multi-media presentations, but also inevitably to a random scattering of pop-up error messages. Still, I’ve enjoyed some of the visual humour. My favourite was the speaker who, when discussing the various organisms that have had their genomes sequenced, provided an image of each species.