Varieties of Conference Experience

Two primary goals of a research field are (i) communicate and preserve knowledge, and (ii) build and maintain a professional community. A range of tools are at its disposal: books, journals, newsletters, lectures, exhibitions, person-to-person communication, magazine and newspaper articles, workshops, and conferences. Each field is marked by a distinct mix and weighting of these venues. To showcase quality work, humanities emphasize books whereas sciences typically look to journals. For communitybuilding and member support, conferences and workshops support networking and often provide community members with feedback on their work in progress.