5 reasons to attend DSA2024
Are you a first time conference attendee? Or are you a conference stalwart who loves networking and connecting on your research?
Here’s five reasons we think you should attend DSA2024, plus the views of some our members on why it’s beneficial to attend. We’d love to hear your reasons!
- Networking Opportunities: Attending academic conferences provides an opportunity to network and meet other researchers, scholars, and professionals in your field. You can exchange ideas, collaborate on future research, and build professional relationships that can lead to job opportunities or collaborations. If you’re new, we have a welcome meeting on Wednesday morning for students and early career researchers which would be a good place to gain some confidence. There is also breaks and activities such as film screenings, study group meetings, publishing talks and publisher stands. Check out the timetable to find out more.
- Learning from Experts: Academic conferences feature keynote speakers and experts in various fields who share their knowledge, insights, and research findings. You can learn about the latest research and trends in your field, gain new perspectives, and discover innovative approaches to your research. Check out our keynote speakers for this year.
- Presenting Research: Presenting your research at a conference allows you to receive feedback from your peers and experts in your field. You can gain insights into your work, refine your research questions, and receive constructive criticism that can help you improve your research.
- Career Advancement: Attending academic conferences can help you advance your career by allowing you to showcase your work, build your professional network, and gain recognition in your field. Conference attendance can also provide valuable information about publishing, meeting publishers, authors and attending sessions on writing and publishing.
- It’s at SOAS, University of London hosted by the Development and Economics department! It has been a long time since the DSA conference has been in the capital so we are expecting a great turnout. You can learn more about the Development department in our recent member spotlight. In addition to free campus tours, the nearby British Museum, Wellcome Collection and Sir John Soames museums are free too! If you have a tip of things to do near SOAS, the best places to eat -especially on a budget – then please share it on twitter for our members travelling to the conference!
Member’s views
Here’s why DSA members have attended an academic conference in the past:
“I benefited from attending conference as a PhD student in the late 1990s (where there was methods training) and my first DSA conference paper in 2001 became my first journal paper in JID in 2002.” Sam Hickey, Professor of Politics and Development at the University of Manchester
“I have attended the annual DSA Conference to connect with and learn from other researchers working in my field of study.” Cynthia Kamwengo. Researcher on the politics of knowledge production, global governance and South-South cooperation. Centre for Development Studies, Bath.
“For me, attending an international conference like DSA2023 is one of the highlights of the academic calendar. Not only does it provide a great opportunity to present and gain feedback on my research, but it also provides a way to meet and connect with peers doing similar work in other universities and research institutes.” Alex Arnall, Environmental Geographer, University of Reading
“I’ve attended the DSA conference for the past two years because it’s a great event for meeting researchers working in the same field, hearing about their work and keeping up to date with the latest debates in development studies.” Clare Cummings, Research Associate in the Politics and Governance team at ODI.
If you’d like to find out more about attending DSA2023, visit our conference pages or if you’re ready to join us, simply register here.