Tuesday 2 December 2008

Conference chic

Huzzah! I am recently returned from a Brain Research conference in Washington U.S.A. (hence the Americanised header). If forced at gunpoint (admittedly unlikely) I would have to say that fannying around chatting about sciencey things with exotic people all over the globe is possibly my favourite thing about research.

I have proof I have been in the U.S. - See Fig. 1 which depicts a pedestrian crossing. Note the helpful and considerate count-down informing people exactly how long they have left to dither about in the middle of the road (taking pictures and whatnot).



Fig. 1 Crossing the road Washington style

Here in the U.K. it is conventional for drivers to signal to pedestrians that their road-crossing time frame is coming to an end by revving their engines and creeping slowly forward. It's not as precise but it seems to work ok.

As you can imagine, much of the discussion at the conference was given over to this year's trends in conference fashion. While trying to figure out if I could subsist entirely on free conference pastries and cakes for the rest of my stay (apparently there's some sort of economic problem happening at the moment and my credit card was shivering at the prospect of check-out), I was interrupted by an enthusiastic Italian epigeneticist (don't ask) who wanted desperately to impress upon me that a) she owned the same dress as the one I was wearing and b)I look almost as fabulous in it as she does.

She told me I should come to an epigenetics meeting in Lille. But I don't know anything about epigenetics. It makes my head hurt. So? Lille is beautiful and the food is amazing.


Is this what they call networking? If so I love it. She cooed some more about the other dress I'd worn the previous day and I decided that I totally rock at networking.


I'd also like to give a special mention to the conference bags which, at every other conference I've ever been to, have always looked like this or a variation thereof...



Not at this, the best-dressed conference of 2008. Oh no. Behold eco-friendly and bang on trend, the Nexus conference bag made from jute canvas, complete with a clasp made from finest coconut shell. Biodegradable and sustainable. Round of applause please...

5 comments:

Valerie said...

Wow. That's a conference bag one could actually use as a handbag!

Grad school proved to me that you CAN subsist entirely on free conference pastries and cake, but that guarantees that you *will* catch the official conference cold. Either from having attendees sneeze over the goodies, or from the sugar content somehow lowering immune response...

Karen's Mouth said...

Hi Valerie, welcome. I must say it's a VERY lovely conference bag BUT it does say BRAIN RESEARCH MEETING all over it. Sadly detracts from it's appeal a little. That's so funny - I did feel a bit wonky and I did think that my blood glucose was to blame (muffin for breakfast, donut with coffee, danish pastry and cookie with lunch...)

Allison said...

Ah, you've reminded me how in my first few months in England I was terrified of crossing the street for fear of being run over if my pace wasn't quick enough. Nearing the end of my stay though, I got some gumption and would step out with ease.

Very lovely bag, too bad it says brain research all over it. ;)

Barbara Bruederlin said...

Obviously Canadian conferences leave much to be desired. I recall getting bookbags, back in my conference attending days. Bookbags!

Karen's Mouth said...

I know what you mean Allison - it's amazing the depth of communication an appropriately revved engine can have!

Ha! Can't say I've ever been to a Canadian conference Barb, if I do I shall look forward to receiving my bookbag!