Reflecting on my first academic conference presentation

When I was accepted to present an oral presentation for the first time at an academic conference this summer, I felt a mixture of excitement and anxiety, with a touch of surprise. The conference was Appearance Matters 10, which was hosted by the Centre for Appearance Research (where I work) and focused on highlighting research, theory, and good practice in the field of body image and appearance psychology. 

While I believe in the value of my work, I still feel I have a lot to learn before I become a 'real' academic (thanks, imposter syndrome!). Having spent many years as a student and only recently starting my professional research role, I didn't fully believe I belonged sharing the stage with so many esteemed researchers in my field. 

My presentation was about the research I am completing as part of my Professional Doctorate in Health Psychology, which is a qualitative exploration of the lived experiences of LGBTQIA+ young people with visible differences. Specifically, I am using an online survey and reflexive thematic analysis to understand how differences in appearance due to conditions (e.g. alopecia), injuries (e.g. burns), or treatment side effects (e.g. surgical scarring) intersect with young peoples' LGBTQIA+ identities and impact on their lives. As an extremely under-researched area with very little existing evidence, I held onto the fact that other people in the room would at least not be experts in the material. This gave me some confidence (and hope that I wouldn't get many tricky questions!). 

The preparation process

In preparing for the conference, I practised with my very supportive colleagues, who gave me valuable feedback for improvement. This included adding my X handle to my slides as people might take photos of them, and making sure to be clear that the study was still open for recruitment. I also got to know my material well so that I didn't feel the need to rely on notes. 

Something that helped me in this process was shifting my mindset from thinking of myself as a student to thinking of myself as a professional. This is something we are taught to do on my doctoral programme, as we are consistently reminded and treated as professionals and colleagues rather than students. This helped me remember that I am no longer just learning but am contributing meaningfully to my field.  

Another reminder that I found helpful was acknowledging that I knew more about my research than anyone else in the room, and that they were there because they wanted to hear about it. I have spent many hours reading other research about the experiences of LGBTQIA+ young people and people with visible differences, as well as data from my participant group, and recognising this helped reinforce that I am the expert on my work. 

Giving the presentation

At the conference, I had a great time moving from talk to talk and listening to the fascinating research being done by others in the field. I felt inspired by the people I met and the projects being done. As my presentation was on the final afternoon of the conference, I used the first couple of days to get an idea of what to expect in terms of the room and audience size as well as the process and set up. This helped me feel more comfortable in the environment, especially as I was beginning to recognise some faces. 

My presentation was in the biggest room of the conference, which felt a bit intimidating. When it came to my turn, I felt a burst of nerves, but once I got started these quickly dissipated. All the practice paid off, as I felt very comfortable with the material and the presentation flowed smoothly as planned. I was also grateful to have a few colleagues very close to the front row who gave me many reassuring smiles! 

Overall, giving my first conference presentation was an enjoyable experience, and I am particularly grateful to have been able to do it at such a friendly and welcoming event. I am feeling a renewed sense of confidence in my work and invigorated by the wonderful people I met and bright ideas that were shared, and I can't wait for my next one!

Advice to first-time conference presenters/attendees

1.     Think about what you want the takeaway message from your presentation to be and make sure you clearly communicate it to the audience. Conference attendees are taking in a lot of new information and ideas so the simpler the better. 

2.     Don't be afraid to talk to people! Whether you found their presentation interesting, or they asked a question during yours, talking more can be a great way to build contacts that might be helpful in the future. 

3.     Practice, practice, practice – especially to an audience. Being comfortable with the material you are presenting can do wonders for calming your nerves and boosting your confidence.