Recently Rated:
Stats
Work interests: research, editing, science communication
Affiliation/website: National Museum of Ethnology, Osaka
Preferred contact method: Any
Preferred contact language(s): English, German
Contact: email = researchcooperative-at-gmail-dot-com
Favourite publications: Various, and especially the open access versions of older journals with effective review systems
Founding Member
Affiliations: 1996-present: National Museum of Ethnology, Osaka. 1995: Freelance editor, Kyoto. 1994: JSPS Research Visitor, Kyoto University, Kyoto. 1993: Research Visitor, Australian National University, Canberra. 1991: Visiting Researcher, National Museum of Ethnology, Osaka.1990: STA Fellow, National Institute for Ornamental Plants, Vegetables, and Tea (NIVOT), Ano, Japan
Contact: National Museum of Ethnology, Senri Expo Park, Suita City, Osaka, Japan 565-8511
Biographical: Established the Research Cooperative in 2001
Favourite Publications: Various
Publishing from conferences
Not every conference can be expected to attract participation by the world leaders in a particular field, nor is this desirable. An ideal conference will bring together people with a good mix of skills and experience. A poor conference might bring together inexperienced people who do not have enough interests in common, or without enough support for publication of the conference proceedings. Many problems can and do arise when conferences are held.
Perhaps the ideal conference is one where:
- the subject is clearly defined by the organisers, but not too narrowly defined
- a core of participants have a shared enthusiasm for the subject
- a core of participants bring deep experience and knowledge, and well-developed writing skills
- another core of participants bring less experience, less knowledge, and less-developed writing skills but a strong desire to learn, to ask questions, and a willingness to attempt writing to a high standard
- all the participants are able to learn from each other, from their various strengths and weaknesses, and take a positive interest in helping each other understand the subject, and each other.
- formal and informal opportunities are provided for conference participants to mix and meet each other, allowing them to build their personal and organisational research networks, and stimulating new initiatives for research, writing, job finding and other research-related activities.
- there is adequate support from participants and financial support from sponsors to publish the conference results.
In this 'ideal' conference plan, the organisers will give everyone time to write papers before the conference, and the participants will receive enough interest and feedback to stimulate revision of their manuscripts.
After the final drafts have been received, then the conference organiser or volume editor will then seek comments from outside referees or reviewers, and will make sure that the authors have full editorial support for getting their manuscripts ready for publication (though I may be suggesting more work than usual for the conference organiser, or volume editor).
I must confess to having learned from both success and failure as an organiser and editor. I believe the ability to consistently organise good conferences AND good publications based on conferences, is rare and highly valuable.
An early search for volunteer and/or paid editors, translators, reviewers and others may make it a lot easier to get the eventual volume published.
Usually, there is not a large or certain budget for the publication stage of a conference, so organisers might feel reluctant to send out requests for help. However, at the Research Cooperative, there is no need to offer payments before payments can be promised - it is possible to begin by seeking volunteers who have their own personal or professional interests in helping with the publication of a particular conference -- on the understanding that their efforts will be at least acknowledged in the publication itself.
Of course, there is no certainty that there will be volunteers, or volunteers with acceptable knowledge and skills, but making public requests for help does not mean that every (or any) offer must be accepted.
There is nothing to lose (or perhaps just a little time), and everything to gain (or at least something to gain), by asking...
Return to CONFERENCE SUPPORT INDEX
