Tips and Tricks - Fourwaves

November 16 2022

Storytelling in Science: Why it matters and how to improve your skills

Matthieu Chartier, PhD.

Storytelling is a powerful technique that can be used when speaking at a scientific conference. Stories are powerful. Humans ha...

November 09 2022

How to Write a Convincing Letter of Support for Grant

Matthieu Chartier, PhD.

A well-written letter of support goes a long way toward convincing funding agencies that a research proposal is worth taking a chance on. Applying f...

November 02 2022

What to Wear to a Scientific Conference

Matthieu Chartier, PhD.

Presenting new work, learning about new ideas, and making important collaborations are exciting parts of scientific conferences. While academics care...

October 26 2022

Step-by-Step Guide to Organize a Virtual Conference in 2023

Matthieu Chartier, PhD.

There are different things to consider when organizing a virtual conference compared to organizing an in-person event. If you’re organizing your first...

October 12 2022

How to Choose the Best Format for Your Conference

Matthieu Chartier, PhD.

Before 2020, academic conferences typically took place in a hotel or conference center. When Covid-19 hit, legal limitations on gatherings and concern...

October 05 2022

10 Abstract Management Tips for a Conference

Matthieu Chartier, PhD.

Collecting abstracts can be daunting, especially if it’s your first time. Even for small conferences, managing abstract submissions takes a high level...

September 26 2022

5 Virtual Poster Session Software Options

Matthieu Chartier, PhD.

Poster sessions are an important part of most academic and scientific conferences. They allow students and researchers to present their work, get feed...

September 08 2022

How Much to Charge for an Academic Conference (with template)

Matthieu Chartier, PhD.

With prices rising on everything from transportation to food to manufactured goods and with the new event format, many event organizers are rethinking...

August 11 2022

Academic Conference Session Titles that Attract Attendees

Matthieu Chartier, PhD.

Most conferences offer many different sessions, and sometimes they take place concurrently. Because conference goers can only attend one session at a ...

August 03 2022

9 Proven Ways to Promote a Conference

Matthieu Chartier, PhD.

The way you promote your conference can be the difference between a successful, well-attended event and a conference filled with empty seats. Conferen...

July 28 2022

How to Write a Speaker Bio for a Conference (with Examples)

Matthieu Chartier, PhD.

How to Write a Speaker Bio for a Conference (with Examples) Author bios, or speaker bios, can be used for a variety of purposes. They can be included ...

July 07 2022

What are Conference Proceedings & Frequently Asked Questions

Matthieu Chartier, PhD.

Conference proceedings are an important record of the research presented at an academic conference. They can take different forms depending on the con...

June 29 2022

19 Practical Networking Tips for Your Next Conference

Matthieu Chartier, PhD.

Academic conferences provide multiple opportunities for researchers. They are a chance to learn about new work being done in your field, they offer a ...

June 24 2022

5 Steps to Build a Conference Website

Matthieu Chartier, PhD.

Your conference website is the first place visited by potential attendees, presenters, keynotes and sponsors, so it’s important that it’s built though...

June 23 2022

Conference Paper Format and Style Guidelines

Matthieu Chartier, PhD.

There are many different ways to write a conference paper. Most journals have their own requirements around specific length, document type, and the fo...

June 16 2022

Panel Discussions: What Are They and How to Organize One

Matthieu Chartier, PhD.

Panel discussions are a key element of both virtual and in-person academic conferences. They are an excellent addition to any conference program, and ...

June 14 2022

7 Steps to Get Sponsors for a Conference

Matthieu Chartier, PhD.

One of the biggest challenges that conference organizers face is covering all of the expenses associated with hosting their event. While registration ...

June 10 2022

Breakout Session Guide for Academic & Scientific Events

Matthieu Chartier, PhD.

Breakout sessions are fun, engaging, and valuable elements of academic conferences. Conferences can be long, and I don’t know about you, but after sit...

June 02 2022

How to Create a Conference Program in 8 Easy Steps

Matthieu Chartier, PhD.

A good conference program should be visually pleasing and easy to browse while remaining coherent to the focus of the event. If you’re new to conferen...

May 24 2022

How to Prepare for an Academic Conference - 8 Essentials

Matthieu Chartier, PhD.

Academic conferences are a great networking opportunity for scientific researchers, students, and professors alike. These events bring together a grou...

May 19 2022

Top 9 Academic Podcasts to Listen to in 2022

Matthieu Chartier, PhD.

Podcasts are a convenient, portable, and easily-accessed way to ingest information and gather new information and skills. They are often free, and eve...

May 17 2022

The Best Conference Announcements Sites for 2022

Matthieu Chartier, PhD.

There are a lot of things to keep track of when you’re organizing an academic conference, and with so much to do, promoting your event can sometimes t...

May 06 2022

The 10 Academic Blogs You Should Follow in 2022

Matthieu Chartier, PhD.

Academic blogs are a great source of information for researchers, professors, students or anyone interested in keeping up-to-date with new advances in...

May 04 2022

The Best Conference Budget Template (& Planning Tips)

Matthieu Chartier, PhD.

While there are many definitions of success when it comes to planning and executing an academic conference, adhering to a predetermined budget is part...

May 02 2022

The 6 Conference Organizing Committee Roles and Tasks

Matthieu Chartier, PhD.

An active, committed organizing committee is at the core of every successful academic conference. Members of the committee act as ambassadors of the ...

May 01 2022

Top 10 Apps for Researchers in 2022

Matthieu Chartier, PhD.

The evolution of new technologies has caused a digital transformation in almost every industry and field of interest, including academia. Technology h...

April 27 2022

Your Call for Papers Template (with Tips)

Matthieu Chartier, PhD.

So, you’re organizing an academic conference. You’ve selected the event date, you have your organizing committee in place, and you know the focus of y...

April 27 2022

Single-Blind Vs. Double-Blind Peer Review - Simple Guide

Matthieu Chartier, PhD.

While the first scientific journal was launched in 1665, the peer review process began in the 1970s and is often considered to be at the core of the s...

March 15 2022

Conference Planning Checklist for 2022

Matthieu Chartier, PhD.

Introduction Most researchers will organize at least one conference during their career, and sometimes many. Successfully orchestrating the meetup of ...

March 10 2022

The Difference Between a Symposium and a Conference

Matthieu Chartier, PhD.

When organizing an academic event, you may be wondering what to call it - is it a conference or a symposium, or something else entirely? Similarly, wh...

February 15 2022

Welcome Speech for a Scientific Conference: Examples & Tips

Matthieu Chartier, PhD.

Having a well written welcome speech that you’re confident about goes a long way in overcoming public speaking nervousness. A great welcome speech set...

January 27 2022

How to Write an Abstract for a Conference

Matthieu Chartier, PhD.

Scientific conferences are a great way to show your work to researchers in your field, get useful feedback and network. For most conferences, you will...

December 09 2021

Should You Host a Virtual Poster Session with Zoom?

Matthieu Chartier, PhD.

In-person poster sessions are coveted moments in conferences. The buzzing ambiance, the finger food, and beer as well as the serendipitous encounters ...

December 03 2021

Virtual Poster Presentation Guidelines: Template & Tips

Matthieu Chartier, PhD.

In academic conferences, poster presentations are super important. They help participants gain experience in communicating their research, share their...

November 18 2021

15 Best Tips for Presenting at a Conference

Matthieu Chartier, PhD.

Presenting at a conference is an important part of a researcher’s life: it allows you to share all the work you’ve been doing for months or years. At ...

February 02 2021

Here are some tips for organizing your virtual or hybrid event

Matthieu Chartier, PhD.

Virtual events raise a lot of questions. Here are some frequently asked questions that we receive and some possible solutions, which could help you. H...

August 20 2020

How to host a virtual poster session

Matthieu Chartier, PhD.

With the pandemic, many organizers transitioned to a hybrid (sometimes to an asynchronous hybrid) or virtual format for their poster session. For some...