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Researcher Skills Toolkit

Conference publications

Most disciplines hold conferences where researchers or practitioners meet to network, present, and discuss the latest research. Conference presentations are often the first place that research is reported and may provide the most current source of results. 

When considering attendance and presentation at a conference, think about the target audience, cost, and overall benefits of attendance. Calls for participation tend to be circulated on discipline lists and key journals; ongoing conferences will have permanent websites.

Be wary of unsolicited calls for participation at unfamiliar conferences. Check the predatory publishing section of this module for more information.

Think Check Attend

Think.Check.Attend

Think.Check.Attend assists researchers to judge the legitimacy and academic credentials of conferences.

Core Rankings Portal provides assessments of major conferences in the computing disciplines.

Conference publications come in a variety of formats, including:

  • Fully refereed conference papers 
  • Poster presentations 
  • Abstracts of conference presentations.

Like books and book chapters, conference presentations are well regarded in some disciplines, less so than other disciplines. It is important that you consult your colleagues or your supervisor if you are unsure.

To be eligible for categorisation as an E1 conference paper for internal reporting process and ERA, conference papers must be:

  • published in full – the publication may appear in several different formats, e.g., a volume of proceedings, a special edition of a journal, a normal issue of a journal, a book, a monograph, or digitally on the conference or organisational website 
  • been through an acceptable peer review process. The paper must have been subject to independent peer review in its entirety
  • presented at a conference, workshop, or seminar of national or international significance.

Check the Guidelines for Traditional Research Outputs for further details.

Conference papers are often difficult to locate. A conference website may remain accessible post-conference and include papers and other presentations. Proceedings volumes may include all papers and published in print or online, or papers may be published in special volumes of journals.  

Many databases also index conference papers – contact your Research Liaison Librarian for assistance.

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