of knowing your work so well that it doesn't sound interesting, or that you can't tease apart the interesting big issues from the details! I always return from a conference more excited about my research than when I left: it had become stale to me, but the excitement and admiration of others upon hearing of it reminded me how good it actually is.) Remember to talk first about the goals of your research, and only then about the techniques you are using. You have to convince others that the work is worth hearing about before they will be willing to listen to the technical details.

You'll learn a lot from talking about your work — seeing what confuses people and receiving their ideas and suggestions, for example — but

remember that no one likes to be in a conversation in which they only listen. You need to always tell people about your work, but also be sure to ask others about their work (even doing so first). You'll also learn a lot by listening and by asking questions. Keep an open mind, and try to deeply understand their research.

Meeting other researchers

Here are some ways to meet people at a conference. They are particularly useful for those who are shy or who are just entering a research community.

1. If someone gave a talk, then introduce yourself and ask a thoughtful question about some issue that you are curious about or found

interesting.

2. Use a mutual acquaintance. It is easier to walk up to a group if you already know one of them. Making some contacts early on eases meeting people during the rest of the conference. Even just listening can help you learn. If there is something that confuses you, ask (or at the very least write down the question to ask your friends later — but typically you should just ask).

3. Use others in your group to make introductions. It's your advisor's job to do so, but he or she may often be busy (such as being involved in other conversations or making other introductions). However, it

is not acceptable to hang out just with other people from your own institution. It is your responsibility to talk with people from other institutions. A good rule of thumb is not to join a group if that would make it half or close colleagues of yours. Another rule of thumb is that it's fine to travel in pairs — have a buddy to help you meet others — but not to hunt in larger packs. It's fine to check in with people from your group once in a while — to take a break from being social, to learn about someone you really ought to meet, etc. But use such time to recharge, not as your standard mode at the conference.