May 10, 2023

Attending a Research Conference as a Junior Scholar

The lessons and opportunities I gained from attending a gerontology conference and presenting my own research
Dorothy Chacinski

As I drove into the parkade at the Canadian Association on Gerontology conference in Regina, I remember feeling a combination of intense excitement and nerves. The Scholars Academy had just granted me a scholarship to attend, and this was the first conference at which I would be presenting my own research. The drive from where I was staying in Saskatoon was long. Before I left the car, I flipped up the mirror to check my hair and makeup. As I got out, I felt the cold blast of October air hit my face. I adjusted my collar and pantsuit, thinking, “I feel sharp!”. In that moment, I was ready to enter the world of research as a junior scholar.

I entered the main lobby of the hotel where the conference was taking place, and I was immediately greeted with the buzzing and shuffling of academics, students, and members of the general public. It was packed, even more so due to the AGE-WELL conference held adjacently. I checked in and made my way to the conference hall where I would be presenting my poster on associations between vascular burden in the brain and cognition.

As I hung up my poster, the nearby presenters started chatting with me. Some were undergraduates, some were doctoral students, but all were friendly and excited to share their work with me, and to learn about mine. I felt a sense of comradery and curiosity. I exchanged many numbers that day, and even stumbled upon some acquaintances from AGE-WELL who had wandered in to explore the latest research in gerontology. I was also able to put many faces to names, and I remember thinking, “What a small world gerontology research is!”. Later that day, I attended a symposium hosted by my other research team on a study I assisted with. Afterwards, I went out for dinner and drinks with my team, where I had the chance to ask more candidly about the day-to-day of a career in academia and research.

My experience was rewarding and unforgettable. There are three things I took away from it. First, conferences are excellent spaces to network with like-minded scholars and to expand your knowledge of upcoming scientific advancements. Second, the attendees can provide you with important critiques and new ideas that you may not have previously considered. Third, attending these conferences is not nearly as intimidating as you might believe. Research conferences are largely supportive environments where you can learn, ask questions, and reignite a spark for your field. I highly encourage continuing Scholars Academy students to attend a conference as a bucket-list item before graduation.

Dorothy Chacinski

Dorothy Chacinski is a graduating Scholars Academy student who has worked extensively in long-term care and has advocated for older adults. Dorothy attended the Canadian Association on Gerontology 51st Annual Scientific and Educational Meeting in October 2022. She presented a poster on associations between cerebral small vessel disease burden and cognition in older adults with transient ischemic attack (a type of stroke) from research conducted under Dr. Aravind Ganesh and Dr. Philip Barber. She was also an author on an oral symposium that described the results of a trial for an online mental health toolkit for caregivers of those living with dementia in long-term care under Dr. Hannah O'Rourke and Dr. Jennifer Swindle.