Conference scaling: From collegial to colossal

Following two conferences in a row…

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Erich: ASCJ was navigable with 300 participants.

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Jean-Paul: Right, and at most half a dozen parallel sessions over two days.

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Erich: Whereas at ICAS, there were more navigational choices because of the 1200 participants, running to 25 parallel sessions over four days.

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Jean-Paul: I sense a coefficient coming on.

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The plenipotentiary
takes the stand...

Erich: So at ASCJ, you could potentially attend 12 percent of the presentations.

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Jean-Paul: And at the bigger ICAS, you could potentially attend only 4 percent.

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Erich: Assuming you only stayed in one session and didn’t float or hop between rooms.

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Voice-over

Academic conferences range from the small group of colleagues (maybe 20 or 30) who meet to exchange ideas. Use of one of the member’s university teaching rooms: gratis. Everyone chips in 300 yen for coffee and scones. Single sessions, so everyone gets to speak and be heard. Audience: 20 or 30.

Go a little bigger and an institution might ask for some payment. Conference fee a reasonable 3,000 yen. Reception dinner, optional, 3,000 yen. See 10 to 15 percent of the presentations if there are no distractions. Audience in each session: 20 or 30.

Then go international and rent a crowd. Hotels, transport, international conference centre, book publishers as sponsors of coffee breaks. Conference fee from 14,000 yen to 30,000 yen (including reception). Audience in each session: 20 or 30.

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