Start to look for calls for abstracts for 2018 conferences

Combining stunning places or events with conference presentations require advanced planning. This is Alaska, on a recent conference trip to the USA.

The middle of August is the start of a busy time for me because this is when I spend hours and hours on the internet searching for interesting places and conferences that have calls for abstracts out for their 2018 conferences. Yes, I must confess that the places where the conferences are held is equally important to me as the themes and subject fields covered.  I also prefer to link two or three conferences into one trip and also to include at least one spectacular excursion to a place I would really like to visit, or just add a short stopover to our trip.  

The Learner conference, one of the Common Ground conferences will be held in Athens from 21-23 June 2018 and the call for papers is already open. A number of the other conferences under the Common Ground research networks are also already scheduled for 2018. The e-Learning and Innovative Pedagogy conference will take place on 2 and 3 March in New York. The Religion and Society conference will be held in Berkeley (USA) from 17-18 April 2018 and the New Directions in the Humanities conference will take place at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia (USA) from 5 to 7 July 2018. 

One of the most important advantages of submitting abstracts early is that once you got confirmation of acceptance, you will have enough time to apply for funding and support from the university and also be able to book flights, accommodation and transport well in advance, often at discounted prices. Early confirmation also gives me enough time to search for the best options in flight tickets and accommodation options. Looking at early acceptance from the academic side of things, it also ensure that you have more time to start working on the article  and the presentation. Although this is not always possible, it is awesome to have your article published within a month or three after presenting at the conference, allowing you to focus on other things (or a second conference paper) soon after you are back from the conference.