Overview

Conference presentations play a central role in disseminating research, building professional networks, and advancing scholarly careers. However, many academics, researchers and doctoral students encounter challenges in translating research ideas into compelling conference contributions. These challenges may arise at multiple stages, including writing abstracts that communicate the value of the work, designing presentations that engage academic audiences, and making effective use of conferences to support longer-term scholarly goals. Without a structured approach, opportunities for dissemination, collaboration, and professional visibility may not be fully realised.

This webinar supports academics, research support officers and doctoral students in developing effective conference presentations that communicate their research clearly and strategically. Participants will explore approaches to identifying suitable research for conference submission and crafting abstracts that align with reviewer expectations. The session will address principles of effective presentation design, including structuring presentations for clarity, developing appropriate visual materials, and engaging diverse academic audiences within time constraints.

Participants will also consider how to use conference participation to build professional networks, support publication goals, and extend the impact of their research beyond the presentation itself. The webinar will provide practical frameworks, templates, and strategies to support the development of effective conference presentations and maximise their value for scholarly dissemination and career progression.

This webinar will be especially valuable for those preparing to present at the upcoming University of Malta Research Expo (UMRE) on 27 May, providing practical guidance to support effective preparation and maximise the benefits of participation.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this webinar, the participants will be able to:

• Develop clear and compelling conference abstracts aligned with reviewer and audience expectations.
• Design and deliver engaging research presentations that communicate key messages effectively.
• Use conference participation strategically to support networking, publication, and scholarly visibility.

Speaker Bio

Jim Purdy earned his PhD in English with a specialisation in writing studies from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. An award-winning teacher-scholar, he has extensive experience supporting graduate students as a writing centre director and as an academic serving on dissertation committees. He is co-author of The Effects of Intellectual Property Law in Writing Studies (Routledge, 2020) and co-editor of Making Space: Writing Instruction, Infrastructure, and Multiliteracies (University of Michigan Press, 2017). His scholarship appears in leading journals in writing studies and rhetoric. His current research explores expertise in writing and the writing practices behind Wikipedia, offering timely insights into academic knowledge-making and scholarly communication.