Whether you are a first-time attendee, a seasoned veteran, or rejoining us after a break, attending the ASTC Annual Conference is a great way to advance your own professional development and benefit your organization. ASTC’s Conference Program Planning Committee (CPPC) shared some of their reasons for attending conference. If you’re looking for a way to make the case to attend, consider these points:
- Stay up-to-date about what’s most important right now from all corners of the science engagement profession. Sessions are a key element of the conference experience, and there is no better place to learn, share, and ideate than at the ASTC Annual Conference. This year’s sessions span timely topics like AI, inclusion and accessibility, and planetary health, as well as core science engagement issues and practice. And you can already begin to plan ahead by reviewing the detailed conference program to make the most out of your experience.
- Forge new collaborations. With countless opportunities for networking, the ASTC Annual Conference is the perfect place to connect with others, find new partners, and map out potential new projects together. Whether you find a great seat-mate at one of the keynote sessions, attend a meet-up to find other professionals that share your interests, take a field trip to a world-class Chicago institution on Museum Experience Day, or clink a drink at the Griffin-MSI Host Party, your presence at the conference will grow your organization’s network and profile.
- Learn about new opportunities. Network with funders, learn about the landscape of U.S. federal funding agencies, and check out ASTC’s own grant opportunities and networks in the Exhibit Hall Hub. Your organization’s next successful grant could be just around the corner!
- Share what you learn. Even if you’re not presenting at conference, we encourage you to share what you learned when you return home with a brownbag lunch for your colleagues. Pass along some of the interesting and inspiring stories you heard and connect your colleagues with those you met in Chicago.
- Find the latest and greatest vendors in the field. Save time researching and vetting vendors and partners in exhibits and facilities, business services, audience research, and more. The ASTC Annual Conference’s growing list of exhibitors and sponsors (over 90 as of early July!) represent leaders in the field that are sure to enhance the work of your organization.
Hopefully, we’ve convinced you that ASTC 2024 is a can’t-miss event, but we know budgets are tight. We have included a template below that you can customize to make the case for attending to your manager.
Dear [manager name],
I am writing about the Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC) Annual Conference, which takes place this year in Chicago, Illinois, from September 28 – October 1. With more that 1,800 attendees expected from across the science engagement field, and over 300 sessions and events in the program, ASTC 2024 is a great opportunity to advance my own professional development as well as the work of [organization name]. Specifically, attending will provide the following opportunities:
[highlight the benefits of attending with examples such as]
- Furthering my own professional development in [add specific areas or goals], including growth in areas that are part of our organization’s goals like [add specific areas, like a strategic or departmental plan]. I will do this by attending sessions or events such as [add specific sessions and/or events that support these goals].
- Raising the profile of [organization] in this global assembly of professionals in our field, including by sharing the work we do, including [examples of work you could talk about with others at the conference].
- Identifying and connecting with potential partners, funders, and/or vendors to support [name specific initiatives, grants, priorities, etc. that would benefit from collaboration].
- Visiting world-class Chicago institutions that can act as an inspirational model for work we may do at [organization].
Based on the value of this experience for me and [organization], I am asking for your support to attend this conference. [add specifics of what support is needed, such as registration, travel, time, etc.].
Thank you for your consideration and I hope to represent [organization] at the conference.
We hope to see you in Chicago!
