Suggestions for Future Directions
We learned several things from the inaugural event with ideas for improving this event for the future. There were many requests to have more of the graduate student led small group discussions so everyone could learn about all the research in the room. The afternoon discussions were a little repetitive by the end. We would recommend having several of the roundtable discussions led by graduate students in the afternoon as well.
The small group discussions offered a good opportunity for learning about industry perspective in a more general way. If there are specific questions future organizers have we would recommend developing those questions and ideas around a topic you want to answer. Be sure to apply for human subjects IRB approval to be able to use that data in the future.
A Note on Timing
We held this event in January to avoid heaving fishing times. We also took into consideration scalloping days to avoid a day of the week when many fishermen would need to be on the water. The event was held at the Hutchison Center to capitalize on the UMaine aspect of the event but to hold it is a mid-way point for much of the state that was easy to get to off the highway and if there was snow. We had a snow day planned, which meant having two days reserved at the Hutchison Center. We worked with the caterers to decide how to move ahead with the event or if there was a snow day.
This event took about 9 months to plan. So, give yourself plenty of time to figure out all of the logistics and identify strategies to boost participation at the event. When possible, ask for assistance from people who have experience organizing similar types of workshops or events.
Detailed Tips for Planning
We have put together some “lessons learned” from our experience planning this wonderful event. For a detailed discussion of our key take-aways, follow this link: Step-by-step Planning Guide