InsectNet forum

LepSoc Annual Meeting is at Cornell 13-18 July, so I plan to attend this year, and have questions.

Specifically, the value (and opportunity cost) of the talks, papers, and poster presentations.

Cornell is "close" being just under 2 hours each way, so too far to drive every day. Lodging, meals, and parking are going to run about $170/day.

Worse, (1) my job which I love is very busy right now and (2) this is the absolute height of my field research season.

So I'm questioning the value of sitting indoors all day listening to talks and presentations. Yes, I'll learn a lot no doubt, and get to meet VIP Lep researchers. However, I'll die sitting indoors all day when I could/ should be out in the field (besides being unable to sit still for hours). And if the papers are like most of LepSoc Journal and News, I really don't want to hear about corn borers and Tortricidae and subspecies of Blues in California.

Appreciate any insights and suggestions.

I'm not headed to this particular meeting. But the reason I like to go to Lep Soc annual meetings in general is that you meet new and old friends and get to shoot the bull quite a bit. Yes, the presentations can be tedious at times, but you learn about "how" others think about problems, and see their solutions. I'm a big believer that imitation is the best flattery, and I imitate quite a bit.

The other thing to note is that there is a subgroup pf attendees who may hang around the edges of the meeting, but are really there to collect and socialize. This tends to be more pronounced at western US meetings, but you will still see moth collectors head out in the evenings, and even if you don't collect moths you are welcome and the conversations are great.

john

Thanks John. Sorry I'll miss you- again!

Yeah, I enjoy presentations and such...in Winter. This meeting is at the peak of my research season.