What is an academic symposium?
The symposium is a formal meeting, with the objective that participants, specialists in an area of knowledge, discuss about a specific academic or scientific subject. academic symposium
In general, the general objective of a symposium is to promote new scientific knowledge on some subject. In other words: bringing together many experts to advance at some point in science .
For example: a Medicine symposium, which brings together many plastic surgeons, to test a new technique to improve scars from cesarean sections.
The theme of the symposium is very specific and all research people discuss the subject during a single day, to share their impressions and opinions. The idea is for people to interact and exchange experiences.
In this idea, researchers at the discussion table can also discuss and ask questions from the audience.
The proposal is to present opinions and considerations on the subject to build a new idea, but not to present final results of research that have already been completed. academic symposium
Capes defines a symposium as a “ meeting of the initiative of a certain scientific community around a specific subject in order to aggregate results and considerations in order to promote progress towards its clarification. Invited researchers present their considerations and/or results on the topic, for broad debate with a public with common interests ”.
Key features of a symposium
From these definitions, we can gather the central characteristics of this type of event:
- It’s a scientific meeting;
- It only lasts one day;
- The theme is quite specific;
- The objective is to add new results and advance knowledge;
- Experts in the field are invited to participate;
- Promotes dialogues about people’s impressions and opinions;
- It is a broad debate, without the intervention of people to mediate.
Why is it important to participate in a symposium?
Let’s list the main benefits of attending a symposium: academic symposium
Greater chance of engagement
As I said, the symposia have expert participants who interact with the audience. The idea is that even participants open spaces for dialogue with the audience, not just with the public that was invited to stay on stage.
So the chances of engagement in discussions are much higher.
After all, not only are all people interested in the subject, but they also have a lot of baggage to share.
Clear all doubts and talk about your difficulties on the subject
It’s a great option for you to ask some big questions for people more specialized in the topic, as there will be an opportune time to ask questions. academic symposium
Enrich the Lattes Curriculum
Participation in symposia, as in other academic events , generates a certificate that can help to enhance the Lattes Curriculum .
Get news and important points about the topic
An academic event is always a great place to find out about what’s happening around that topic, who are the people who are researching and writing about it, and what the latest findings are.
That is: it is quite interesting to stay on top of theme updates.
This is very important, especially in the face of so much content and information that we receive. If we were to search the topic on Google Scholar , for example, it is possible that the result will offer trillions of different works.
So, symposia are important events to filter information and direct the look to what is most important and most current in the subject, from relevant professionals in the area. academic symposium
Favor communication between researchers
Furthermore, the symposia promote dialogues and discussions from an expert audience. This greatly favors communication.
In other words, they help to develop networking and give the opportunity to talk about a topic that everyone is interested in.
Even because, it is possible that the event brings together all the people who are interested in the topic, but who develop research and work in different places, to talk about that specific subject.
Develop new scientific knowledge
And as if that were not enough, the results of the symposia undoubtedly add important conclusions on the themes and generate new ideas to continue the research. academic symposium
So it’s an important way to develop updates on scientific knowledge and advance science.
Understand the difference between symposium, congress and seminar
Some events are so similar that they confuse people.
We will present the differences between a congress, a seminar and a symposium.
The congress is the broadest type of all academic events. It even has a national or international scope and takes place over several days, including many other types of events in its schedule. academic symposium
The symposium, in turn, is an event that only takes place in a single day, to aggregate new results and advance scientific knowledge on a specific topic. The debate takes place without a person to mediate.
While the seminar has one person to mediate all discussions. Another important difference is that in the seminar, subjects are only discussed, but no decision is taken.
