This is two-part episode featuring emerging researcher Louise in conversation with her colleagues about the value of engaging in academic conferences to develop her professional identity and confidence. They discussed how attending events like the IPDA International Conference offers a supportive community for researchers and practitioners to share ideas, receive constructive feedback, network, and connect with others interested in professional learning and development. Her peers encouraged her to start by submitting an abstract, perhaps a summary of her current study. They explained that conferences welcome a range of contributions, from traditional paper presentations to posters, symposia, round tables, and even creative formats such as practice spotlight, or accessible formats such as online Lightning Talks. Through these exchanges, Louise began to see conferences not only as places to present finished work but as spaces for collaboration, reflection, and growth within a vibrant, supportive and affirming professional learning community.
