The simple definition of conference proceedings goes something like this: a collection of scholarly papers presented at a professional association meeting or conference. However, many of the words, such as meeting and conference, that make up that definition are interchangeable with other terms… and often are. If you are not an academic or engineer, you will benefit from the expanded explanation below.

to start the term conference It can also be redeemed with the following terms:

• Meeting
• Symposium
• Exposure
• Colloquium
• workshop
• exhibition
• Conspiracy (yes, conspiracy, I did not imagine it)

The term proceedings It can also be redeemed with the following terms:

• documents
• manuscripts
• Abstracts (a short document, a paragraph of up to 1 page)
• Extended Abstracts (2-5 pages)
• Presentations

and the term association it can be exchanged with any organization, such as: society, agency, research foundation, council, institute, corporation, etc.

While conferences can focus on any academic topic, from humanities and social studies to natural and applied sciences, they often focus on a specific discipline. For example, a conference organized by the International Society for Veterinary Acupuncture will include 30-40 articles, all strictly focused on, well…veterinary acupuncture. This approach provides a depth of coverage unlike any other scientific publication. In fact, one of the truly unique qualities of conference proceedings lies in the fact that they are composed of the research papers of many people, making their character distinctly different from books, textbooks, or scientific journals.

The title of conference proceedings may include as few as 5-10 articles or as many as 2,000 articles. Some conferences are held every year, or every two years, three years, etc. Most publications of proceedings are called “monographs” (stand-alone), and others are part of a series. For example, the Society for Materials Research Symposium Proceedings Series may have a symposium titled “Three-Dimensional Nanophotonics and Microphotonics,” which is Volume #1014 in the series.

They are relatively cost-effective sources for academic research, as they are less expensive than their higher-priced relatives, journals, and typically have more content than journals, albeit a bit less prestigious. Conference proceedings often include new research advances, innovations, methodologies, and best practices, particularly in the fields of science, engineering, and technology. They provide a platform for researchers to identify potential collaborators and can influence work in related disciplines. It is at these major national and international conferences that research results are first reported and debated, long before their formal publication in journals and textbooks.

Hopefully, the next time someone mentions the conference proceedings, they won’t get a blank look on their face.