By Cintia B. Pérez-López, Master’s student at l’Université de Sherbrooke

Introduction
With the support of the Quebec Centre for Biodiversity Science (QCBS) Excellence Award, I had the opportunity to attend the annual conference of the Canadian Society for Ecology and Evolution (CSEE) in Sherbrooke from July 6 to 9, 2025. Around 600 ecologists and evolutionary biologists from across Canada (and beyond) gathered to share their research. Attending this conference was an intensive experience, and I believe it will be a pivotal moment in my early career. 

The Preparation

For weeks, I analyzed results late into the night, worried they were not “perfect” yet. I redesigned my slides multiple times, practiced in our lab meetings, timing myself until I could tell a story. Finally, I had a 12-minute talk that summarized months of research. But the real breakthrough came during my final practice with colleagues who were also preparing for the conference. None of us are native English speakers, and we all secretly carried that insecurity. As we grilled each other with questions, something shifted. In that moment, I realized language was never the barrier we had imagined; it was our shared passion for science that truly gathered us together. By the end, the stress of the deadline and sleepless nights faded. Exhaustion turned to excitement; I was enthusiastic, ready to share my work with the world.

The Big Moment

Presenting at an academic conference for the first time was equal parts exciting and intimidating. When I stood up to deliver my oral talk, my heart was racing, almost as if I were running a marathon, but the warmth of the audience (researchers, new and familiar faces) quickly put me at ease. At first, I thought about starting with a joke (like a podcast) to break the ice. But as I saw people’s interest in my research, I gained confidence and explained my work naturally. The Q&A was short but good practice because by then my worry was no longer the language barrier, just the usual nervousness of giving a talk in front of an audience.

Lessons Learned

• Networking is invaluable: coffee breaks became mini-workshops. For example, I spoke with a PhD student whose methods could refine my analysis, and with a professor who helped me better understand trends in my data. One of the most rewarding aspects of the conference was reconnecting with other researchers. I exchanged information about my study system and discussed my fresh results with genetics experts as my results were practically “hot off the press!”

• Volunteering pays off: helping with logistics allowed me to meet more people and appreciate  every small detail, from the staple in a stack of paper to managing a large group during a conference. Despite the stress and fatigue, there’s always going to be better ways to communicate. Staying kind can completely change someone’s conference experience. Volunteering at the conference also opened doors; organizing sessions introduced me to researchers outside my immediate field.

• Preparation is transformative: the conference featured a wide range of presentations that expanded my knowledge, including those on plant and insect ecology, evolutionary biology, trophic networks, as well as a workshop on how to collaborate through GitHub. Attending these sessions deepened my understanding of current ecological challenges and potential solutions. They also inspired me and gave me ideas for how to tell engaging scientific stories.

Conclusion 

Thanks to QCBS funding and my supervisor’s support, I could attend my first scientific conference. It was a big achievement for me, and I know I still have room to improve. But for now, I am proud of what I did, and I will keep learning! Thank you for reading this post.