Hi all! This may be a bad time since I know most of us are gearing up for the application season. This question is a bit off-topic, but I'd love your advice:
In the course of my research, I've come across several names that are obviously important people to know. These are profs that I think would be great to be in contact with, to establish connections which might be useful in the (near) future. The problem is, I don't really NEED anything from them per se. I don't need a supervisor; I don't have any particular questions about their work; I don't want them to read mine. I just want to make a connection.
Any ideas about how to do this? I have no idea how to get in contact with someone just for the sake of being in contact, without an explicit goal in mind.
Thanks!!