A question about presenting a Conference Paper

[EngineerGrad]

Hi guys, 

 

So I've just received a notification that my paper was accepted for publishing (yay!) at a national conference for my field of study. The conference days are the same as another important event I must attend. Am I required to go to the conference to present my work? Would it be possible for me to just get my publication without needing to go all the away across America to present it?

 

I don't quite know how to find this answer lol

Edited March 13, 2014 by EngineerGrad

[fuzzylogician]

Normally, at least in my field, you don't get to have the conference on your CV if you didn't attend it. You also can't publish in the conference proceedings without attending. Things might be different (sometimes, if the organizers are generous) if you planned to attend and were unable to for reasons outside your control (e.g. your flight got delayed because of the weather, you got sick right before the conference, etc), but not if you never planned to go there in the first place.

[St Andrews Lynx]

In my field an accepted conference paper is withdrawn from the proceedings if the author doesn't (i) register for the conference (ii) show up to present it. There should be guidelines in the conference information/organising society website to clarify the official policy. 

[TakeruK]

Definitely check out the rules for the society/organization that is hosting your conference (perhaps just email the appropriate contact person). In my field, it's the same as fuzzy and St Andrews Lynx--papers are often withdrawn from proceedings if the author is not presenting it (except for special cases, like when the sequester prevented government funded people from attending certain meetings). Also, in my field, the benefit of actually being at the conference and giving your talk, meeting the people, having people see you etc. is way more beneficial than a line on the CV about your proceedings. But each field is different!