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A conference is a
meeting
A meeting is when two or more people come together to discuss one or more topics, often in a formal or business setting, but meetings also occur in a variety of other environments. Meetings can be used as form of group decision making.
Defini ...
, often lasting a few days, which is organized on a particular subject, or to bring together people who have a common interest. Conferences can be used as a form of
group decision-making Group decision-making (also known as collaborative decision-making or collective decision-making) is a situation faced when individuals collectively make a choice from the alternatives before them. The decision is then no longer attributable to an ...
, although discussion, not always decisions, is the primary purpose of conferences. The term derives from the word ''confer''.
History
The first known use of "conference" appears in 1527, meaning "a meeting of two or more persons for discussing matters of common concern". It came from the word ''confer'', which means "to compare views or take counsel".
However the idea of a conference far predates the word. Arguably, as long as there have been people, there have been meetings and discussions between people. Evidence of ancient forms of conference can be seen in archaeological
ruins
Ruins () are the remains of a civilization's architecture. The term refers to formerly intact structures that have fallen into a state of partial or total disrepair over time due to a variety of factors, such as lack of maintenance, deliberate ...
of
common areas
A common area is, in real estate or real property law, the "area which is available for use by more than one person..." The common areas are those that are available for common use by all tenants, (or) groups of tenants and their invitees. where people would gather to discuss shared interests such as "hunting plans, wartime activities, negotiations for peace or the organisation of tribal celebrations".
Since the 1960s, conferences have become a lucrative sector of the tourism industry and have evolved into hundred billion Pound per year industry on a global scale.
The growth around the world, including in Great Britain, Germany, Philippines, United States and Australia, has led to conferences themselves becoming an industry with buyers, suppliers,
marketing
Marketing is the process of exploring, creating, and delivering value to meet the needs of a target market in terms of goods and services; potentially including selection of a target audience; selection of certain attributes or themes to emph ...
,
branding
Branding may refer to:
Physical markings
* Making a mark, typically by charring:
** Wood branding, permanently marking, by way of heat, typically of wood (also applied to plastic, cork, leather, etc.)
** Livestock branding, the marking of animals ...
and conference facilities.
Modern conferences can be held to discuss a variety of topics, from politics, to science or sport. Many conferences are held on a regular periodic basis, such as annually, biannually (twice per year), or biennially (every other year).
With the development of
communications technology, conference holders have the choice of replacing the physical meeting space with a telephonic or
virtual form of meeting. This has resulted in terms such as a
conference call or
video conference.
Conference types
Conferences can have various formats, topics and intentions.
Conference formats
*
Conference call, in telecommunications, a call with more than two participants at the same time
*
Conference hall, room where conferences are held
*
Video conference, with the reception and transmission of audio-video signals by users at different locations
Conferences topics
*
Academic conference
An academic conference or scientific conference (also congress, symposium, workshop, or meeting) is an event for researchers (not necessarily academics) to present and discuss their scholarly work. Together with academic or scientific journals an ...
, in science and academic, a formal event where researchers present results, workshops, and other activities
*
Annual conferences within Methodism
An annual conference is a regional decision-making body within various Methodist denominations. Conferences are a key characteristic of the connectional system of government in Methodism. Annual conferences are composed primarily of the clergy ...
, the governing structure of certain Methodist churches; despite the name, these are not individual events
*
Athletic conference, a competitive grouping of teams, often geographical
*
Authors' conference
An authors' conference or writers' conference is a type of conference where writers gather to review their written works and suggest improvements. This process helps an author improve their work and learn to be a better writer for future works, bot ...
, or writers' conference, where writers gather to review their written works and suggest improvements
*
Parent–teacher conference
A parent–teacher conference, parent–teacher interview, parent–teacher night or parents' evening, is a short meeting or conference between the parents and teachers of students to discuss a child's progress at school and find solutions to acade ...
, a meeting with a child's teacher to discuss grades and school performance
*
Peace conference
A peace conference is a diplomatic meeting where representatives of certain states, armies, or other warring parties converge to end hostilities and sign a peace treaty.
Significant international peace conferences in the past include the follo ...
, a diplomatic meeting to end conflict
*
Press conference, an announcement to the press (print, radio, television) with the expectation of questions, about the announced matter
*
Professional conference, a meeting of professionals in a given subject or profession dealing with related matters or developments
*
Settlement conference, a meeting between the plaintiff and the respondent in a
lawsuit
-
A lawsuit is a proceeding by a party or parties against another in the civil court of law. The archaic term "suit in law" is found in only a small number of laws still in effect today. The term "lawsuit" is used in reference to a civil actio ...
, wherein they try to settle their dispute without proceeding to trial
*
Trade fair
A trade fair, also known as trade show, trade exhibition, or trade exposition, is an exhibition organized so that companies in a specific industry can showcase and demonstrate their latest products and services, meet with industry partners and c ...
, or trade conference
*
Unconference
An unconference is a participant-driven meeting. The term "unconference" has been applied, or self-applied, to a wide range of gatherings that try to avoid hierarchical aspects of a conventional conference, such as sponsored presentations and top ...
or open space conference, a participant-driven meeting that tries to avoid one or more aspects of a conventional conference
See also
*
Conference pear, a fruit, a cultivar of European pear
*
Conference call, a telephonic meeting
*
TED (Technology, Education and Design) Talks and TEDx conferences
*
List of Allied World War II conferences
*
Summit (meeting)
*
Symposium (disambiguation)
The symposium was an Ancient Greek social institution.
Symposium may also refer to:
Academia and scholarship
* ''Symposium'' (Plato), a dialogue by Plato
* ''Symposium'' (Xenophon), a dialogue by Xenophon
* '' Symposium: Canadian Journal of Con ...
*
Convention (meeting)
A convention, in the sense of a meeting, is a gathering of individuals who meet at an arranged place and time in order to discuss or engage in some common interest. The most common conventions are based upon industry, profession, and fandom. ...
*
*
References
{{reflist
Broad-concept articles
Meetings
Social events