Chatterbox: Guided Networking Session

Delegates are invited to take part in Chatterbox, a fun, guided networking session designed to make it easier to meet new people, exchange ideas, and build useful connections across disciplines, career stages, and professional backgrounds.

Chatterbox provides a simple framework to help conversations begin naturally and help delegates connect in a more relaxed way during the conference. Participants will meet a range of delegates during a short ice-breaker before joining themed discussion tables based on their interests, experience, and professional goals.

At an international, intercultural, and interdisciplinary conference, some of the most useful conversations can happen outside the formal presentation rooms. Chatterbox is designed to create more opportunities for those conversations to be had by giving delegates an easy and more informal way to meet people onsite beyond their existing networks.

The session begins with a short ice-breaker, allowing participants to introduce themselves to several different delegates in quick succession. Participants will then choose from a selection of themed networking groups, each offering a different starting point for conversation.

Networking groups include:

Starting Out

For PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, early-career academics, and others at the beginning of their academic or professional journey.

Research & Academia

For researchers and established academics interested in discussing current work, academic life, emerging ideas, and new perspectives.

Practice & Industry

For practitioners and professionals working outside, alongside, or in partnership with academia.

Let’s Collaborate

For delegates interested in interdisciplinary research, joint projects, institutional partnerships, or finding people with complementary expertise.

Share & Develop

For conversations around professional development, research communication, and sharing experience.
Each table will include a few simple conversation prompts to help discussions begin. These are intended as starting points only, and delegates are encouraged to follow the ideas, interests, and connections that emerge naturally.

Structure

Chatterbox is designed to be structured enough to make networking easier, while remaining informal and flexible.

5 minutes – Introduction

A brief welcome and explanation of how the session works.

10 minutes – Ice-Breaker

Delegates move around the room, exchanging ideas and introductions with a range of participants before settling into longer conversations.

15 minutes – Guided Networking Round 1

Participants proceed to the first networking round by choosing the group that best reflects their interests, experience, or professional goals and join a small-group conversation.

15 minutes – Guided Networking Round 2

Participants move to a different group, meet new group members, and explore a different area of interest.

5 minutes – Feedback and Closing

The session concludes with a short reflection and encouragement to continue useful conversations throughout the conference.
The aim is not to force collaboration or formal networking outcomes, but to make it easier for delegates to encounter people they may not otherwise meet and to create the conditions for useful conversations to develop.

How to Participate

Chatterbox is open to all registered onsite conference delegates.

Participants are encouraged to join different tables across the two rounds to meet a wider range of delegates and perspectives.

Whether you are hoping to find potential collaborators, exchange perspectives across disciplines, connect with others at a similar career stage, or simply meet more people during the conference, Chatterbox offers a fun and engaging place to begin.