Which conferences to attend to present multi- or transdisciplinary research?

Between March 2023 and August 2024 I have attended eight academic conferences. While I do enjoy them, the reason has been elsewhere. These conference presentations and session chairing have been about experimenting how the multi- or transdisciplinary notions of transformative and postfossil work resonates with others. The disciplines or research fields covered by the conferences include sociology (Sosiologipäivät 2023), working life studies (Work Conference 2023), cultural studies (Kulttuurintutkimuksen päivät 2023), adult education research (Aikuiskasvatuksen tutkimuspäivät), feminist, gender, queer and transgender studies (Paluu juurille), environmental social sciences (The 16th NESS – Nordic Environmental Social Science Conference), and forest research (The 26th IUFRO World Congress). 

Doing research on a multi- or transdisciplinary research topic, such as transformative work practices, selecting suitable conferences can be tough. Since the topic rarely has its own conference, which conferences to attend? Obviously there is no single solution for this dilemma. I employ a mix of convenience, curiosity, familiarity, and exploration. 

Convenience and familiarity relate to attending conferences attached to my current affiliation, since many of my colleagues are there. In 2023 I attended sociology research and cultural studies days for this reason. Another convenience aspect is the location: If I aim to attend more than two conferences per year without flying, I need to visit the ones that are close enough. While travelling the world for weeks on wheels and rails would be lovely, it is a matter of time away from offspring and securing enough travel grants. As a result, over the years I have attended several international and Nordic conferences in Finland. 

Curiosity and exploration allow me space to think and understand the phenomena from the perspective of other academics, networks, concepts, theories, disciplines, and worldviews. It is utterly refreshing to witness the discussions in other fields. Before, during, or immediately after the conference it might be difficult to comprehend what was the value of cross-pollinating ideas with people from a sister discipline or related research field. 

I have to say that my conference attendance routine seems far more rational from a distance, while in reality I trust my intuition a lot. But intuition does not meen uncoordinated action. I do have a written plan accepted by my current funder University of Eastern Finland and it includes making a transdisciplinary literature review of my topic. In addition to doing this at my desk, I enjoy meeting people and understanding how they see the world unrestricted by the academic writing conventions that nowadays seem to be quite monotonous and strict. Just recently we discussed with a senior colleague who considered the writing in their discipline far more experimental in the 1970s and 1980s. Perhaps  the idea of multi- or transdisciplinarity has gained popularity over the decades when disciplines have become more policed by science policy and funding attached to “more innovations”. I’m quite sure someone has studied this too.