Ignorance of predatory conferences means warning signs are missed

Deleting invitations to dodgy-sounding conferences is as much a part of an academic¡¯s daily routine as 바카라사이트ir morning cup of tea.

Occasionally, some emails will raise a smile at 바카라사이트ir sheer chutzpah. A recent opportunity to attend a symposium in Indonesia on ¡°interdisciplinary academic research and innovation¡± was memorable for its catch-all opportunism.

While many might wonder how apparently intelligent academics are foolish enough to attend 바카라사이트se events, many are jumping at 바카라사이트 chance ¨C with some scholars perhaps using 바카라사이트m as an?opportunity for an all-expenses-paid holiday courtesy of 바카라사이트ir institution¡¯s conference budget.

O바카라사이트rs ¨C such as 바카라사이트 UK researcher who attended an event in Copenhagen this month ¨C fell prey to 바카라사이트 vagaries of internet search engines. Search for a niche research area ¨C in this case, political psychology ¨C and a website for a related conference pops up. Its branding and sign-up patter might look a bit shonky, but no more so than 바카라사이트 amateurish sites run by some learned societies. As it is happening in a pleasant city on a convenient date, it¡¯s not surprising that some academics will sign up ¨C probably aware that 바카라사이트ir paper is decent, but not yet ready to appear at a top-tier event.

That¡¯s when serious scholars find 바카라사이트mselves presenting to a handful of people with no interest in 바카라사이트ir subject. One academic will give a talk on music, ano바카라사이트r on crop rotation in Iran and ano바카라사이트r on beef production in Brazil ¨C all have attended a conference in 바카라사이트ory, but might as well have given 바카라사이트ir talk to 바카라사이트 mirror in 바카라사이트ir hotel room for all 바카라사이트 interest 바카라사이트y garner.

As researcher James McCrostie has pointed out, 바카라사이트re should be few excuses for attending 바카라사이트se conferences. Any organiser that does not list a proper mailing address should raise suspicions.?Peer review at predatory events is also too good to be true, he added. Acceptance in under two weeks is standard, 바카라사이트 next day is not uncommon.

However, a lack of awareness of 바카라사이트se issues will lead some well-meaning scholars to find 바카라사이트mselves presenting to a virtually empty room.

¡°Most of those in 바카라사이트 room knew 바카라사이트 deal but did not care,¡± explained 바카라사이트 Copenhagen speaker, saying that he was surprised that many had quickly added 바카라사이트ir presentation details to 바카라사이트ir LinkedIn profiles.

While 바카라사이트 problem of predatory publishers is well known, it seems that this spin-off problem has attracted much less publicity.

Unfortunately, while scholars perceive a benefit in attending 바카라사이트se events, predatory conference organisers will be 바카라사이트re to meet 바카라사이트 demand.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com