学会発表について/On Presenting at Academic Conferences

学会で研究発表をすることには，どのような意味があるのか。最近，あらためて考えています。

当グループは，これまで学会発表の数が決して多いとは言えません。これは一つの弱みでもあります。一方で，私自身が出不精で，発表の場ではどうしても緊張してしまう性格であることも，少なからず影響しているように思います。

そんな中，5年以上前に研究室内で行った「研究の進め方セミナー」のパワーポイント資料を見つけました。スライドをおしゃれに作る方法や，見栄えのよい発表資料を作るテクニックは，今では世の中にたくさんあります。しかし，その資料を見返して思い出したのは，私が当時伝えたかったのは，発表技術そのものよりも「自己の成長のために研究発表をどう活かすか」ということでした。

特に学生のうちは，緊張する場で発表し，うまくいかなかった点を振り返り，次に活かす経験がとても大切だと思います。もちろん，発表は怖いものです。人前で話すことに慣れていなければ，声が震えたり，手が震えたりすることもあります。

しかし，聴く側になってみると，たとえ発表者が明らかに緊張していたとしても，しっかり準備された内容には必ず伝わるものがあります。完璧な話し方でなくても，自分の研究を理解してもらおうとする姿勢や，準備にかけた時間は，聴き手に届くのだと思います。

私自身，ここ2年ほど学会発表から遠ざかっていました。しかし今年は，アジア・オセアニア地球科学学会で2件，環境システム計測制御学会で1件の発表を予定しています。

学生に発表の大切さを伝える立場である以上，私自身も学会の場に出て，緊張しながら，失敗もしながら，たくさん学んできたいと思います。

（AI-translated）

Recently, I have been thinking again about what it means to present research at academic conferences.

Our group has not given a particularly large number of conference presentations so far. I see this as one of our weaknesses. At the same time, I think this may also have something to do with my own personality: I tend to avoid going out, and I still get quite nervous when I have to present in public.

In this context, I recently came across a PowerPoint file from a seminar on “how to conduct research” that I gave in our laboratory more than five years ago. Today, there are countless tips and techniques available on how to make stylish slides or visually appealing presentation materials. However, as I looked back at those slides, I was reminded that what I wanted to convey at the time was not simply how to improve presentation techniques, but how to use research presentations as opportunities for personal growth.

Especially for students, I believe it is very important to present in a setting where they feel nervous, reflect on what did not go well, and use that experience for the next opportunity. Of course, giving a presentation can be frightening. If one is not used to speaking in front of an audience, their voice may tremble, or their hands may shake.

However, when I am on the listening side, I often feel that even if a presenter is clearly nervous, a well-prepared presentation still reaches the audience. The delivery does not have to be perfect. The effort to help others understand one’s research, and the time spent preparing for that moment, are things that the audience can feel.

I myself have been away from conference presentations for about two years. This year, however, I am scheduled to give two presentations at the Asia Oceania Geosciences Society and one presentation at the Society of Environmental Instrumentation, Control and Automation.

As someone who tells students about the importance of giving presentations, I also want to place myself in conference settings again, feel nervous, make mistakes, and learn as much as I can from those experiences.