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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. Definiti ...
, 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 ...
, 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 of common areas 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 Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the north-west coast of continental Europe, consisting of the countries England, Scotland, and Wales. With an area of , it is the largest of the British Isles, the List of European ...
, Germany, Philippines, United States and Australia, has led to conferences themselves becoming an industry with buyers, suppliers,
marketing Marketing is the act of acquiring, satisfying and retaining customers. It is one of the primary components of Business administration, business management and commerce. Marketing is usually conducted by the seller, typically a retailer or ma ...
, branding and conference facilities. Modern conferences can be held to discuss a variety of topics, from
politics Politics () is the set of activities that are associated with decision-making, making decisions in social group, groups, or other forms of power (social and political), power relations among individuals, such as the distribution of Social sta ...
, 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 Information and communications technology (ICT) is an extensional term for information technology (IT) that stresses the role of unified communications and the integration of telecommunications (telephone lines and wireless signals) and computer ...
, 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 A conference call (sometimes called an audio teleconference or ATC) is a telephone call in which several people share a telephone line at the same time. The conference call may be designed to allow the called party to participate during the cal ...
or video conference.


Conference types

Conferences can have various formats, topics and intentions.


Conference formats

*
Conference call A conference call (sometimes called an audio teleconference or ATC) is a telephone call in which several people share a telephone line at the same time. The conference call may be designed to allow the called party to participate during the cal ...
, 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

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Academic conference An academic conference or scientific conference (also congress, symposium, workshop, or meeting) is an Convention (meeting), event for researchers (not necessarily academics) to present and discuss their scholarly work. Together with academic jou ...
, in science and academic, a formal event where researchers present results, workshops, and other activities * Conferences in Methodism **
General Conference (Methodism) The General Conference, in several Methodist denominations, is the top legislative body for all matters within the denomination. Allegheny Wesleyan Methodist Connection With regard to the membership of the General Conference of the Allegheny We ...
, the highest governing body of a Methodist denomination **
Annual conferences within Methodism An annual conference is a regional decision-making body within various Methodist denominations. Conferences are a key characteristic of the connexional (connectional) system of government in Methodism. Annual conferences are composed primarily ...
, the governing structure of certain Methodist churches; despite the name, these are not individual events ** Jurisdictional conferences (Methodism), a grouping of annual conferences *
Athletic conference An athletic conference is a collection of sports teams which play competitively against each other in a sports league. In many cases conferences are subdivided into smaller Division (sport), divisions, with the best teams competing at successively ...
, 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, b ...
, 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, parents' evening or parent teacher meeting is a short meeting or conference between the parents and teachers of students to discuss a child's progress at school and ...
, 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 states, armies, or other warring parties converge to end hostilities by negotiation and signing and ratifying a peace treaty. Significant international peace conferences in ...
, a diplomatic meeting to end conflict *
Press conference A press conference, also called news conference or press briefing, is a media event in which notable individuals or organizations invite journalism, journalists to hear them speak and ask questions. Press conferences are often held by politicia ...
, an announcement to the press (print, radio, television) with the expectation of questions, about the announced matter *
Professional conference A professional conference is a meeting of authorities in a given subject or profession, dealing with organizational matters, matters concerning the status of the profession, and scientific or technical developments. It differs from an academic confe ...
, a meeting of professionals in a given subject or profession dealing with related matters or developments *
Settlement conference A settlement or pre-trial conference is a meeting between opposing sides of a lawsuit at which the parties attempt to reach a mutually agreeable resolution of their dispute without having to proceed to a trial. Such a conference may be initiated thr ...
, a meeting between the plaintiff and the respondent in a
lawsuit A lawsuit is a proceeding by one or more parties (the plaintiff or claimant) against one or more parties (the defendant) in a civil court of law. The archaic term "suit in law" is found in only a small number of laws still in effect today ...
, wherein they try to settle their dispute without proceeding to trial *
Trade fair A trade show, also known as trade fair, trade exhibition, or trade exposition, is an exhibition organized so that companies in a specific Industry (economics), industry can showcase and demonstrate their latest Product (business), products and se ...
, or trade conference *
Unconference An unconference is a participant-driven meeting. The term "unconference" has been applied to a wide range of gatherings that try to avoid hierarchical aspects of a conventional conference, such as sponsored presentations and top-down organizati ...
or open space conference, a participant-driven meeting that tries to avoid one or more aspects of a conventional conference


See also

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Conference pear A Conference pear is a variety of pear. It is an autumn cultivar (cultivated variety) of the European pear (''Pyrus communis''). The variety was developed in Britain by Thomas Francis Rivers from his Rivers Nursery in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshi ...
, a fruit, a cultivar of European pear *
Conference call A conference call (sometimes called an audio teleconference or ATC) is a telephone call in which several people share a telephone line at the same time. The conference call may be designed to allow the called party to participate during the cal ...
, a telephonic meeting * TED (Technology, Education and Design) Talks and TEDx conferences * List of Allied World War II conferences * Summit (meeting) * Symposium (disambiguation) *
Convention (meeting) A convention (or event), 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, ...
* *


References

{{reflist Broad-concept articles Meetings Social events