You may have spotted us at different conferences and wondered what we’re doing amid active researchers. Here, we demystify the editorial aims of conference attendance.

Last year, editors at Nature Microbiology attended 27 scientific conferences covering the breadth of microbiology research. Researchers across the world look forward to these events to learn about the latest advances in the field, build networks, set up collaborations, find future positions or present their recent results to get feedback. Although the numerous benefits of conferences for researchers are obvious, it appears that those for professional editors are less clear. We are often asked why we attend scientific meetings. Here, we explain why editors at Nature Microbiology attend scientific conferences — in short, it is why the rest of the scientific community does.

A common goal for conference attendees is to absorb knowledge and keep abreast of the latest developments in their field. Although not active researchers, professional editors are still scientists at heart and are always curious and eager to learn. It’s a fundamental aspect of our work. While most researchers focus on a single model organism, study system or line of inquiry, we handle manuscripts across the spectrum of microbiology. Conferences help us learn more about different fields, the emerging themes, methods, approaches and, perhaps most importantly, the people. It also forms the basis of the strategic development of our journal. Our goal is to publish the most interesting and important research across the field of microbiology, so conferences provide insights into what people are working on, in some cases even before the manuscripts are written.

Scientific research is built on the exchange of ideas, and conferences provide a perfect venue for initiating and fostering a constructive discourse. As discussed in previous editorials (Nat. Microbiol. 9, 2465; 2024), although not active researchers, we are still an active part of the microbiology community. However, most of our day-to-day interactions with the community occur via our computer screens — email conversations or messages shared through our electronic manuscript handling system. This can occasionally feel impersonal for some authors and reviewers. Conferences provide a much-needed human dimension and allow us to meet new people and researchers we have sometimes emailed for years but have yet to meet in person. It also gives researchers a chance to appreciate that there is a real human handling their manuscripts, enabling a more open dialogue about their work and a better understanding of each other’s perspective. A conference is, therefore, an opportunity for us to introduce ourselves and engage with the community we represent.

Meeting editors at a conference has other potential benefits for researchers. It is a chance to discuss their work and assess whether it is a good fit for Nature Microbiology. In-person interactions facilitate candid discussions including feedback on ongoing projects. In addition to attending talks, we take advantage of the poster sessions to meet prospective authors and discuss new and exciting results. In some cases, we invite presenters to submit their work to us if we think it is suitable for consideration at Nature Microbiology. We also meet researchers with manuscripts under consideration at the journal. It provides an opportunity to talk about the experiments being carried out for the revision, get advice on addressing tricky comments from reviewers or to receive updates on manuscripts under-review. Publishing research articles is, however, only one of the ways we cater to our readership. We also handle comprehensive Reviews and pieces such as Perspectives, Correspondences or Comments. Most of these articles are commissioned by the editorial team and many are inspired by presentations or discussions at conferences. By growing our networks and developing our relationships with authors, reviewers and readers alike, we can ensure that the most timely and intriguing research questions and issues are highlighted in our pages.

Despite the convenience of online interactions, in-person conferences remain vital to the scientific research community, with connections and ideas often sparked at the coffee queue. We often announce our attendance via the journal social media channels, personal accounts or we send direct emails to schedule meetings to maximize our time at these meetings. We are excited to hear about conferences from our readers and authors. So if you are planning to attend a conference or to organize one, do let us know and we will gladly consider attending. We are also happy to play a more participatory role, including career or publishing panels, giving talks about the editorial process and careers, or contributing to mentorship programmes. For many of us at Nature Microbiology, interactions we had with editors while attending conferences as early career researchers formed the inspiration to pursue an editorial career. That is why we speak with aspiring editors — to share insights from our own career journeys and offer pointers to help them prepare for theirs.

At the heart of it, conferences are about building knowledge and connections. So, the next time you see us at a conference, please talk to us; we are always happy to learn and engage.