Another week, another con... these are the days of our lives.
I just returned from another convention - no, not a comic con (see my flickr site for pictures), but a science con. This is a rite of spring within the science world. During all those long months of slaving away in a dark laboratory at the tip of the whip from your PI who yells for "RESULTS?!!!" every Friday at 5PM, the doors are unlocked and we flock to various hotel/conference centre destinations to talk about how we spent ten of thousands of tax-payer dollars, attempt to "network" and "socialize" eventhough we're all awkward scientists, and flaunt "our lab is the bestest" posters while fielding "but your data is shit" questions from a disgruntled colleague who just realized that his project has just been scooped.
As I was sitting in this past week's science seminar talks, I couldn't help start a comparison of comic cons vs. science cons (the more honest story is that my mind wandered/eyes glazed over when some Chemist started gushing about NMR peaks). It's like the age old philosophical geek question: if Science and Comic cons were in a fistfight, who would win?
Venue/Location
Comic cons are held either in a convention centre (San Diego, Vegas, Chicago, etc...) or a hotel halls (Saskatoon, SK or Fargo, ND). It really depends on the star attractions that determines the attendee numbers (50K-100K vs 5K). Some cons (San Diego) require you to buy advance tickets YEARS ahead of the convention itself. People are often comment, "I thought it was just a casual gathering." 20 years ago, yes it was. Nowadays, if you are planning on attending a comic con, you plan it like a major holiday trip. Go big or stay home. However big cons attract the more interesting guests... no right-minded Hollywood big shot will fly to Fargo.
Likewise, Science cons vary in size depending on the draw. Each major science field has an annual MEGA con (for my field, it's ASM). I'm not a fan of the MEGA cons (50K+ attendees) as it's usually a free-4-all with overlapping panel talks and poster sessions that forces you to sprint all over the convention centre the entire time. Anyone you meet or want to meet there never has the time to chat with you. Like Comic cons, there are more intimate gatherings (100-300 attendees) in hotel settings. Unlike Comic cons, the location for these MEGA Science gatherings rotate. Although it's the same general stock of people, the venue is a convention centre in some metropolis city. I'm still waiting for ASM to announce Hawaii as their next locale - the isles will sink due to the sheer influx of scientists who descend upon that convention. Most likely this will be my scenario to such a conference.
Winner: Depends on category, so a tie.
Big cons: Comic (you may feel like cattle standing in the lines, but at least you buy 30 seconds of face time with Sir Patrick Stewart!)
Small cons: Science (you actually get to have a beer with a potential co-authour on your next project)
Big Shot Guest List
Comic cons thrive on nabbing the headliners. Calgary Expo managed to pull off the impossible in getting the entire original TNG cast together on stage. First time in 20 years. Can you imagine if some con was able to reunite the original Star Wars cast? Big names = big crowds = many people having geek-out moments (yours truly included).
Do Science cons have headliners? You betcha! They are called Nobel Prize Laureates. Once at a UCLA MEGA Science convention, I was having a geek-out moment when Sydney Brenner was introduced. The entire auditorium went batshit crazy as Sydney* shuffled across the stage to the podium to speak. Of course he didn't have an autograph session during this conference... but it's not uncommon to ask some big shot to sign one of their articles or memories books.
*ego subnote: if I did an Erdos-Bacon number relation between myself and Sydney, it's 3. My Master's advisor was a grad student in a lab from one of Sydney's grad student. Ergo, Sydney is my lab great grandfather. Oh yes. Oooooh yes!!!
Winner: Comic (sorry Sydney, as awesome as you are, I'd rather hang out with Sir Patrick)
Exhibitors
Need I to remind you that the Comic industry is purely an entertainment industry? It should come to no surprise that over 50% of the convention is wall to wall exhibitors trying to make a (big) buck on your disposable income in forms of books, pictures, art, buttons, toys, etc... I actually rarely/never buy anything at Comic cons. My con money is purely for autographs and/or personalized sketches. If I have books to be signed, they are already part of my personal collection.
Science (arguably) isn't entertainment, but it does spend a pretty penny. At the MEGA cons, you'd be surprised at the size of the exhibitor's hall. Every big (and small) biotech company trying to sell you its newest sero electronic pipette filler that comes in 5 fabulous scents! I hide from these sales rep everytime they darken my laboratory's doorway. However at the con, to lure you into their booth for the 15 min sales pitch, they do offer you free goodies.
Winner: Science (I enjoy my free annual supply of pens, highlighters, floatation devices, stress balls, science geek bumper stickers, rulers, T-shirts, boxer shorts, clipboards, calendars, timers, pedometers, wristbands, headbands, plush toys, etc...)
The N word
When I was a young Masters grad student, my advisor sent me to a MEGA Science con sans poster with the instructions "you will network". At the time, I thought this would mean that I would attempt to locate and procure ethernet access for my advisor. I soon found out that this really meant perfecting my social skills among the science population. No problem for me as I can strike up a conversation with anyone. However I soon discovered that it's true what they say about scientists in general... we fair better at talking with our data than people (one of the main reasons why there's an open bar). But so long as you speak science, you can network your way through any poster session. Often you hear about those racy hook-ups between some grad student and assistant prof (different labs... we hope). Yessiree, that's networking for a new collaboration (especially if the condom breaks). This past Science con, one speaker was a grad student who published in Nature and he was good looking. I was intrigued. I approached him during the dinner session, introduced myself, and found out that this boy could publish his data in Nature but couldn't publish his good looks with good personality. Major "full-of-himself". No problem, the next day's panel talk had a very cute biotech post-doc. Although his company's products were really of no interest, his personality was the closing deal with exchange of email addresses (he could darken my lab's doorway anyday).
Like scientists, Comic con fanfolks are equally awkward to be around... at least in the general public setting. However dress them up as a Jedi or a skin tight leather Catwoman, and they're Mr(s). Popularity. There's even geek speed-dating panel sessions; tho, I've always passed on them this far. Again I have no problem talking to people at the con (in and out of cosplay). I don't dress up, but I am very much a social butterfly as I am fluent in geek and very extroverted within the crowds. This past Comic con, I was approached by 2 media groups asking which newsmagazine I represented (they overheard my "interviews" of various people) and I had to break 3 fanboy hearts. Sorry boys, I was ultra busy networking with comic book artists and the TNG cast. Maybe next year, I will take you all up on those coffees (Ron, if you're somehow reading this... email me!).
Winner: Science. Although Comic con gives a more interesting flavour of the day, the Science con can lead to a new job offer (at least from a scientist's stand point - much different story if you're within the comic/acting industry).
The attire
Above I mentioned the cosplay at Comic con. About 60% of the attendees are dressed in their regular everyday attire (by which I mean geek T-shirt and jeans). The other 40% are full-metal-jacket decked out in costume. Comic cons provide a generally safe-environment for these people who spend thousand of hours and moolah on their favourite character. I say generally safe because there's always bullies. Although I don't dress up (I am honest with myself enough to know that I don't look good in spandex in public OR in private), I do admire those who do. Some are... what the? But most are hella awesome!
Science cons attire: oh what does one wear among the geeks here? In general, good pair of jeans/khakis and nice dress shirt/blouse. For the dinner session, a jacket/tie or skirt is usually the norm. But of course there's the fashion no-nos... like socks in sandals (facepalms).
Winner: Comic. Com'on, who wouldn't want to be in a hall where the norm is capes and tight leather suits? Ok, you don't have to agree with me on this point.
Seminar/Panel Talks
I have heard the comment from folks outside my science circle that when they hear me give a talk, it's like I'm speaking another language. So at Science cons, I'm certain that the people serving our food/drinks must feel like they are in foreign country. The interests of the talks are really based on what your interest is. I just came back from a carbohydrate conference, which is heavy on the chemistry side. I phail at chemistry-speak, so most of the talks I felt like I was on another planet. However when the talks switched to microbiology, ooooh the interest!
At Comic cons, you don't have to be a hardcore fanboy to understand the talks. You just have to have some general knowledge of the geek culture itself (or willing to learn it). Of course you miss out on a lot of subtle inside jokes. Kinda like watching the Big Bang Theory - all the jokes are funny on the surface and funnier than hell if you know the reference.
Winner: Comic. Yes science talks are intriguing and often inspire new ideas for my own projects. But listening to the comical banter between Brent Spiner and Wil Wheaton or hearing first hand Stan Lee's story on why the Hulk changed from grey to green in the comic books - highly more entertaining than any gene expression analysis.
Final Tally Count: Science con 2, Comic con 3. A squeaker folks!
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