Navigating the World of Predatory Conferences in Academia
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Chapter 1: The Dark Side of Academic Conferences
In recent times, I've found myself drawn into a particularly troubling situation involving a predatory conference, and I feel compelled to share my experience. The more I uncover, the more alarming it becomes.
Initially, let me provide some context to clarify why this invitation raised my suspicions. In the realm of academia, a key objective for researchers, graduate students, and professionals is to publish their work, ideally in reputable peer-reviewed journals. Additionally, presenting at conferences is crucial for showcasing one's research. The accumulation of papers and conference presentations contributes to one’s Curriculum Vitae (C.V.), which is essential for securing tenured positions and substantial grants.
Yet, for every legitimate conference, there are numerous predatory ones aiming to exploit desperate researchers by extracting fees from them. "Just sign up for the webinar! Earn a speaker's credit! I promise it’s for science!"
Recently, I received an invitation to one of these dubious events. Join me as I investigate this conference's validity and discern whether it’s a suitable venue for presenting significant research. Academics can learn to identify red flags, while non-academics can gain insight into this widespread scam that preys on ambition.
Stage 1: The Curious Email
The saga began with an email that seemed innocuous at first glance. While the grammar was a bit off, there were no glaring errors—except for the peculiar nature of the invitation itself.
The paper I authored on BigTop discussed using virtual reality for data visualization. Though it involved human genetics data, it was more of a demonstration tool than a serious research application. This paper, published two years ago, has only received four citations—akin to publishing a Medium article and receiving minimal engagement.
If something appears too good to be true, it often is. So, why would I be invited to discuss a minor publication that barely made a ripple in the academic community?
Stage 2: The Red-Flag Website
Typically, I would have discarded the email without a second thought. However, this time I decided to explore the website. What I found was even more alarming.
Moreover, a fee is required to speak, and the “only 120 seats remaining” message appears fixed—suggesting that it never changes unless manually updated.
But there’s more! A scrolling testimonials section caught my eye. One particular testimonial stood out to me, attributed to a man named Denis, whose photo was a stock image from Getty.
Interestingly, the testimonial referenced a different conference entirely—WCCE 2019. What relevance does that have to the 2nd International Webinar on Molecular and Human Genetics?
Red flags were everywhere.
Stage 3: The Copy-Paste Conference Template
Upon examining the site’s footer, I discovered it was hosted by Innovinc, a company with its own extensive list of conferences.
The sheer volume of events they produce is staggering. I even explored a few and noticed an eerie familiarity in their layout. When using a website template, one might expect some consistency, but this went beyond that.
The testimonials section featured the same “Denis” endorsing other unrelated conferences. It raises questions about the authenticity of these testimonials and the overall credibility of the events.
In summary, predatory conferences are a serious concern. While I haven’t attended any hosted by Innovinc, it’s essential for scientists to avoid attending poorly organized conferences solely to enhance their CVs. A conference should facilitate the exchange of groundbreaking research and foster meaningful discussions.
Legitimate conferences, such as Experimental Biology or the American Society for Human Genetics (ASHG), play a vital role in disseminating verified scientific advancements. In contrast, predatory conferences typically exhibit:
- Open invitations for anyone willing to pay a hefty "speaker fee."
- Poorly constructed websites with numerous errors.
- Speaker lists filled with unrecognized individuals.
- Fabricated testimonials.
- No peer review process.
I’m intrigued by what this predatory conference might entail, but I'm not willing to risk my reputation—or my wallet—to find out. Interestingly, the address listed for Innovinc is quite close to my home, prompting me to consider a visit to discuss their questionable practices.
Additionally, I reached out to Denis, who was unaware of his name being used in this context. He plans to investigate and seek its removal.
Have you encountered similar scams online? Do you believe this conference holds any legitimacy?
Enjoyed this narrative? Share it on Twitter, and feel free to tag me @swestreich!
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