What should academic conferences do? Academic conferences serve several important purposes in the scholarly community. Here are some key functions and activities that they should ideally focus on:

1. Knowledge Dissemination: Provide a platform for researchers to present new findings, theories, and methodologies to share knowledge with peers.

2. Networking Opportunities: Facilitate interactions among participants, fostering collaborations, mentorship, and professional relationships within and across disciplines.

3. Skill Development: Offer workshops, panel discussions, and training sessions to enhance participants' professional skills, such as research methods, grant writing, or public speaking.

4. Diversity and Inclusion: Promote diversity in thought, participants, and perspectives by encouraging the inclusion of underrepresented groups in academia and ensuring that conference programming reflects a variety of voices and approaches.

5. Cross-Disciplinary Engagement: Encourage collaboration and communication among different fields of study, which can lead to interdisciplinary innovation and insights.

6. Publication Opportunities: Provide avenues for participants to publish their research or contribute to special issues of journals.

7. Feedback and Peer Review: Allow researchers to present their work in a supportive environment to receive constructive feedback from peers and experts, which can help refine their ideas before formal publication.

8. Showcase Innovations: Highlight new technologies, methodologies, and research tools relevant to the field, often through demonstrations or exhibitions.

9. Address Current Issues: Engage with and debate pressing issues facing academia and society, ensuring the conference remains relevant to contemporary discussions.

10. Inclusivity in Attendance and Participation: Ensure that participation is not limited by funding or location by offering virtual attendance options and financial aid for participants from underfunded institutions or regions.

By focusing on these aspects, academic conferences can enhance their value and impact on the research community and contribute positively to the advancement of knowledge.