Writing and Presenting A Technical Paper

Juliet Shaffer, IPWEAQ e-Learning Coordinator

As the esteemed 1980s philosopher, Ferris Bueller once said, ‘Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it’. And while this could be true in many areas of our lives, it is true of keeping up with industry developments and remaining on the cutting edge.

IPWEAQ provides many options for you to remain connected to the public works sector, such as our conferences, technical and non-technical professional development, our Engineering for Public Works journal and the Knowledge Centre. However, while keeping informed is one necessary element of understanding our sector, the opportunity to contribute in writing a technical paper and presenting at our conferences is another avenue we strongly encourage you to undertake.

There are many benefits to you and the public works sector community when you write a technical paper and present at our conferences – some altruistic and some personally beneficial. Firstly, the process of researching, writing, and presenting can earn you up to 45 CPD hours – necessary either to gaining your RPEQ registration or to the maintenance of it. This is a worthwhile process in itself at almost a year’s worth of the required CPD hours. However, the value in writing a technical paper and presenting at a conference exceeds this single benefit.

Secondly, establishing a name for yourself in our sector as an accomplished and credible professional is invaluable for your career and personal standing. In an industry that has considerable direct impact on the public, being highly regarded for your content knowledge, specific expertise and skillset allows for career longevity and improves the likelihood for promotion and broader employment opportunities. Being a published author in our highly respected Engineering for Public Works journal and Knowledge Centre

contributes significantly to your standing in our sector here in Queensland and beyond, which is particularly useful in times of a tight employment market. In a globally connected world, where constructing sustainable and enduring infrastructure is increasingly crucial, establishing yourself as a reliable and trusted expert helps you play a role in decision-makers making decisions based on the best available evidence from the most experienced people.

While researching and writing a technical paper may be skills you haven’t used since your university days, there is a personal and professional benefit in these processes. Researching allows you to gain a deeper understanding of your topic and other established opinions on it. Some you will agree with, and some you may not, but taking the opportunity to write on that topic allows you to contribute to the broader conversation. The process of writing a technical paper, although frustrating at times, is an excellent opportunity to clarify your understanding and thinking. Technical papers require logical and reasoned expression of ideas supported with credible evidence. This process allows you to clarify and deepen your knowledge of your topic, which will help you identify further opportunities and improve your professional practice. While having deep knowledge of a subject is useful, communicating it is even more crucial. Writing a logical and clearly expressed paper shows a different and highly sought-after skill that will further contribute to your professional standing. Sharing public works-related knowledge with a broader community benefits you, your organisation, and the community in which your work is used. Presenting at a conference allows you to connect with other professionals, meaning that knowledge is shared, discussions initiated, and networks created that will be of lasting benefit to you and the growth and progress of the sector.

Lastly, sharing your particular skillset, experience, and expertise benefits the public works sector and will ultimately flow to the broader Queensland and Australian community. Queensland faces unique challenges such as natural disasters, wide variation in landscape and microclimates, population growth and variance in population densities, and the tyranny of distance, all of which impact public infrastructure and the daily lived experience of Queenslanders. Sharing what you know to enable a more sustainable and better quality existence will ultimately benefit us all. Any contribution to the collective knowledge about how to best design, construct, and manage public assets is more broadly beneficial to society. It would be rewarding to play a recognised role in this.

So, if you have a public works-related topic to share, keep an eye out for IPWEAQ communication calling for submissions of abstracts for technical papers and presentations at our branch and annual conferences. We are providing assistance in two Public Works TV Tech Talks, How to Write a Technical Paper and How to Present Confidently, both of which will be available for download from the Knowledge Centre.

We are here to support you in your writing and presenting so that the wider community can benefit from your experience and expertise.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Having taught English and communication skills at high school and university, Juliet knows from experience the reward that comes from developing logical, targeted and engaging communications. Her qualifications and expertise mean Juliet has a strong understanding of communicating and how to break it down to be better practiced by others.

TEN REASONS FOR PRESENTING A PAPER AT OUR CONFERENCES

1 Boost your personal brand –profile and your reputation. build your professional 2 Improve your ability to engage and influence as your public speaking capability and confidence increases. 3 Enhance your knowledge as you undertake research in preparation for presenting and possible questions. 4 Share your expertise and experiences with fellow practitioners to broaden their knowledge. 5 Develop your technical writing skills, formulating a coherent story on your project or case study and writing a succinct abstract. 6 Make connections and meet new people – delegates will want to discuss your experience with you in more detail. 7 Gather information and feedback from other subject matter experts and public works professionals. 8 Advocate for your profession – help convey the importance of your work to a wider audience. 9 Increase your digital visibility – papers are published online, building your credentials as a subject matter expert. 10 Earn up to 45 CPD hours for preparing and presenting a paper at an IPWEAQ conference.