From the abstract: "We developed and assessed a formal undergraduate course that mentored students through their first professional scientific conference. Assessment results indicated that students made significant progress in their professional and social abilities, with many students expressing a new sense of belonging to their field. Based on these results, attending national scientific conferences provides undergraduate students with a supportive environment to explore their future career and develop professional social skills."

Flaherty, E. A., Day, C. C., Urbanek, R. E., Wood, D. M., D'acunto, L. E., Quinn, V. S., & Zollner, P. A. (2019). Mentored conference experiences support students' career exploration and professional development. Wildlife Society Bulletin.  DOI:  10.1002/wsb.1013