It is a great honor and a testament to your fame as a scholar that Princeton have invited you to give a lecture at their Woodrow Wilson School. You will be presenting your research on a topic pertaining to poverty and welfare in the United Kingdom. It is a subject that you are quite knowledgeable about, having done much of your work while based there. In order to give you the greatest possible insight into what to expect from the planning stages of your seminar, we have decided to outline the steps that we followed.
Know Your Audience
You will be speaking to an audience of academics, public policy specialists, and students. Therefore, it is essential that you familiarize yourself with the basic academic information of at least the majority of those attending your seminar. Fortunately, you are acquainted with the work of Professor Ian Rowe, who currently works as a senior research fellow at the U.K. office of the International Growth Centre (IGC). You could therefore, ask him to act as a guide. Ian is a world-class expert in the field of developmental economics and has published extensively on the subject. The IGC have compiled a complete list of his works, which you can find here. You will also need to know the contact details for the administrative staff of the Woodrow Wilson School. Fortunately, you have this already as a part of your media kit. Simply click here to access it.
Know Your Topic
You have a specific topic already chosen for your lecture, which you will develop into your script. However, you must still choose a sub-topic within this broad subject matter. The administrative staff at the Woodrow Wilson School will be able to give you some advice regarding this as well. One of their primary responsibilities is to make sure that each guest lecturer has a topic that can be easily communicated to a general audience. This is why they must first read your topic suggestion and make some notes on it. Then, they will search for a similar lecture that was given at the school in the past. This will be helpful in establishing a structure to your lecture and ensuring that you do not deviate too far from the script that the Wilson School has provided you with.
Choose A Location
It is essential that you choose a venue that is appropriate for the type of event that you are organizing. If you are planning to give the lecture at a prestigious university, then you should look for a venue that is within the campus or has a close relationship with it. You will also need to find a hotel that is near to the venue. If possible, try for a hotel that is attached to the school so that, at least, students and other academics can get a good quality meal after your lecture. However, you should avoid choosing a hotel that is too far away from the campus as this could end up being very expensive. Finally, you should look for a hotel that is within your budget. Bear in mind that expensive hotels can sometimes have very high room rates, which is why you need to find cheaper alternatives. Fortunately, this will be your last resort as you will want to take advantage of the special pricing that they offer due to your status as a guest lecturer.
Decide On A Date
The date for your lecture is yet to be decided. However, you should start considering this now so that you can begin making the necessary arrangements. The administration of the Woodrow Wilson School will be able to give you advice regarding this as well. They will be able to tell you whether or not another date is more preferable than the one that you have in mind. Bear in mind though that the sooner you make the booking the better as far as the hotel is concerned. This way, you will be able to take advantage of all the discounts that they offer. Additionally, the sooner you make the booking the less likely it is that there will be any last-minute changes. This is why you need to start putting this date on your calendars as soon as possible.
Book Your Transport
Depending on where you are traveling to and from, you will need to choose either public transportation or a private car. If you are flying in, you will need to choose which airport you are getting into. This is also important for those leaving as you need to choose which airport you are getting off at. Having an idea of the transit times for those traveling by bus or rail will help you plan your schedule. For those driving, you can use the navigation tool on your phone to find the best route. Calculating the approximate travel time for each segment of the route will allow you to pinpoint where you are likely to be late. If you are using a navigation app on your phone, then you can also set the app to alert you when you are getting close to your destination. This will save you from having to ask strangers for directions and, thus, reduce the chances of you getting lost.
Book Your Accommodation
Depending on where you are traveling to and from, you will either need to stay overnight or for a few days. Whatever the case, you will need to find a place to stay. This will be particularly important if you are going to be in Newcastle upon Tyne for the night as there are quite a lot of amenities there that you could use. For example, there is an entire shopping mall that you could visit. This way, you will not have to spend the night in a hotel. If you are visiting other cities, then you can check the local council website or travel guide for listings of affordable accommodation. This way, you will be sure to find a suitable place that meets your needs. It is also preferable to look for a place that is close to the airport so that you do not have to take a lengthy walk after your flight. The closer you get to your destination the more you will like it. This is because the feeling of familiarity will make you feel at home even when you are in a strange city. Additionally, be sure to factor in all the extra costs that you will have whether it’s the cost of the hotel room or the rental car. These are all things that you need to budget for and prepare for so that you can give the lecture successfully.
The preparation process for your lecture will be over soon enough. You will be relieved to finally have a script and deliver it successfully. Then, you can begin the process of planning future lectures.