What Are Spam Conferences?
Spam conferences are events that often lack academic rigor and are primarily designed to generate revenue rather than advancing scientific knowledge. These conferences frequently charge high registration fees and promise quick publication opportunities in dubious journals.
Unsolicited Invitations: Receiving frequent and unsolicited invitations to submit papers or attend conferences.
Lack of Peer Review: Promises of rapid publication with little or no peer review.
High Fees: Exorbitant registration or publication fees.
Dubious Sponsors: Lack of reputable sponsors or affiliations.
Waste of Resources: Researchers may waste time and money on conferences that do not provide meaningful academic engagement.
Reputation Damage: Association with low-quality conferences can damage a researcher’s reputation.
Misleading Information: The dissemination of unvetted and potentially incorrect research can mislead the scientific community and slow down progress.
Verify Credentials: Check the credentials of the conference organizers and the list of invited speakers.
Consult Peers: Seek recommendations from colleagues and mentors who are established in the field of
catalysis research.
Review Past Events: Look at the history of the conference and reviews from past attendees.
Check Indexing: Ensure that the associated journals are indexed in reputable databases like
Scopus or
Web of Science.
Financial Loss: High registration fees without any meaningful academic returns.
Reputation Risk: Publishing in dubious journals can harm a researcher’s academic credibility.
Time Wastage: Time spent preparing and presenting research at such conferences could be better utilized in more reputable venues.
Raise Awareness: Educate young researchers about the dangers of spam conferences.
Develop Guidelines: Institutions and professional bodies can develop guidelines to help identify reputable conferences.
Promote Quality: Encourage participation in well-established conferences and promote open access but reputable journals.
Institutional Support: Institutions can support researchers by covering fees only for vetted conferences and journals.
