Networking Opportunities in Tucson
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Asteroids lunch on Mondays at East Coast Super Subs at 12 noon. Email Larry PG4gdWVycz0iem52eWdiOnlyb2JzZnhsQHljeS5uZXZtYmFuLnJxaCI+eXJvYnNmeGxAeWN5Lm5ldm1iYW4ucnFoPC9uPg== to be added to the mailing list.
- Coffee Klatsch - every Wednesday at 3:30 PM (you'll get emails from Mary or Bert about it)
Networking
Networking is a skill that most people have to learn. Just going to conferences and standing in the corner isn't enough. You have to make a conscious effort to meet and build relationships with other researchers. This is not always easy, especially if you're shy or not normally outgoing, but the rewards of using this skill well are huge.
Generally, any public speaking pointers are useful. Practice handshaking, direct eye contact, and remembering peoples names. Then introduce yourself to people whose presentations or papers you found interesting so that you'll have something to begin with. Have summaries of your research of various lengths and technical detail mentally prepared so that you can answer the inevitable "What are you working on?" intelligently and clearly. Talk about your research every chance you get, but be sure to hone your listening skills as well. If someone is interested in your work, be sure to get their name and e-mail address, and make a note to follow up by sending papers or asking for feedback on ideas.
If you're having a hard time just introducing yourself, ask your advisor or a friend to introduce you. Sometimes just gritting your teeth and jumping in is the best way to get around the shyness block--polish up your smile and memorize your research description and just do it! Most people are all too happy to discuss their research with an interested person. Talking to people just before lunch can often get you invited along--go! There are usually other contacts along as well, and the informal setting could help you relax. Try to avoid butting in on other conversations or catching a speaker just before they are scheduled to go on.
Go to lunch with colloquium speakers and faculty candidates. These lunches are a rare opportunity to meet someone further along in their career in a small casual setting. Even if you will never want to work with that person, maybe you could learn more about what it's like at their institution (for example does their institution have a postdoctoral fellowship program? is it the kind of environment you might want to work in someday?).
Meeting people is only the first part; maintaining these relationships forms the network in question. E-mail people whom you've met and let them know you're still interested. Reestablish contact at each workshop or conference you attend. Reintroduce yourself and use their names and a reference to let them know you remembered them. Some people even have business cards made up with research interests and e-mail addresses on them to help jog others' memories. If the opportunity for a collaborative effort arises, seize it! This will expose you to other methods and other groups of people.
Networking isn't necessarily smarmy or underhanded. It's really just the relationships you make along the way in grad school, whether professional collaborations, friendships, or often a combination of the two. Being involved in different projects and circles is the best way to meet scientists at different career stages and institutions, who work in different subfields. You never know who will remember your interest in thermal modeling in ten years, and what opportunities that lunch may lead to. Going to Beers is networking. 
If you're on Facebook, join the 'Young Scientists for Planetary Exploration' group. There are often discussions about NASA grants, conference locations, etc. If you like participating in discussions online, this may be a good way to maintain connections with people you've met at conferences. Even if you don't actively participate in the group, you'll see many announcements about job opportunities, conferences, travel grants etc.
More tips from successful alumni:
- "My advice is not to set out with the explicit goal of 'networking', which seems kind of lame to me. Just go to (lots of) conferences and meetings and talk to people about research (yours and theirs). Asking questions about someone's work is a great way to break the ice, but do it because you're interested in the science, not because you want to 'make a connection'. An awesome way to persuade people that you're a smart scientist that they might want to work with is to have multiple intelligent conversations about research. I highly, highly recommend going to lots of meetings as a student. It's a lot easier to break the ice about postdoc possibilities if you've talked with someone enough to get to know them a little."
Talking to the media
Additionally, you may be called on to speak with the media about a mission you are involved with, or about your really cool science. If so, the AGU has created a handy Media Guide that may help you deal with the news media in a professional manner.