How does one spend $9 million attending conferences?
... and now you know!
I think in my entire thirty year working career in defense I attended two off-site conferences. Numerous times I wrote proposals describing how the company would benefit from sending attendees to this or that symposium. I quoted contractual requirements that would be addressed and where we had no expertise. All were turned down.
For the most part even the most expensive cost about $1,000 to attend and $2,000 in other expenses not counting salary and time lost. How does one spend $9 attending conferences?
“$9 “ = $9 million
How does one spend $9 million attending conferences?
... and now you know!
One of our daughters was asked to deliver a paper (her Master's thesis) at the International Cognitive Science Symposium in Sydney, Australia several years ago. They would pay her expenses while there, but she had to cover her travel. She was honored, but hesitated to spend the money for airfare.
I told her, "Many of your classmates bought new cars after graduation. When they drove that car off the lot, the depreciation exceeded your costs to attend this conference. However, for the rest of your career, you will have "Delivered paper to 4th International Cognitive Science Symposium, Sydney, Aust." on your resume. Go for it!"
Friends in the airline industry came up with "Buddy Passes", so she spent a little over $700 in airfare. Bill & Hill would have flown on a friend's G650, then billed the Foundation $25,000 for the trip...each.