Attending the CAERE conference in Nanjing on May 30, 2026, marked a milestone in my academic journey as my first formal participation in an international academic conference. Presenting my research on tropical cyclones before an audience of peers and established scholars provided a platform to share my findings and test my ideas in a professional environment. My presentation was at Parallel Forum F-1, chaired by Prof. Jing CAO from Tsinghua University. The overall experience combined rigorous intellectual exchange with personal growth, offering valuable insights into the mechanics of academic discourse.
My research focuses on evaluating the impacts of tropical cyclones by leveraging high-frequency data to examine economic resilience and behavioral responses to climate shocks. To support this analysis, I constructed a city-level, daily panel dataset by integrating best-track meteorological data from the China Meteorological Administration with local geographic boundaries. Applying a stacked difference-in-differences design, the study tracks immediate consumption dynamics across impacted urban areas, using granular spending shifts as real-time indicators of local recovery and economic vulnerability.
Delivering this presentation required clear communication of complex analytical procedures, including data harmonizing steps and empirical identification strategies. Explaining the methodology to scholars from varying subfields emphasized the importance of structuring quantitative research around accessible narrative threads. The delivery itself helped build confidence in speaking publicly, managing time constraints, and presenting empirical results effectively under formal conditions.
The Q&A session and subsequent discussions offered constructive feedback on the methodology and data handling choices. Colleagues provided alternative perspectives on potential confounding factors and offered suggestions for refining the empirical model.
Engaging with questions from attendees highlighted areas for improvement while validating the relevance of using high-frequency data to study climate-induced economic shocks. Reflecting on the conference, the opportunity to discuss research face-to-face with other academics provided useful momentum for future work. Navigating my first presentation clarified technical strengths and areas needing refinement in both paper structure and presentation style. Moving forward, the lessons learned from this conference will inform the next iteration of the manuscript and assist in preparing for future academic engagements.