Idea for Master's thesis?

Question

I have a really interesting and original topic that I'd like to pursue for my Master's thesis but as an undergraduate student right now, I'd like to write an essay on this topic and submit it to conferences and call for papers. Do you think it would be in my best interest to not do this because it may allow others in the field steal my idea when I present it at the conferences? Obviously the master's work I do on this topic will be more in-depth and will be a lot longer than these essays I write for the conferences, but I'm worried that someone will steal my idea. Or does that never happen? I have no idea and need your advice. Thanks!

Answer 1

I can assure you, that never happens. Scholars attend and present at conferences in order to share their work all the time. As a matter of fact, it is an expectation of the profession. At conferences, scholars are there to keep abreast of upcoming work by other scholars, to present their own work, to have their own work critiqued by others, and to network. They are not there "shopping for topics," because they already have their own. In academia, original scholarship is expected. Academic dishonesty (stealing someone else's work) is grounds for dismissal (firing). No one in their right mind would steal the work of others.

If you do meet someone working on something similar, that is a GOOD thing. You've just made a connection, and since you are an undergrad, you should be looking for faculty with interests similar to yours. Conversations with people with similar interests will help you decide which grad schools to investigate -- find out who their mentor was, where they went to school, whether their program was supportive of their work, etc.

If you are really that worried (and you should not be), the conference proceedings will be documented in some way, and your name will be there, along with your topic, and perhaps an abstract of your presentation. So if someone stole your ideas, they'd be liable in a lawsuit, because your ideas are your own intellectual property.

I encourage you to submit proposals. Getting a paper accepted to present at a conference is an accomplishment, and will look very good on your graduate school applications.

Best wishes to you!

Answer 2

Oh sure, it's possible, but more likely than not your idea isn't as original as you thought, although your perspective could be valuable. This cannot be duplicated if you are infact, capable of this 'original thought', but for regular people, graduate students, Phd holders, top researchers and that guy that works at Mcdonald's alike, originality is a myth isn't it? Who gets credit really has to do with money and prestige. Not to say you shouldn't try though.

Don't be afraid to present something at a conference. The more people who are interested the more attention and money. Isn't this the purpose of confrences?

Of course, never present anything until it is ready because unready ideas can easily form the basis of someone else's work. Don't present a thesis idea, present a thesis. Unless, your work has led you to a question that you find important, but would rather focus your attention else where.

In short, if prestige is what you are after, be paranoid.

Answer 3

I, as an undergraduate student in the same dilemma, would go talk to your major/college's dean or some of the upper level professors and see what they think. Try to speak to one that is of tenure at the university/college you are at and check their opinion on the issue. More times than not, most topics thought of today, will be covered by tomorrow, that is why there are so many innovative ideas and research being done now, though little funding is there to back it up.

Stick with it though, and be weary of others!!!

GL in grad school

Answer 4

You need to look at what the lecturers in the department are working on - your thesis topic has to be related to that, not what you are interested in. You seem to have chosen your university first - so you are now limited to what is studied at that uni. If you were really interested in working on the monkey - you would have identified which university in Australia has researchers interested in this topic and applied there. You have narrowed your focus to a specific university so you cannot really choose to do what you are interested in unless it aligned with what is studied there.