On the other hand, satellite sessions can often offer an opportunity to ask more detailed questions or to get additional information about a drug or program. Satellite sessions often have free food, but don't try substituting it for a meal. Evening sessions are usually just cocktail nibblies, and your fellow attendees will be scarfing down the food as well. At international conferences posters are displayed on a sea of bulletin boards on legs that stretch for room after room. Every evening that day's posters come down and a new set goes up.
Researchers stand next to their posters and answer questions.
These are a terrific way of gaining information about topics that are less popular, or work done by younger researchers who don't have enough pull to rate a workshop presentation. You can request a copy of the research by leaving a business card at the poster. All international and many national conferences have a special lounge for people who are HIV-positive. In Geneva, the PWA lounge had a restaurant with terrific food and discounted prices. This is also where researchers seeking participants for their studies post their solicitations.