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You should volunteer at your first EAG! (Especially if you are a student or early career)
If you don’t have a network in EA, EAG’s can be overwhelming. Volunteering gives you a ready-made, organic network.
Volunteering is pretty chill - a lot of the shifts aren’t that hard.
At your first EAG, it’s unlikely that you are using your time so efficiently that a few hours of volunteering would cut into the value of your conference.
You should volunteer at your first EAG! (Especially if you are a student or early career)
I volunteered at my first EAGx (EAGx Australia 2023) and support this sentiment.
And also, AFAIK if you volunteer your ticket is free :)
I am attending my EAG and volunteering as well. Hoping to learn and build meaningful networks.