The benefits of the CPSA and the size of the Canadian Poli Sci community seems to be that 'tight-knit circles' aren't so tight: 'Oh, someone else is also working on x? Thank god! Get over here!' https://twitter.com/ThatSaraGoodman/status/1293579639609110528

I was always terrible at networking. I think my attitude was
'why would anyone want to talk to me?' I decided to create a research group, invited pretty much every political scientist in the southern Ontario region doing what I do, and literally everyone I invited joined.

My networking strategy amounts to 'I'll just do this project and see if people want to join.' Now I'm working on my 4th edited collection, and collaborating on what will be a 5th workshop with the kick-ass @KatePuddister.

I think that's at least part of the secret to networking. There's no trick. Just email people and see if they're interesting in *something*. An event. A publication. A coffee. The worst possible thing to happen is someone says no thanks.

And you can check out the Courts & Politics Research Group here: http://www.courtsandpolitics.org/