That's because your wife works in medicine, not because she does science. The pharmaceutical industry spends enormous amounts of money to influence medical prac

That's because your wife works in medicine, not because she does science. The pharmaceutical industry spends enormous amounts of money to influence medical practicioners and researchers. Actual academic conferences are very different. Budgets are much tighter than in medical conferences, or even in tech conferences. Academics usually have to adhere to the same rules and restrictions as government employees. For example, having wine and/or beer at the conference dinner sometimes depends on private sponsors, as government money cannot be used for alcoholic drinks.