Pode ser essa a palavra, que ouço muito, mas não sei se existe outra mais adequada para o contexto acadêmico.

# The main speech at a meeting delivered to all attendees in a general session. Originally the main point of a speech.
www.publicspeakingcourse.com/glossaryk-o.htm

# The main speech at a meeting or the speech in one of the featured spots at an event.
www.selectaspeaker.com/definitions.htm

# Opening remarks of a meeting that set tone of the event and motivate attendees.
www.accenter.com/aboutthecenter/glossary.asp

# A speech with an underlying theme or general tone, outlining the issues that are to be considered.
www.trainingconsortium.com/register/registerDef.php

# the note on which a musical key is based; the main theme of a speech, a written work, or a conference; a "keynote speech" or "keynote address" is a speech that sets the main theme of a conference or other gathering
en.wiktionary.org/wiki/keynote

paper
dissertação, monografia, artigo, tese, trabalho, estudo, texto, documento (research papers), folha de papel, cartão/cartela (de alfinetes); hipotético, fictício;

Acho que é isso mesmo!

"reviews, communication in Congresses, and meetings. with policy makers and other relevant professionals. We have been evaluating the project during its ..."
www.eaea.org/doc/European_Chart.pdf

"dissemination of results by means of meetings in all communities of the Jalapão region, in addition to scientific articles, communication in congresses and ..."
sgp.undp.org/web/projects/11105/contributions_to_the_economic_and_ecological_susteinability_of_golden_gra...

"Presentation of the results in internal and external groups. Integration of the results in websites of ELFNET and EURELNET. Communication in congresses ..."
www.geamcos-euproject.com/doc/Geamcos_Workshop_02122007.pdf

Hope it helps. :))

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Note added at 11 mins (2008-08-15 22:28:27 GMT)
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"pation in seminars and congresses, as well as writing articles and books in both ... skills to fully participate in various academic communication networks. ..."
www.multilingual-matters.net/cilp/007/0061/cilp0070061.pdf

"and in congresses in Britain or even in the. United States. However, there was a gro- ... the academic communication field. ..."
revcom2.portcom.intercom.org.br/index.php/famecos/article/view/383/312

talks/lectures

Ελληνικά¨Επικοινωνία, επαφή..'ερχομαι σε επαφή, επικοινωνώ