Researchers typically journey lengthy distances to attend worldwide scientific conferences, producing carbon emissions over only a few days which will outweigh the advantages of many environmental efforts.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, the observe of holding these conferences on-line considerably decreased travel-related emissions. In addition, by decreasing monetary and logistical limitations, on-line conferences allowed extra college students, early-career researchers, and students from creating areas to take part in world tutorial discussions.
A brand new examine led by Professor Eben Goodale of the Department of Health and Environmental Sciences at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) explores how the formats of 23 worldwide conferences in environmental science and biodiversity developed between 2018 and 2024. The analysis staff additionally surveyed convention organisers from environmental science societies to grasp their views and plans associated to convention formats.
Professor Goodale says: “During the pandemic, online conferencing generated a great deal of enthusiasm and seemed poised to fundamentally reshape how scientific meetings are held. So, it was surprising to see conferences return to traditional models in the years that followed.”
He provides: “Although online formats offer many advantages, they cannot fully replicate the social interactions and spontaneous conversations that happen in person. In this study, we explore this mixture of experiences and consider what the future might look like.”
Seven years of change
The examine, revealed as a “Perspectives” article in Biological Conservation, tracks modifications in convention formats within the fields of environmental sciences, ecology, and biodiversity from 2018 to 2024. It represents the primary longitudinal evaluation of environmental conferences throughout this era.
Before the pandemic, practically all conferences in these fields passed off in individual. In 2020 and 2021, as worldwide journey halted, digital occasions grew to become widespread. These formats considerably decreased carbon emissions and broadened participation.
The examine exhibits that hybrid conferences reached their peak in 2022. Since 2023, there was a gradual return to in-person formats. By 2024, absolutely digital conferences had disappeared from the pattern.
To discover the explanations behind this development, the researchers carried out an nameless survey of convention organisers from environmental science societies.
Respondents famous decreased curiosity in digital participation.
“We are seeing a declining trend in attendance to virtual aspects of hybrid events,” one organiser mentioned. Another organiser added: “While online platforms have improved significantly, there remains scepticism about whether virtual participation can provide the same networking, engagement, and professional development opportunities as in-person interactions.”.
Survey respondents additionally pointed to excessive prices and logistical challenges related to hybrid formats.
While digital conferences decrease participation limitations, the examine notes they aren’t an entire substitute for in-person conferences when it comes to skilled improvement, networking and neighborhood constructing.
“For many researchers who rely on conferences to build collaborations, the immediacy, social atmosphere and natural conversations of in-person settings remain difficult to replicate,” Professor Goodale says.
Finding stability
Despite the challenges, when deciding on convention formats, tutorial communities should take into account not solely logistical features but additionally values round sustainability and inclusion, the authors say.
“The pandemic showed that global academic exchange is possible without travel,” says Professor Goodale. “We should not overlook the benefits of virtual formats for reducing carbon emissions and increasing participation.”
To stability sustainability and inclusion with some great benefits of in-person conferences, the examine proposes a number of sensible fashions for future conferences that incorporate these issues.
Options embody alternating between on-line and in-person conferences throughout totally different years or complementing in-person occasions with on-line coaching and actions for college students and early-career researchers. Additionally, offering digital presentation choices for contributors unable to journey lengthy distances can enhance fairness in analysis sharing.
The examine additionally highlights the potential of multi-hub conferences, which permit contributors to assemble at regional venues linked by means of shared on-line parts. This mannequin can considerably scale back carbon emissions from air journey, whereas digital conferences hosted on social media platforms supply a extra versatile and cost-effective method to scientific communication.
These approaches, the researchers say, supply promising methods to stability low-carbon objectives, inclusivity, and high-quality tutorial engagement.
“As climate risks continue to rise, decisions about conference formats are not simply organisational choices; they represent the values of the scientific community,” Professor Goodale says.
“In environmental disciplines especially, international societies should take a leading role in designing conferences that are both sustainable and inclusive.”
Read the examine here.
By Luyao Wang
Edited by Tamara Kaup