Moving academic conferences online: Aids and barriers to delegate participation

Raby, Cassandra L ORCID: 0000-0001-7065-0306 and Madden, Joah R (2021) Moving academic conferences online: Aids and barriers to delegate participation. ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION, 11 (8). pp. 3646-3655.

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ece3.7376

Abstract

In-person academic conferences are important to disseminate research and provide networking opportunities. Whether academics attend in-person conferences is based on the cost, accessibility, and safety of the event. Therefore, in-person conferences are less accessible to academics and stakeholders that are unable to overcome some of these factors, which then act as a barrier to equal and inclusive participation. Additionally, the carbon footprint of conference travel is increasingly becoming a factor in deciding on whether to attend a conference. Online conferences may provide opportunities to mitigate these challenges. Here, we illustrate how a learned society can move their conference online. Then, comparing data acquired from the virtual conference and previous in-person conferences, we explore the aids and barriers influencing the decision of delegates to attend the meetings. Ultimately, moving meetings online aids delegate participation by removing concerns about travel, cost, and carbon emissions, but there remains a barrier to participation as online meetings are perceived as less effective for networking and social opportunities.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	accessibility, carbon footprint, equality, greenhouse gas emissions, inclusivity, virtual conference
Divisions:	Faculty of Health and Life Sciences Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	07 Feb 2022 15:10
Last Modified:	18 Jan 2023 21:13
DOI:	10.1002/ece3.7376
Related URLs:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3148430