Shifting from academic air travel to sustainable research exchange: Examining networking efficacy during virtual conferences

MEEhubs2024: A hub-based conference on microbial ecology and evolution fostering sustainability

“…3 ). Some virtual participants reported feelings of isolation attributable to the perceived ‘second-class’ experience of virtual attendees compared to in-person attendees, a concern also noted in a previous study (Wenger 2023 ). The quantitative survey data reflects this perception ( Table S1 , Supplementary Material A ), indicating that virtual participants had fewer formal scientific discussions, less recognition, and fewer breaks from their daily routines than in-person participants ( P s < .001).…”

“…To counteract this, previous studies suggested several solutions, such as virtual avatar rooms (e.g. Gather.town) to foster more spontaneous interactions (Wenger 2023 ), or virtual breakout systems like FluidMeet, which facilitates fluid conversations, group formations, and informal interactions (Hu et al 2022 ). Additionally, formats like World Cafés and unconferences (Holman et al 2021 ) can encourage more spontaneous discussions and networking opportunities.…”

MEEhubs2024: A hub-based conference on microbial ecology and evolution fostering sustainability

“…3 ). Some virtual participants reported feelings of isolation attributable to the perceived ‘second-class’ experience of virtual attendees compared to in-person attendees, a concern also noted in a previous study (Wenger 2023 ). The quantitative survey data reflects this perception ( Table S1 , Supplementary Material A ), indicating that virtual participants had fewer formal scientific discussions, less recognition, and fewer breaks from their daily routines than in-person participants ( P s < .001).…”

“…To counteract this, previous studies suggested several solutions, such as virtual avatar rooms (e.g. Gather.town) to foster more spontaneous interactions (Wenger 2023 ), or virtual breakout systems like FluidMeet, which facilitates fluid conversations, group formations, and informal interactions (Hu et al 2022 ). Additionally, formats like World Cafés and unconferences (Holman et al 2021 ) can encourage more spontaneous discussions and networking opportunities.…”

High altitude dilemmas: assessing academic air travel reduction measures by comparing reduction potential and willingness

“…Respondents shared positive experiences with virtual communication and highlighted the advantages of virtual over in-person conferences. These advantages, such as lower registration and travel costs, more attendees, inclusiveness, diversity, accessibility, and convenience (e.g., attending specific sessions), are reflected in the literature (Skiles et al 2022, Wenger 2023. Therefore, this measure provides an opportunity for academic institutions to not only transform to more sustainable research practices, but to also rethink and restructure the inequities connected to academic air travel (Hopkins 2024).…”

Academic Air Travel: Debates, Tensions and the Need for a Sociology of Science Perspective

“…But as the pandemic and the forced stop of in-person meetings has brought many people to suggest, not every virtual replacement is equally well suited to substitute all aspects of in-person meetings. With virtual alternatives, the question of what aspect of the face-to-face conference is substituted and what part is missed out comes to the fore (Bastian et al 2022;Bigg 2023;Wenger 2023). This review article addresses four aspects related to this emerging concern.…”

“…With virtual alternatives, the question of what aspect of the face‐to‐face conference is substituted and what part is missed out comes to the fore (Bastian et al. 2022; Bigg 2023; Wenger 2023).…”

MEEhubs2024: A hub-based conference on microbial ecology and evolution fostering sustainability

“…3 ). Some virtual participants reported feelings of isolation attributable to the perceived ‘second-class’ experience of virtual attendees compared to in-person attendees, a concern also noted in a previous study (Wenger 2023 ). The quantitative survey data reflects this perception ( Table S1 , Supplementary Material A ), indicating that virtual participants had fewer formal scientific discussions, less recognition, and fewer breaks from their daily routines than in-person participants ( P s < .001).…”

“…To counteract this, previous studies suggested several solutions, such as virtual avatar rooms (e.g. Gather.town) to foster more spontaneous interactions (Wenger 2023 ), or virtual breakout systems like FluidMeet, which facilitates fluid conversations, group formations, and informal interactions (Hu et al 2022 ). Additionally, formats like World Cafés and unconferences (Holman et al 2021 ) can encourage more spontaneous discussions and networking opportunities.…”

High altitude dilemmas: assessing academic air travel reduction measures by comparing reduction potential and willingness

“…Respondents shared positive experiences with virtual communication and highlighted the advantages of virtual over in-person conferences. These advantages, such as lower registration and travel costs, more attendees, inclusiveness, diversity, accessibility, and convenience (e.g., attending specific sessions), are reflected in the literature (Skiles et al 2022, Wenger 2023. Therefore, this measure provides an opportunity for academic institutions to not only transform to more sustainable research practices, but to also rethink and restructure the inequities connected to academic air travel (Hopkins 2024).…”

Academic Air Travel: Debates, Tensions and the Need for a Sociology of Science Perspective

“…But as the pandemic and the forced stop of in-person meetings has brought many people to suggest, not every virtual replacement is equally well suited to substitute all aspects of in-person meetings. With virtual alternatives, the question of what aspect of the face-to-face conference is substituted and what part is missed out comes to the fore (Bastian et al 2022;Bigg 2023;Wenger 2023). This review article addresses four aspects related to this emerging concern.…”

“…With virtual alternatives, the question of what aspect of the face‐to‐face conference is substituted and what part is missed out comes to the fore (Bastian et al. 2022; Bigg 2023; Wenger 2023).…”

MEEhubs2024: A hub-based conference on microbial ecology and evolution fostering sustainability

“…3 ). Some virtual participants reported feelings of isolation attributable to the perceived ‘second-class’ experience of virtual attendees compared to in-person attendees, a concern also noted in a previous study (Wenger 2023 ). The quantitative survey data reflects this perception ( Table S1 , Supplementary Material A ), indicating that virtual participants had fewer formal scientific discussions, less recognition, and fewer breaks from their daily routines than in-person participants ( P s < .001).…”

“…To counteract this, previous studies suggested several solutions, such as virtual avatar rooms (e.g. Gather.town) to foster more spontaneous interactions (Wenger 2023 ), or virtual breakout systems like FluidMeet, which facilitates fluid conversations, group formations, and informal interactions (Hu et al 2022 ). Additionally, formats like World Cafés and unconferences (Holman et al 2021 ) can encourage more spontaneous discussions and networking opportunities.…”

High altitude dilemmas: assessing academic air travel reduction measures by comparing reduction potential and willingness

“…Respondents shared positive experiences with virtual communication and highlighted the advantages of virtual over in-person conferences. These advantages, such as lower registration and travel costs, more attendees, inclusiveness, diversity, accessibility, and convenience (e.g., attending specific sessions), are reflected in the literature (Skiles et al 2022, Wenger 2023. Therefore, this measure provides an opportunity for academic institutions to not only transform to more sustainable research practices, but to also rethink and restructure the inequities connected to academic air travel (Hopkins 2024).…”

Academic Air Travel: Debates, Tensions and the Need for a Sociology of Science Perspective

“…But as the pandemic and the forced stop of in-person meetings has brought many people to suggest, not every virtual replacement is equally well suited to substitute all aspects of in-person meetings. With virtual alternatives, the question of what aspect of the face-to-face conference is substituted and what part is missed out comes to the fore (Bastian et al 2022;Bigg 2023;Wenger 2023). This review article addresses four aspects related to this emerging concern.…”

“…With virtual alternatives, the question of what aspect of the face‐to‐face conference is substituted and what part is missed out comes to the fore (Bastian et al. 2022; Bigg 2023; Wenger 2023).…”