| Autor: |
Stefanoudis PV; Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.; Nekton Foundation, Oxford, UK., Biancani LM; Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.; Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC, USA., Cambronero-Solano S; Departamento de Física, Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica, Heredia, Costa Rica.; Colectivo Internacional Pelagos Okeanos, Costa Rica., Clark MR; National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, Auckland, New Zealand., Copley JT; School of Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK., Easton E; School of Earth, Environmental and Marine Sciences, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, TX, USA., Elmer F; School for Field Studies, Center for Marine Resource Studies, Turks and Caicos Islands., Haddock SHD; Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Moss Landing, CA, USA., Herrera S; Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, USA., Iglesias IS; Department of Ocean Sciences, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, USA., Quattrini AM; Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC, USA., Sigwart J; School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK., Yesson C; Zoological Society of London, London, UK., Glover AG; Natural History Museum, London, UK. |
| Abstrakt: |
We consider the opportunities and challenges associated with organizing a conference online, using a case study of a medium-sized (approx. 400 participants) international conference held virtually in August 2020. In addition, we present quantifiable evidence of the participants' experience using the results from an online post-conference questionnaire. Although the virtual meeting was not able to replicate the in-person experience in some aspects (e.g. less engagement between participants) the overwhelming majority of respondents found the meeting an enjoyable experience and would join similar events again. Notably, there was a strong desire for future in-person meetings to have at least some online component. Online attendance by lower-income researchers was higher compared with a past, similar-themed in-person meeting held in a high-income nation, but comparable to one held in an upper-middle-income nation. This indicates that online conferences are not a panacea for diversity and inclusivity, and that holding in-person meetings in developing economies can be at least as effective. Given that it is now relatively easy to stream contents of meetings online using low-cost methods, there are clear benefits in making all presented content accessible online, as well as organizing online networking events for those unable to attend in person. |
