Leading the Charge to Virtual Meetings
| Autor: | K. Estelle Dodson, Marco S. Boldt, Carl B. Pilcher, Wendy W. Dolci |
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| Rok vydání: | 2011 |
| Předmět: | |
| Zdroj: | Science. 331:674-674 |
| ISSN: | 1095-9203 0036-8075 |
| DOI: | 10.1126/science.331.6018.674-a |
| Popis: | In her letter “Travel trade-offs for scientists” (10 December 2010, p. [1476][1]), I. C. Burke wrote that science organizations should lead the charge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from travel and that scientists should demonstrate a different way of doing business that doesn't contribute so substantially to climate change. These suggestions are right on the mark. The NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAI) is pioneering the use of collaborative tools for virtual communication—i.e., meetings and scientific data analysis across distance. The NAI hosted two Workshops Without Walls during 2010 ([ 1 ][2], [ 2 ][3]), which drew together hundreds of researchers from around the globe for scientific exchange, with no travel required. The integration of high-definition videoconferencing and online meeting software allowed attendees to participate in the workshops with just a computer and an Internet connection. Surveys by the NAI after both Workshops Without Walls showed that 98% of 175 respondents would attend another one, although some noted that they missed the social interaction of in-person meetings ([ 1 ][2], [ 2 ][3]). One NAI survey respondent wrote, “The energy, money, and time saving of this method of scientific communication is spectacular. I believe it should be encouraged and expanded.” ![Figure][1] CREDIT: THINKSTOCK A majority of NAI survey respondents participated in at least part of the workshops from their office or home. Others gathered in videoconferencing facilities at their institutions. Some moved freely between home, office, or conference room, catching talks most relevant to their research from wherever they happened to be. Experience has shown that holding meetings 4 hours per day over several days helps accommodate people in different time zones, as does recording and posting the talks in almost real time. Virtual meetings are just the beginning. Emerging technologies such as 3-dimensional immersive environments to share, visualize, and analyze data sets across distance are enabling virtual workspaces for science and the potential for further savings of time, money, and natural resources. 1. [↵][4]1. D. Scalice , “NASA Astrobiology Institute hosts science ‘Workshop Without Walls,’” NASA Astrobiology Institute, 19 March 2010 ( ). 2. [↵][5]1. W. Dolci , “NAI hosts second Workshop Without Walls,” NASA Astrobiology Institute, 29 November 2010 ( ). [1]: pending:yes [2]: #ref-1 [3]: #ref-2 [4]: #xref-ref-1-1 "View reference 1 in text" [5]: #xref-ref-2-1 "View reference 2 in text" |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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