key: cord-0894749-09h7uvtq
authors: Newman, Christopher J
title: Post‐COVID‐19 scientific conferences: virtual becomes the new reality
date: 2021-03-31
journal: Dev Med Child Neurol
DOI: 10.1111/dmcn.14823
sha: d3466d5205cb37bd0b2696ba409b98011c0b0af6
doc_id: 894749
cord_uid: 09h7uvtq

nan

When the World Health Organization first announced the emergence of a mysterious coronavirus-related pneumonia in January 2020, who could anticipate to what extent COVID-19 would go on to affect and transform personal and professional lives on a global scale? One field that underwent transformation at an unprecedented pace due to restrictions on travel and physical gatherings was the organization of scientific conferences. From traditional face-toface meetings, where practitioners and academics customarily meet to learn, teach, exchange knowledge, network, and develop collaborations, organizers had to decide whether to cancel, postpone, or reorganize their events in digital formats. 1 With the implementation of COVID-19 vaccination programmes and the prospect of a progressive return to normalcy, what are the lessons learnt and where are scientific meetings heading next?

Even before the pandemic a number of shortcomings of face-to-face conferences were voiced, including the lack of equity and inclusivity of participants and speakers in terms of sex, ethnicity, geographical setting, physical ability, health, and career stage. A number of these factors directly influence access to the personal and financial support needed to attend international conferences (childcare organization, attendance fees, travel, and accommodation costs) alongside physical and administrative barriers (accessibility, visas, travel bans), 2 and may more insidiously influence peer recognition. The heavy carbon footprint of international conferences is also a growing concern for attendees and organizers, amid increasing awareness of ongoing climate change and the imperative to make events more sustainable by limiting academic jet-setting. 3 The last year has provided us with the opportunity to experience first-hand the challenges but also the benefits of virtual scientific events. The European Academy of Childhood Disability (EACD) 2020 annual meeting planned in Poznan was first postponed, then completely reorganized as a state-of-the-art virtual meeting in the midst of uncertainty. It proved to be a major success with outstanding scientific content and more than 900 participants, above the organizers' original expectations for a physical meeting, and interaction on the presentations continues to this day.

Across the board, online conferences have increased attendance, especially from countries with low-to-middle income economies and of early-career researchers, 4 and promoted the diversity of participants and speakers. The virtual environment takes full advantage of presentation, interaction, and moderation technologies, to a higher degree than face-to-face meetings. Streaming and videoconferencing allow all types of live parallel sessions, from keynote talks to presentation enriched e-posters or even one-to-one meetings facilitated by matching algorithms, 2 without the constraints of the physical dimensions of a traditional venue. Electronic question forums alongside presentations, polling tools, and online moderation favour horizontal communication between the speakers and audience. 5 Digital archiving of abstracts, talks, and posters lets participants take full advantage of the conference content irrespective of time contingencies such as conference duration or time zones.

Rich with this experience, the EACD will be holding its fully virtual 33rd annual meeting between 20 May and 10 June 2021 with the theme 'Childhood Disability in a Changing World'. It will provide an opportunity to look back on the effects of the pandemic in the field of childhood disability, and to look forward to the future trends in rehabilitation and care, and developments in technology and innovation. Making the most of online innovation, we aim to bring together and strengthen our community across borders and time zones.

In the post-COVID era, hybrid conferences may well become the new reality, striving for full, active, and complementary participation of attendees and speakers both on site and at a distance. The responsibility will be on organizers of these future conferences to ensure an equitable participation for both categories, respecting not only the contingencies but also the ethos of each participant, and by making these events more accessible, affordable, inclusive, and environmentally friendly.

When international academic conferences go virtual

Improving on legacy conferences by moving online

Cutting the carbon cost of academic travel

Virtual conferences raise standards for accessibility and interactions

Scientists discover upsides of virtual meetings

Chair of the Scientific Committee, European Academy of Childhood Disability doi: 10.1111/dmcn.14823