Study finds virtual conferences better for the environment, more inclusive
Conversations about the environmental impact of academic travel have been ongoing for years.
COVID-19 changed the way we gather - and that might not be a bad thing, according to new research by a team at the University of Texas Austin, published in Nature Sustainability. The peer-reveiwed paper had good things to say about virtual conferences, which exploded in growth during the pandemic, finding them to be more cost-effective and inclusive.
And, because people are staying at home instead of flying around the world, virtual gatherings are better for the environment.
Researchers analyzed several conferences that took place before and during the COVID-19 crisis and found the carbon footprint of a single in-person conference attendee had the same carbon footprint as roughly 7,000 virtual guests.
Virtual conferences also open up opportunities for increased international participation and a more diverse crowd - including primary caregivers, people with limited financial means, and individuals with disabilities that make traveling difficult.
"Women’s participation in virtual conferences increased as much as 253 per cent compared with previous, in-person conferences, according to the study," the authors say in a press release.
"And when looking at academia, attendance by students and postdoctoral scholars increased as much as 344 per cent."
EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS
Another argument in favour of virtual conferences is the fact that they're less likely to be derailed by extreme weather. This played out in 2018 when New York City was hit by a major winter storm just as attendees were en route to the Modern Language Association academic conference, forcing many to become stranded.
THE FUTURE OF VIRTUAL CONFERENCES
Still, there are challenges.
In one survey, more than 70 per cent of attendees at a scientific conference said they prefer in-person events, describing them as more engaging.
And at another, 96 per cent of attendees said they find virtual sessions to be inauthentic.
The authors of the Nature Sustainability paper hope that as in-person conferences return, organizers will consider adopting a hybrid model that allows people to participate virtually, and at a lower cost.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL TOLL OF ACADEMIC TRAVEL
Even before the pandemic, academics were openly discussing the environmental impact of academic air travel.
A 2019 survey conducted by researchers at Université de Montréal found its professors travel an average of 33,000 kilometres annually for professional gatherings, predominantly by air.
Some academics have pledged to fly less to reduce their carbon footprints, while others are calling for a permanent overhaul of the academic travel modus operandi.
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