Scientists bat for hosting virtual conferences even after COVID-19
Despite "Zoom fatigue" and the inability to simulate in-person networking with colleagues, scientists want conferences to be held virtually even after the COVID-19 pandemic is over, citing ease of attending from anywhere and low carbon footprint among its many perks. According to a poll of over 900 readers of Nature magazine, a year of online research conferences has brought many benefits.
Benefits of having a virtual conference after pandemic ends
Nearly 75 percent of survey respondents said scientific conferences should continue to be hosted virtually, or have a virtual component, even after the pandemic ends. Many researchers say that in the past year they have been able to attend more meetings because they were virtual. Another biggest benefit, the respondents said, was the lower carbon footprint offered by virtual meetings due to restricted travel.
Researchers took the opportunity and began collaborating
Lovi Raj Gupta, Executive Dean of Science and Technology, Lovely Professional University, said the paradigm shift during these times was swaying the dialogue and interaction between researchers and scientists from "room to Zoom." "Researchers took the opportunity and began collaborating, a significant increase in the number of new Special Interest Groups crept up and the existing ones curated handshaking with other SIGs," he said.
Excessive conferences are opportunities to vacation on taxpayers' money
Sourav Chatterjee, the winner of the Infosys Prize and Professor of Mathematics and Statistics, Stanford University, noted that the pandemic has impacted science and research in India more or less the same way as in other countries. He expressed that excessive academic/non-academic conferences as there were in the pre-COVID-19 times are unnecessary because most of them are opportunities to vacation on taxpayers' money.
Travel restrictions have caused anxiety among students and researchers
Arindam Ghosh, Professor, Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, and another Infosys Prize laureate said, "The suspension of international travel and visa processes have caused great anxiety and uncertainty among students and researchers looking for overseas education, employment, or collaboration."
Online platforms not always suitable for easy exchange of ideas
Ghosh noted that international conferences are adapting to include diverse time zones of speakers and participants. However, while physical presence at the laboratory for experimental research is unavoidable, many labs or institutions are developing "shift" systems. "Theoretical research is largely being pursued from home. The online platforms are not always suitable for easy exchange of ideas, and new innovations are required," he added.
COVID-19 has paved new dimensions for innovations: Experts
The experts believe that COVID-19 has also paved new dimensions for need-based, societal, and speedy innovations not only in India but all across the world, adding researchers and innovators from across the globe collaborated virtually to find solutions to defeat the pandemic.
