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Castellano Bueno J, Vezyrakis A, Xu P, Miller CW. Beyond barriers, towards diversity: how hybrid student conferences can drive accessibility. Biol Open 2024; 13:bio060290. [PMID: 38288786 PMCID: PMC10855212 DOI: 10.1242/bio.060290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
The third International Student Symposium on Animal Behaviour and Cognition (ISSABC) aimed to address barriers for early career researchers, hosting a conference both in-person and online at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM). The conference, attended by 101 in-person and 79 virtual participants from 24 countries, featured 81 presentations, 29 posters, five plenary talks, three workshops, and a career development round-table discussion. A user-friendly website and digital platforms facilitated communication and real-time discussions between in-person and online participants. Transparent fund management, support from sponsors and societies, and sustainable practices ensured financial accountability and minimised environmental impact. The conference emphasised sustainability measures, including eco-friendly catering and local reusable mugs. Future organisers of similar events are encouraged to prioritise local representation, plan contingencies, select plenary speakers rigorously, and employ effective marketing. With this meeting review, we highlight how hybrid conferences like the third ISSABC, through innovative approaches and sustainable practices, enhance accessibility, inclusivity, and empower the next generation of scientists.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alexandros Vezyrakis
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, Plön, Germany
- University of Potsdam, Germany
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Stefanoudis PV, Biancani LM, Cambronero-Solano S, Clark MR, Copley JT, Easton E, Elmer F, Haddock SHD, Herrera S, Iglesias IS, Quattrini AM, Sigwart J, Yesson C, Glover AG. Moving conferences online: lessons learned from an international virtual meeting. Proc Biol Sci 2021; 288:20211769. [PMID: 34666518 PMCID: PMC8527193 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.1769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paris V. Stefanoudis
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Nekton Foundation, Oxford, UK
| | - Leann M. Biancani
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
- Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Sergio Cambronero-Solano
- Departamento de Física, Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica, Heredia, Costa Rica
- Colectivo Internacional Pelagos Okeanos, Costa Rica
| | - Malcolm R. Clark
- National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Jonathan T. Copley
- School of Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Erin Easton
- School of Earth, Environmental and Marine Sciences, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, TX, USA
| | - Franziska Elmer
- School for Field Studies, Center for Marine Resource Studies, Turks and Caicos Islands
| | | | - Santiago Herrera
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, USA
| | - Ilysa S. Iglesias
- Department of Ocean Sciences, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - Andrea M. Quattrini
- Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Julia Sigwart
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
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Conference inspiration from India. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2021; 243:105431. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2021.105431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Camerlink I, Campbell DLM. Preface for the Special Issue ISAE 2020: COVID-19 and confinement. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2021; 242:105423. [PMID: 34511673 PMCID: PMC8418533 DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2021.105423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Irene Camerlink
- Institute of Genetics and Animal Biotechnology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Jastrzebiec, Poland
| | - Dana L M Campbell
- Agriculture and Food, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Armidale, NSW, Australia
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