Better for Whom? Leveling the Injustices of International Conferences by Moving Online
Better for Whom? Leveling the Injustices of International Conferences by Moving Online
复制标题
DOI：
10.3389/fmars.2021.638025
复制
发表时间：
2021-02-26
影响因子：
3.7
通讯作者：
Wassermann, Sophia N.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Niner, Holly J.;Wassermann, Sophia N.
国际会议是许多领域科学家和从业人员专业日程的重要组成部分，被视为建立、创建和促进网络、福祉和知识的机会。2020年的全球疫情禁止大型聚会和旅行，为测试从面对面会议转向在线会议形式的可行性和影响提供了机会。避免国际旅行和相关的官僚主义、时间和费用，可以克服许多阻碍许多人参加国际会议并从中受益的历史性不公正现象，还可以避免与国际航空旅行有关的排放。然而，在2020年之前，由于人们认为会议的价值无法在网上培养，因此将这些活动转移到网上一直存在阻力。在此，我们以第六届国际海洋保护大会（IMCC 6）为例，探讨与会者对在线会议的看法和体验，以及对访问和包容的潜在影响。我们的研究结果表明，对于那些因经济或个人原因无法亲自参加会议的人来说，在线移动大大增加了会议的可访问性。研究结果还表明，在线体验能够重现现场活动的一些好处，许多参与者有兴趣在未来参加在线或虚拟活动。然而，体验到的享受程度或感知的“价值”可能与个人参与者的参考框架和积极参与计划的承诺有关。反思IMCC6的成功，我们的结论是，在线举行国际会议，或至少包括一个在线元素作为“混合”模式的一部分，是会议的能力，以满足保护社会的道德要求，通过解决气候危机和一些系统性的不公正领域内的显着改善。
International conferences are an important component of the professional calendar of scientists and practitioners in many fields, and are valued as opportunities to establish, create and foster networks, wellbeing and knowledge. The 2020 global pandemic, in prohibiting large gatherings and travel, has provided an opportunity to test the feasibility and implications of a shift from in-person to online conference formats. Avoiding international travel and associated bureaucracy, time and expense could overcome many of the historic injustices preventing many from participating in and benefiting from international conferences, and also avoid the emissions associated with international air travel. However, prior to 2020, there has been resistance to moving these events online because of the perception that the value of conferences cannot be cultivated online. Here, we use the example of the 6th International Marine Conservation Congress (IMCC6), which moved online in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, to explore participants' perceptions and experiences of an online conference and the potential effects on access and inclusion. Our results show that moving online substantially increased the accessibility of the conference for those who would be unable to attend an in-person event for financial or personal reasons. Results also indicate that the online experience was able to recreate some of the benefits of in-person events, and that many participants are interested in attending online or virtual events in the future. However, the degree of enjoyment experienced or perceived 'value' likely relates to the frame of reference of the individual participant and a commitment to actively engage in the program. Reflecting on the success of IMCC6, we conclude that holding international conferences online, or at least including an online element as part of a 'hybrid' model, is a significant improvement in the capacity of conferences to meet the moral imperatives of the conservation community by addressing the climate crisis and some of the systemic injustices within the field.