I have heard proclamations that face-to-face conferences are dying.
Classic complaints include:
- they are too expensive for faculty
- they are too expensive for students
- universities no long want to fund them
- they come at a bad time of year
- faculty don’t work at them; it’s just a big party!
Recent complaints include:
- they exclude the global south
- they limit access to elite schools
- they are hard to organize
- they are hard to run on a budget
- they are dominated by (pick your demographic characteristics)
As a past president of an Association that hosted four conferences- one global, one U.S. based, one Asia based & one Europe based - I can confirm there is truth in many complaints.
Conferences are expensive, they do limit access, & some faculty do party way too much.
As an alternative, some contend that we move into a world of online conferences - they assert that zoom or another software package - affords cheaper access, equitable access, & efficient knowledge sharing.
As a regular faculty member who has attended online conferences- & chaired one - I can confirm that many of these advantages are illusory.
No. It’s not cost-free to host an online conference - you have to pay for I.T. & staff support.
No. Online does not ensure equitable access bc many people in the Global South lack reliable Internet access.
No. Knowledge sharing is not more efficient; it is difficult to sit through hour after hour of talks.
Note: I see value in online conferencing systems - because they are suitable for short meetings, drop-in sessions & more.
However, the point of a conference is more than knowledge sharing. It’s meeting people. It’s forming relationships. It’s building communities around ideas. It’s serendipity.
So a few things to consider as you contemplate whether to attend a conference.
First, serendipity.
Most of my new collaborators were found at social events or random end-of-presentation encounters.
Second, relationship quality.
My teams build on shared experiences.
Sharing an online beer is not the same as sitting in a room over a drink.
Being in person helps forge quicker and higher-quality relationships.
Third, ideation.
I find it much simpler to brainstorm in person - esp. dismissing bad ideas as part of that process.
A zoom call just doesn’t work for groups.
Fourth, trust.
I have a difficult time trusting people that I’ve never met - maybe I’m old-fashioned?
Fifth, quality check.
FTF, you can listen & ask questions more effectively.
Sixth, dinner.
I find people tell better stories & share more of themselves over a meal.
Making trust & ideation more straightforward over time.
Finally, fun.
I can spend two days in person, watch eight hours of presentations, mingle, & get a lot of work done.
I do not find sitting on a call for two days fun.
I’ll see you at the next conference!
P.S. thanks Sam Seongmin Jeon! For introducing me to new friends!
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