"You probably don't need me to rehearse all the benefits of virtual conferences, but I will anyway. Virtual conferences accommodate people who cannot travel for a variety of reasons-disability and illness, financial constraints, family obligation, immigration difficulties, safety concerns. Virtual conferences also help reduce the carbon footprint associated with travel. Moreover, because virtual conferences allow people who cannot travel to attend, they also allow us to meet those whom we wouldn't otherwise meet."
"Cards on the table-I am privileged enough to not be affected by most of these considerations (except for climate change, which affects us all), and I hate virtual conferences. I am easily distracted when sitting at my computer. I can never figure out how eye contact works over zoom. My usual tactic of joining a conversation is to physically move next to somebody, which I can't do virtually."
"I genuinely don't know how to weigh the relevant pros and cons. Luckily for us, my lack of imagination does not limit other people's ingenuity. Luckily for me, there are people who are more intelligent, more dedicated, and have more bandwidth than me who are willing to spend time and energy to figure out how to make virtual conferences just as rewarding and enjoyable."
Virtual conferences accommodate people who cannot travel due to disability, illness, financial constraints, family obligations, immigration difficulties, or safety concerns. They reduce the carbon footprint associated with travel and allow meeting people who would otherwise be inaccessible. Some individuals prefer in-person conferences because they are easily distracted online, struggle with virtual eye contact, cannot physically join conversations, enjoy late-night socializing, and value people-watching at receptions. Those preferences do not negate the accessibility and environmental benefits of virtual formats. Uncertainty remains about how to weigh pros and cons. Ongoing efforts aim to design more rewarding virtual conferences, and willingness to try proposed solutions supports that work.
Read at Apaonline
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