Read on Twitter
When you combine a great community with great organisation you get a superb virtual conference like @isec2020
I've honestly just been enjoying this week so much I thought I'd make a thread of things I like about it. I hope some virtual innovations stick around!
I've honestly just been enjoying this week so much I thought I'd make a thread of things I like about it. I hope some virtual innovations stick around!
1. No frantic "conference optimisation", picking rooms, talks, walking distances, trying to sit at end of the row.
It's honestly so relaxing to know all talks are recorded and there is an easy way (slack) to ask questions after the talk has finished.
It's honestly so relaxing to know all talks are recorded and there is an easy way (slack) to ask questions after the talk has finished.
2. Related to the above - unexpected interruptions (either from other work responsibilities or in my case an opinionated 4 year old) don't cause as much stress. I can pause the talk, if it's quick I'm back to live very quickly. If not I can catch up later
3. It is truly global! The cost is much lower to attend, more people from lower income countries can make it, as well as people from gov. agencies who don't have as much access to conference funding.
4. There is so much scope for humour on slack! I've been laughing so much at the creative use of the slack channels, emojis, gifs being shared. It makes the whole experience so enjoyable
5. I can't say I've thought about it too much during the hustle and bustle of the conference but it is great that so much interaction and networking is possible with such a drastically lower carbon footprint.
6. Anything you didn't quite catch? Want to see again? Go back to that equation on slide 2 and have a ponder? It's all there, you can rewatch whatever you want. Again reduces a LOT of the stress of watching the talk and worrying you've lost the thread
7. It's great for accessibility. Statisticians are a wide and varied group but there will certainly be some who find it more fun, less stressful to interact over a virtual platform rather than in person. This is esp true for people whose first language is not English
8. It's easier to connect with people with shared interests. There are so many channels on slack, people have short bios, you can find their talks very easily. At an in person conference this is much harder and likely so many missed opportunities!
9. I can get a cuppa whenever I want, have a beer whenever I want, wear whatever clothes I want, eat whatever food I want (hello fellow vegan's who have eaten 10000 pitta breads with humous at conferences). I can take down time whenever I want, if I need a break, just take one
I'll probably add more to this thread later. There is huge value in meeting in person, but I really hope virtual options can be effectively combined with in person meetings in the future.
