Collaboration is highly promoted and sought after in the scientific community, and that often means working with colleagues across the country, continent, or other side of the world. Conferencing usually gives great face to face opportunities to build new networks, spark new ideas and bridge and solidify collaboration.
Travel and conferencing have long been highlighted as a large portion of the pie when it comes to the academic CO₂ emission footprint. In the last few years we have been forced to enhance the way we connect and collaborate, showcasing the use of digital spaces to still participate in conferences in a more sustainable and accessible way.
Moving forward the scientific community needs to find ways to still keep these connections and opportunities open but reduce the CO₂ impact at the same time.
• Encourage research groups and institutes to have a no-fly policy for business trips within a certain milage
• Promote online attendance of conferences where possible
• Encourage sustainable practices at live conferences– venue, transport, materials, food & waste
Travel
• Academic Flying and the Means of Communication – Open Access book
• Thoughtful Travel Campaign – Flying Less resources page
• Thoughtful Travel Pledge – Petition and pledge
• Thoughtful Travel: Geoffrey Mosquito and the Traveling Scientists
• 1point5 – Travel simulator
Conferencing
• Trend towards virtual and hybrid conferences may be an effective climate change mitigation strategy – Nature communications
• Sustainable conferencing with the Company of Biologists
• Healthy and Sustainable Meetings – WHO guidelines
• 10 ways to make your conference sustainable – Uni Birmingham