Centering inclusivity in the design of online conferences-An OHBM-Open Science perspective
- PMID: 34414422
- PMCID: PMC8377301
- DOI: 10.1093/gigascience/giab051
Centering inclusivity in the design of online conferences-An OHBM-Open Science perspective
Abstract
As the global health crisis unfolded, many academic conferences moved online in 2020. This move has been hailed as a positive step towards inclusivity in its attenuation of economic, physical, and legal barriers and effectively enabled many individuals from groups that have traditionally been underrepresented to join and participate. A number of studies have outlined how moving online made it possible to gather a more global community and has increased opportunities for individuals with various constraints, e.g., caregiving responsibilities. Yet, the mere existence of online conferences is no guarantee that everyone can attend and participate meaningfully. In fact, many elements of an online conference are still significant barriers to truly diverse participation: the tools used can be inaccessible for some individuals; the scheduling choices can favour some geographical locations; the set-up of the conference can provide more visibility to well-established researchers and reduce opportunities for early-career researchers. While acknowledging the benefits of an online setting, especially for individuals who have traditionally been underrepresented or excluded, we recognize that fostering social justice requires inclusivity to actively be centered in every aspect of online conference design. Here, we draw from the literature and from our own experiences to identify practices that purposefully encourage a diverse community to attend, participate in, and lead online conferences. Reflecting on how to design more inclusive online events is especially important as multiple scientific organizations have announced that they will continue offering an online version of their event when in-person conferences can resume.
Keywords: collaborative events; diversity; inclusivity; online conferences; open science.
© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of GigaScience. 2021.
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References
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- Niner HJ, Wassermann SN. Better for whom? Leveling the injustices of international conferences by moving online. Front Mar Sci. 2021;8, doi:10.3389/fmars.2021.638025. - DOI
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- Whitaker K, Guest O. #bropenscience is broken science. Psychologist. 2020;33:34–7.
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- ZIA MH002949/ImNIH/Intramural NIH HHS/United States
- 109062/Z/15/Z/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom
- MR/N013700/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom
- U01 DA041156/DA/NIDA NIH HHS/United States
- TL1 TR003109/TR/NCATS NIH HHS/United States
- ZIA MH002909/ImNIH/Intramural NIH HHS/United States
- R21 MH118556/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/United States
- Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom
- ZIC MH002960/ImNIH/Intramural NIH HHS/United States
- F32 MH119761/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/United States
- ZIA MH002783/ImNIH/Intramural NIH HHS/United States
- R25 DA051675/DA/NIDA NIH HHS/United States
- R01 DA041353/DA/NIDA NIH HHS/United States
- BB/S008314/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom
- R25 MH112480/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/United States
- RF1 MH120021/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/United States
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