Virtual Conferences have some interesting features:
-you sit at your desk and have your own "space" and resource within reach
-you can see the details of what presenters explain very clearly, and undisturbed
-you can take the time to formulate precise questions in written form, using the chat of the virtual conferencing system
-the presenter can answer verbally, with slides, and with links to articles shared in the chat
Face to face conferences have very unique features:
-you sit with other people
-if you don't get something, your neighbour will give you a hint
-you can speak to many people about the issues discussed, and get very different views, and valuable opinions and input
-this will stimulate your thought process as a researcher or as a scientist/engineer
-in turn you mind will set itself free, and find new things, beyond your initial knowledge, the knowledge of the presentations at the conference: ideas unformalised yet scientifically will open new paths for you
-you make friends, and maybe you can work with these people in the future: research, article, project, who knows?
-humans are social animals, hence interaction is enjoyable and valuable!
Make the best of what you have: virtual or face to face.
Does it help?
Even the classic conference if not engaging may not be effective. I think the engagement is key.
Virtual Conferences have some interesting features:
-you sit at your desk and have your own "space" and resource within reach
-you can see the details of what presenters explain very clearly, and undisturbed
-you can take the time to formulate precise questions in written form, using the chat of the virtual conferencing system
-the presenter can answer verbally, with slides, and with links to articles shared in the chat
Face to face conferences have very unique features:
-you sit with other people
-if you don't get something, your neighbour will give you a hint
-you can speak to many people about the issues discussed, and get very different views, and valuable opinions and input
-this will stimulate your thought process as a researcher or as a scientist/engineer
-in turn you mind will set itself free, and find new things, beyond your initial knowledge, the knowledge of the presentations at the conference: ideas unformalised yet scientifically will open new paths for you
-you make friends, and maybe you can work with these people in the future: research, article, project, who knows?
-humans are social animals, hence interaction is enjoyable and valuable!
Make the best of what you have: virtual or face to face.
Does it help?
Dr.Renauld gave an excellent explanation about virtual conferences features compared to the classic one,so i agree with him completely.
Dear Prof. Abdulla!
You spotted a topic of great importance. I did my best to search for appropriate publications to highlight the key points within this problem:
1) A case - study: Maria Haji‐Georgi, Xinyun Xu, Oxana Rosca (2020). Academic conferencing in 2020: A virtual conference model, Human Behavior and Emerging Technologies, 27 November 2020, Open Access:
Article Academic conferencing in 2020: A virtual conference model
2) A brave new virtual conferencing world. Nat Cancer 1, 751–752 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43018-020-00108-1 Open Access:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s43018-020-00108-1
3) Ian Evans (2020). How to make online conferences engaging: lessons from Covid: Tips for holding successful virtual conferences from a medical society leader, November 18, 2020, Available at:
https://www.elsevier.com/connect/how-to-make-online-conferences-engaging-lessons-from-covid
4) Noel Carroll, Kieran Conboy (2020). Normalising the “new normal”: Changing tech-driven work practices under pandemic time pressure, International Journal of Information Management, Volume 55, December 2020, Open Access:
Article Normalising the “new normal”: Changing tech-driven work prac...
Please let me conclude that virtual conferences must provide results and outcomes to replace physical forums. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the uncertainty it stimulates all over the globe are powerful forces. Yours sincerely, Bulcsu Szekely
No chance! For the teacher, talking to a computer screen when you are using a visual presentation platform ( eg., PWRPNT, KeyNote) and not having eye contact with your audience is discoraging and certainly boring. When you ask a question, and no one is there to answer it, you feel you are alone there in a sea of silence. Very demotivating. Presential conference is irreplaceable!
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