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Within a matter of weeks, COVID-19 changed the world. Borders are sealed, schools and businesses shuttered, and millions of people are hunkered down in their homes. The spread of the coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, has forced cancellations across almost every sector of society, including sports competitions, weddings, trade fairs, and music and film festivals. Academia has not been spared. In the face of the pandemic, scientific conferences have quickly morphed from a place to share ideas and make new connections to potential hotspots of infection.
In the life sciences alone, dozens of meetings have been canceled, postponed, or moved online. Some researchers have planned online replacements. Many are worried about broader disruptions to academic life.
For many scientists, these conferences are a chance to share research, learn new skills, and meet future supervisors, students, and collaborators. Aadel Chaudhuri, a professor of radiation oncology at the Washington University School ...
