The global multi-hub academic conference
A conference that takes place at several locations around the world at the same time and connects all participants around the globe:
In 2018, Richard Parncutt, then Director of the Centre for Systematic Musicology, implemented his concept of a semi-virtual multi-hub conference for the first time. Around 600 researchers took part in the "15th International Conference for Music Perception and Cognition" and "10th Conference of the European Society for the Cognitive Science of Music" in Graz, Sydney/Australia, Montreal/Canada and La Plata/Argentina. Despite time differences, all hubs were able to communicate with each other for at least four hours a day. "The event serves as a model for climate-friendly planning of major international conferences by reducing CO2-emissions that would otherwise be caused by intercontinental flights. The format also enables colleagues from the global South to participate by reducing their costs (travel, registration, accommodation) relative to a single-location conference in the global North" says Parncutt, summarising the biggest plus points.
With a hub on every inhabited continent, most colleagues around the world can participate - usually without flying. Hubs can collaborate in real time (in combined meetings) and during (almost) normal working hours, as shown above - provided the time zones of neighbouring hubs are no more than 8 hours apart. Intercontinental contacts can be scheduled in advance. Emissions per person are typically reduced by 70%. Further information:
Parncutt, R., Lindborg, P., Meyer-Kahlen, N., & Timmers, R. (2021). The multi-hub academic conference: global, inclusive, culturally diverse, creative, sustainable. Frontiers in Research Metrics and Analytics, 6, 699782. (((a new paper on this topic is under review)))
This approach was honoured with a Sustainability Award from the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBWF).
Colleagues who are currently (co-)planning an international conference are invited to consider a multi-hub conference. To discuss further details, please contact: