More importanly, anyone ever spend a week sitting in front of a computer during an online meeting, without the added benefit of getting to chat informally with presenters and attendees from all over the world (or meet for beers afterwards)? If we don't have time to read all the journal articles in every issue of Ecology, what more effective way is there to serendipitously discover the research of our colleagues? I understand the need to make alternatives available, but the work that is inspired and generated by spending a week with fellow researchers more than makes up for any environmental impact (especially with features like carbon offsets) in my opinion. As a young graduate student, I'm pretty techno-savvy, but I would never want ESA to replace flesh-and-blood meetings with impersonal and inconvenient electronic alternatives. It's one thing for eminent scientists like Dr. Wilson to call for a reduction in world travel at the height of a distinguished career (filled with l ots of world travel), but for a young and relatively un-traveled ecologist-in-training like myself, I am saddened to think of what might happen to our field if the human element were taken away from meetings. The level of discourse in "real life" will never be matched by electronic and/or tele-conference settings.
And a practical consideration: From where I stand (at ESA) I can see people from several different countries and dozens of states. Which time zone should we broadcast our teleconference from? Respectfully, Jacquelyn Gill ************************ Jacquelyn Gill Graduate Research Assistant Jack Williams Lab University of Wisconsin - Madison Department of Geography 550 North Park St. Madison, WI 53706 608.890.1188 (phone) 608.265.9331 (fax) ----- Original Message ----- From: Malcolm McCallum <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Monday, August 6, 2007 6:01 pm Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Skipping meetings vs. teleconferencing To: [email protected] > Anyone ever participated in an online scientific meeting? > > > On Mon, August 6, 2007 8:27 am, Kelly Stettner wrote: > > I got the impression from Wayne's post that he was not discouraging > > physical attendance at meetings, but rather that he was encouraging > the > > use of other methods of participation. I have neither the time nor > the > > money to "travel extensively, jetting about" to and from meetings and > > conferences and gatherings. I must pick and choose, carpool when I > can, > > and (MUCH more often) seek out conference calls, on-line courses and > > meetings, and notes and presentations posted online after said conference > > or symposium. I have taught myself perseverance in researching and > have > > gained the self-confidence to realize my questions are pertient and > valid. > > > > Another important tool I use is e-mail -- I seek out the > researcher or > > presenter, find their e-mail address, and ask them questions, sparking > > conversations and discussions, getting answers and furthering my > > understanding. I am a full-time college student, mother of two, > > full-time secretary, and part-time voluntary director of a > > community-based watershed team in Vermont, so my time is limited as > is > > my budget. I think it is extremely important for me to "meet" > > colleagues any way I can, and e-mail is a fantastic "first contact" > > method. > > > > So Wayne is not recommeding skipping meetings or discussion-time, > he is > > promoting finding alternative avenues of interacting as a means of time > > and fuel economy. Or at least, that is what I am understanding from > his > > comments. > > > > Sincerely, > > Kelly Stettner, Director > > Black River Action Team > > Springfield, VT > > www.blackriveractionteam.org > > > > > > --------------------------------- > > Sick sense of humor? Visit Yahoo! TV's Comedy with an Edge to see what's > > on, when. > > > > > Malcolm L. McCallum > Assistant Professor of Biology > Editor Herpetological Conservationa and Biology > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [EMAIL PROTECTED]
