Let's not ignore Andrew's comments about our time commitments. Most of us have too little time to reflect, let alone reflect seriously about our transport options. I am sure we could all choose fewer meetings, spend more time reading, less time presenting the same talks at numerous meetings, take the slow transport option with our kids, and combine holiday and academia (many of us do). But we could also all benefit from serious reflection about how academia is structured and why; why we are all overcommitted; why quantity is prioritized; how this affects our lives.
I have chosen the route underlined by another person earlier - choosing one small focused international meeting every year or two, and ESA every 2-3 years. This allows me to be genuinely excited about every ESA meeting, see the overall picture (and sit in on subjects out of my domain, as well as education), as well as be at the forefront meeting of one subject area. Everyone can find a different recipe to reduce travel; we can do it now, later we may not have options. But face to face meetings are still invaluable. Alison ****************************************** Alison Munson Professeure titulaire en écologie forestière Centre d'étude de la forêt Faculté de foresterie et de géomatique Université Laval Sainte-Foy QC G1K 7P4 Tel: (418) 656-7669 Fax: (418) 656-3551 http://www.cef-cfr.ca/ AVIS RELATIF À LA CONFIDENTIALITÉ - NOTICE OF CONFIDENTIALITY <http://www.rec.ulaval.ca/lce/securite/confidentialite.htm>http://www.rec.ulaval.ca/lce/securite/confidentialite.htm
