How to connect academics around the globe by organizing an asynchronous virtual unconference

Abstract

Many conferences and in-person meetings have transitioned to virtual platforms in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Here, we share strategies and lessons learned from organizing an international virtual unconventional conference, or ‘unconference’. The event focused on how early career researchers can advocate for systemic improvements in scientific publishing and research culture. The virtual unconference had three main components: (1) a virtual networking event, (2) asynchronous virtual brainstorming, and (3) a virtual open space, where participants could join or lead in-depth discussions. The unconference format was participant-driven and encouraged dialogue and collaboration between 54 attendees from 20 countries on six continents. Virtual brainstorming allowed participants to contribute to discussions at times that were convenient for them. Activity was consistently high throughout the 48 hours of virtual brainstorming and continued into the next day. The results of these discussions are collaboratively summarized in a paper entitled Empowering Early Career Researchers to Improve Science, co-authored by the unconference participants. We hope that this method report will help others to organize asynchronous virtual unconferences, while also providing new strategies for participant-driven activities that could be integrated into conventional virtual conferences.

An evolving approach to unconferencing: Reflections from piloting the HELTASAFEST22 scholarly festival

“…Although, as noted below, we recognise the nature of unconferencing questions notions of academic rigour in traditional conferences, there is little literature that explores the first-hand experiences of unconference organisers (e.g., Holman, et al, 2021) and not within a Southern African context. We aim therefore to contribute our experiences of organising an (un)conferencetype scholarly festival from the perspectives of the Global South, as much of the current literature is from the Global North (Budd, et al, 2015;Greenhill & Wiebrands, 2008;Lampel, et al, 2020).…”

Ten simple rules for implementing open and reproducible research practices after attending a training course

“… While the virtual brainstorming format has been described previously [ 5 , 6 ], this Supporting information provides additional details about the specific event that led to this paper. …”

“…In September 2021, we conducted a virtual brainstorming event with participants of two different five-day robust research courses to find out what transpired after their training. This event format has been described previously [ 5 , 6 ] and is also discussed in the Supporting information ( S1 Text ). The courses that event participants had completed were run between 2018 and 2021 and mostly aimed at biomedical researchers [ 7 , 8 ] (see Fig 1 for course content).…”

Ten simple rules for implementing open and reproducible research practices after attending a training course

“…In September 2021, we conducted a virtual brainstorming event with participants of two different five-day robust research courses to find out what transpired after their training. This event format has been described previously [5,6] and is also discussed in the Supporting information (S1 Text). The courses that event participants had completed were run between 2018 and 2021 and mostly aimed at biomedical researchers [7,8]…”

“…Methodological details of the virtual brainstorming event. While the virtual brainstorming format has been described previously [5,6], this Supporting information provides additional details about the specific event that led to this paper.…”