During these days of the Covid 19 restrictions, conferences were canceled or in some cases moved to a virtual online format. I have not had any personal experiences with virtual physio conferences yet, but I have participated in a virtual literary festival which I consider to be a similar event.
I've never been to the Hay Festival, which takes place every year in Hay-on-Wye, Wales. I have never really thought about it as it is a huge obligation to make time and money. We all have to prioritize our free time and financial resources, so despite the fact that I am interested in literature, this event was not on my priority list.
But a friend who has been participating for 16 years has sent me a link to the Hay Festival website and asked me to register for this year's virtual festival, which was completely free. So I had nothing to lose: no time outside my loved ones, no boring travel time, no financial expense – I was very committed and signed up for several 45-minute lectures by various authors.
I was watching the conversations while doing different things. sitting in the garden, painting walls and woodwork, washing dishes, having lunch. I had none of my usual conference fatigue caused by having artificial light, breathing stale air, and sitting still for too long. I learned a lot, laughed a little, and generally enjoyed myself. I was happy to make a financial donation, and if the Hay team decides to have a virtual version of next year's festival that may run out of reality, I will most likely sign up for it.
The European Academy of Neurology practically held its annual congress last month.
An article in The Lancet reports that more than 42,000 people took part, while 6,000 people normally take part. The conference was free – I wonder how they were funded. – and as was to be expected, the participants came geographically from a much larger area: as a rule 80% are Europeans, this year only 30%. Interestingly, 30% of this year's participants were in South America, which is a real boost for CPD in this region with low resources.
Less experienced (and less well paid) clinicians also participated in this year with 40% in a higher number than residents or students of neurology.
I very much hope that virtual conferences will stay here; Maybe in changing years, in interlacing with traditional years or simply on another platform that runs alongside the "real thing". Perhaps the days of elite clinicians and researchers, who fly mainly from Europe, the United States and Australia and fly around the world every year to attend several international conferences, are over. Instead, an egalitarian and environmentally friendly approach can spread our intellectual resources further and fairer.
Just like the virtual conference, Physiopedia is committed to making education free for all clinicians around the world.
