Going beyond the “old normal” for a sustainable future in science

Webinar by Vanessa Moss (CSIRO Space & Astronomy, Australia)
Thursday, 12th October 2023, 13:00 CEST

Abstract Looking to the future can tell us a lot about the limitations of today. “The Future of Meetings” (TFOM) began as a symposium dedicated to exploring the future of interaction in 2020, framed around key themes of accessibility, inclusivity, sustainability and technology and with its roots in the astronomy community. Throughout our work in TFOM, it has been clear that the standard meeting practices taken for granted as a given in astronomy (and science) have long been inaccessible for many, creating a “normal” that is both exclusive and unsustainable. Conversely, the rapid advances in effective online means of communicating and collaborating open up a wealth of new possibilities for redefining what is required to succeed in astronomy, from the ground up. In this talk, I will outline the lessons learned from and core recommendations of TFOM, based on our ongoing work as an active community of practice. In the wake of pandemic disruption, we have a unique chance to rewrite the fabric of collaboration within our field and beyond, in order to design a better normal for today, tomorrow and the future. By doing so, we can set a leading example for science, academia and society as a whole, maximising inclusivity while minimising environmental harm at a critical turning point for our long-term survival as a species.