Environmental consultancy Aqua Enviro, also the host of well-known conferences in the environmental sphere, asks: Are hybrid events here for good?
Combining in-person and virtual participation should be the best of both worlds. Clearly, the major plus is that those with busy schedules or facing company restrictions can attend online, present and participate without the need to travel and can join in from nearly anywhere in the world. It also allows an event to host many attendees without sacrificing quality, engagement and participation. We did learn that there is nothing like seeing people live though…
Aqua Enviro were one of the first in the industry to offer hybrid events last year; it was fantastic to see people face-to face greeting each other again, we overheard one delegate asking another if they could give them a hug. Another really made the most of the hybrid format; attending online before he took the dog to the vet and then arrived in person. We found that we had lots of people participating live from Europe and further abroad but very few from Scotland (all online), reflecting the differing government attitudes to covid restrictions. Let’s hope we’ll have them all again this year.
One of the useful things to come out of the blend of formats is that it makes the chair’s job of asking questions after a talk less seat-of-the-pants; questions from the online audience are visible soon after the speaker makes the point, which means the chair can prioritise or combine these early questions ready to ask as soon as the talk is finished. This gives time for the microphone to make its way to the live audience for the next question, a definite improvement.
For the organisers, they are running and paying for 2 event platforms, but the added level of opportunity for participation should see hybrid events continue to thrive. Aqua Enviro’s next hybrid conference is the European Wastewater Management Conference & Exhibition (EWWM), 12-13th July, Birmingham, the live event will once again be streamed to a virtual audience to offer a fully inclusive experience.
Aqua Enviro are now inviting 1-minute video abstracts from potential speakers who wish to present at this flagship conference. Poster abstracts are also welcomed.
For full event details visit; www.ewwmconference.com or email Frances: frances.woodhead@aquaenviro.co.uk
