The landscape of scholarly conferences and societies is undergoing a transformative evolution in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. In a ground-breaking research endeavor, Ithaka S+R, in collaboration with JSTOR Labs, has unveiled an insightful report titled "Of Meetings and Members: The Interconnected Future of Conferences and Scholarly Societies." This comprehensive study, funded by the Alfred Sloan Foundation, delves into the intricate relationship between conferences, scholarly societies, and their convergence in the post-pandemic era.
The research report, a culmination of conversations with 17 scholarly societies representing both STEM and humanities/social sciences fields, provides valuable insights into the future trajectory of scholarly meetings. The societies examined the dynamics of conferences - virtual, in-person, and hybrid events - against the backdrop of their experiences navigating the pandemic and the subsequent period. These discussions were intrinsically linked to the broader prospects of the societies, encompassing membership dynamics and financial sustainability.
The Alfred Sloan Foundation's funding enabled Ithaka S+R to delve deep into the metamorphosis experienced by scholarly societies and their flagship events. The findings offer an array of considerations, unveiling key insights into the future of conferences and the societies that host them.
Throughout the pandemic, the landscape of conferences underwent a seismic shift, prompting societies to reimagine their events in a virtual or hybrid format. The study underscores how these choices transcend immediate logistics, directly influencing the future roles, financial stability, and membership landscape of scholarly societies.
While the research acknowledges that the objectives and decisions of entities like the Coalition for Networked Information (CNI) may diverge from those of scholarly societies, it recognizes the significance of studying both trajectories for a holistic understanding of the evolving landscape.
For organizations and stakeholders keen to glean a nuanced perspective on the intertwined destinies of scholarly societies and conferences, the report provides a roadmap for navigating the dynamic terrain of post-pandemic scholarly engagement.
As the scholarly community continues to adapt and chart new paths forward, Ithaka S+R's pioneering research serves as a guiding beacon, illuminating the transformative journey towards an interconnected future for conferences and the societies that fuel them.
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