Online, asynchronous conferences are poised to disrupt the conference industry

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted business and life as usual and led to global shutdowns for travel. Conferences, which are a key part of professional development, were also stunted and many were forced to go online. Excessive online engagement has produced Zoom fatigue. This editorial explores the value of in-person versus online conferences and points out some factors that are key for success. We also introduce the concept of the Global Mini-Conference (GMC) as a regular calendar event tailored to the needs of a specific audience in an open forum.