At a time when scientific knowledge circulates instantly online, one might assume that conferences have lost their relevance. In reality, the opposite is true: conferences have become powerful catalysts, capable of amplifying the dissemination of ideas, broadening communities, and transforming how knowledge circulates.
Amplifying and Enriching Scientific Dissemination
Conferences do not merely repeat what is already available online; they significantly increase the real-world impact of scientific research. A study of 25 computer science conferences¹ shows that simply presenting a paper at a conference increases its likelihood of being cited within the following two years by more than 60%. Even more striking, “neighbouring” papers within the same session benefit from a spillover effect that can exceed 100%.
This impact is driven by two complementary mechanisms:
Intentional visibility: a researcher encounters a paper they were already aware of, but gains deeper insight through the live presentation.
Serendipitous discovery: by attending a session, a researcher is exposed to work they would not have sought out independently, and later integrates it into their own research.
In this way, conferences do more than accelerate dissemination: they expand the collective field of vision of a community and foster unexpected yet intellectually rewarding connections.
SPIN 2025 Congress | Photo credit: K.I.T. Group France
Broadening Communities: Diversity, Equity, and Access
Virtual and hybrid editions did more than sustain activity during the pandemic: they opened up scientific communities.
A multi-conference analysis published in Nature Sustainability concludes that moving online increases attendance and geographic, gender, and career-stage diversity, largely due to lower costs and reduced personal constraints. The authors nevertheless recommend further investment in networking tools and virtual poster sessions to sustain these gains over time.
At major physics and astronomy conferences, participation from less research-intensive institutions rose sharply in virtual formats (e.g. +72% from “Primarily Undergraduate Institutions” and +106% from “R2” universities in the study).
For this reason, it is strongly recommended to retain digital “access” components—such as streaming passes, post-conference replays, and connectivity grants—even when events return primarily to in-person formats, in order to avoid closing the door to these newly reached audiences.
In terms of scale, the ecosystem has largely rebounded. More than 11,000 ICCA (International Congress and Convention Association)–eligible association conferences were recorded in 2024. While 2019 levels have not yet been fully reached everywhere, the upward trajectory is clear. Country and city rankings are regaining momentum, and competition between destinations and formats is intensifying.
Organisers that successfully combine a strong on-site experience with intelligent digital access are capturing demand most effectively. At the most recent Annual Meeting of the SFGG (French Society of Geriatrics and Gerontology), nearly one quarter of participants attended digitally, significantly extending the event’s impact across its ecosystem.
The data are unequivocal: moving to a fully virtual format reduces a conference’s carbon footprint by around 94% and energy demand by 90%.
Hybrid multi-hub configurations (with at least 50% of participants on site and the remainder online) reduce emissions by roughly two-thirds, offering a strong compromise between interaction and climate impact. Complementary levers—such as vegetarian catering options and more efficient digital infrastructure—also play a meaningful role.
Designing events around a carbon budget and hub-based scenarios (for example, one European hub, one in the Americas, and one in Asia-Pacific) helps bring most participants closer to their place of residence, while using digital tools to extend reach. This approach has proven both effective and relevant.
Serendipitous encounters: conferences generate adjacent exchanges and discoveries that translate into additional citations—outcomes that are difficult to replicate through query-driven algorithms.
Team and community formation: recent comparative analyses show differentiated strengths by format (in-person: team formation and cohesion; virtual: openness and broad engagement). Blending modalities maximises collective outcomes.
Validation and maturation: in-room exchanges (Q&A sessions, peer feedback) refine ideas and accelerate adoption, a key mechanism frequently cited to explain the “conference effect” on dissemination.
SPIN 2025 Congress | Photo credit: K.I.T. Group France
Programme by “ecosystems” rather than rigid sub-disciplines: short sessions, closely related themes, and intentional bridges between communities to stimulate the serendipity observed in studies.
Thoughtful hybridisation: define a carbon footprint target from the outset, select a multi-hub model, and design digital reach (recordings, VOD, forums).
Expanded access: maintain low-cost online passes and connectivity grants to consolidate the inclusion gains observed in virtual formats (gender, geography, early-career researchers).
Impact measurement: track post-conference indicators beyond satisfaction, such as replay viewing rates, cross-session co-citations, and collaborations initiated during the event.
Distinctive on-site experiences: labs, masterclasses, author interactions (poster walks, meet-the-expert sessions), technical visits, and satellite events with partners—formats that cannot be replicated on screen and justify travel.
Protect in-person networking time: breaks and social events (welcome receptions, gala dinners) are critical moments for meaningful exchanges and connections.
Conferences are far more than simple “meeting places”: they actively orchestrate the circulation of ideas, whereas platforms primarily distribute content on demand. By optimising programming, embracing low-carbon hybrid models, and investing in broader access, our industry can align scientific impact, sustainability, and growth.
Sources: Nature Sustainability, arXiv, ICCA
