Our virtual science life
It has been one year since coronavirus has started and affected our life. Many things have changed in all parts of our being and the research area has been changed as well. We started to behave a little bit differently. On one hand, we are not able to move laboratory equipment and instruments home and our presence is still essential but most of other tasks could be accomplished in home office when we are connected together virtually. Yes, this is the word describing this time period – VIRTUALLY. The time we spend in front of a screen has enormously increased and the microphone and webcam are undoubtedly our new work essentials. But, what about our science community, the conferences, sharing of knowledge, meeting new people? Is it alive?
Yes, partially, I would say and we had to learn how to handle that. From the beginning of autumn last year, conference organizers have accepted the challenge and have started to make them VIRTUALLY. Ehm? Yes, true. We have taken a part in several conferences with our lectures already. So how is such a virtual conference going? Mostly, we have received a link and connect ourselves to a virtual room, nothing extraordinary. When you are a listener, the position is similar to real conference but one advantage appeared. You can refresh your mind whenever you want which helps you to be concentrated for longer time. However, what is completely different is a lecturer position. You sit in empty room with your microphone and for 20 min you are trying to do your best in front of static and deaf laptop believing that someone hears you. From my personal point of view, my nervousness from the audience is significantly lower, but I had to learn how to fight with the empty room feeling during the presentation. No eye to eye interaction. This could be even multiplied by possible technical errors. Yes, it also has happened to me. At the last conference, my audience could not see my shared, as indicated on my screen, presentation. But luckily during one minute, I set it correctly and my audience could see my slides. It frustrated me and I totally lost my focus on the topic. Luckily, after several slides, I was back on track. So, presenting is sometimes little inscrutably. However, the most limiting thing is absence of networking, making new personal contacts with conference participants, when we cannot discuss the presented topic in detail, establish new cooperation or get new knowledge. This is not possible to do virtually.
We wish you strong health and see you soon personally!