A new poll by the journal Nature has found that a majority of its readers want scientific meetings to remain virtual or at least have a virtual component after the COVID-19 pandemic ends.

Nature surveyed 900 of its readers, who are mostly scientists or science researchers. Seventy-four percent of respondents said scientific meetings should either remain virtual or retain a virtual component, citing the ease of attending from anywhere in the world. However, those same respondents admitted they haven't been able to simulate the networking that takes place during in-person events.

"I do appreciate the realm of possibilities offered by online conferences," wrote one respondent, as reported in Nature. "However, I really miss the opportunity to meet people and to interact with friends and colleagues."

Most associations and professional societies either canceled their 2020 events or moved them online—a trend that has so far continued into 2021. Respondents told Nature they were able to attend more meetings last year because of the switch to a virtual format. That corresponds to reports by associations that they saw increased turnout to virtual events, although that higher turnout didn't necessarily translate into more revenue.

Respondents also cited reduced carbon emissions as another benefit of virtual events. The carbon footprint of in-person events has come under increasing scrutiny given some of the largest can draw thousands of people who use various forms of transportation to arrive at their destinations. Nature cited one study that found the 2019 American Geophysical Union conference generated more than 88,000 U.S. tons of carbon dioxide just in participant travel.

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