Adjusting to the Reign of Webinars: Viewpoint

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Medical Education
• Virtual Events

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a shift in traditional event organization, impacting scientific conferences.
• The Cerrahpaşa Neuroscience Society's annual conference moved online for the first time in 2021, aiming for international reach.

Purpose of the Study:

• To detail the organizational process of a virtual neuroscience conference.
• To evaluate participant perception and satisfaction with the virtual event.
• To position the student-organized conference within existing literature.

Main Methods:

• Virtual conference standards were implemented for planning and execution.
• Promotion targeted medical schools globally.
• Participant feedback was gathered using Google Forms.

Main Results:

• 2195 registrations were received, with 299 participants earning certificates.
• Overall event quality received an average rating of 4.6/5.
• Statistical analysis of Likert scale responses and qualitative analysis of open-ended feedback were performed.

Conclusions:

• The virtual Cerrahpaşa Neuroscience Days demonstrated successful organization and positive participant reception.
• The experience gained will inform the planning of future scientific events.
• This study contributes to understanding the efficacy of virtual scientific conferences.