Internet conferences in glycobiology

Area of Science:

• Glycobiology
• Computational Biology
• Scientific Communication

Background:

• The need for alternative scientific meeting formats.
• Exploring the potential of the internet for academic conferences.
• Previous experiences with electronic scientific gatherings.

Framework:

• Development of a virtual conferencing environment.
• Replication of traditional conference activities online.
• Integration of unique features specific to the electronic medium.

Implementation:

• Organization and execution of the Second Electronic Glycoscience Conference (EGC-2) in September 1996.
• Utilizing the Internet and World Wide Web for the conference.
• Presentation and discussion of scientific research results in a virtual setting.

Implications:

• Demonstrated feasibility of large-scale virtual scientific conferences.
• Highlighted advancements in online collaboration tools for researchers.
• Paved the way for future electronic scientific meetings, such as EGC-3.