Conferences

Abstract

I don't like going to conferences, mostly because I'm a nervous traveler. After standing in airport lines, chasing meals, and sleeping poorly, I usually come home from a several-day event somewhat disoriented. But the stress surrounding travel is usually worth it because most of the conferences I attend are excellent. And while the technical presentations can be useful and interesting, it's the networking that promotes professional growth and creates important friendships. Before COVID-19, conferences were all about making new connections, running into old friends, and being physically surrounded by colleagues, clients, and vendors—everyone there to give a presentation, hear an expert's talk, or ask around for opinions. When you're physically present, it feels like you can more easily identify the experts and find the solutions you need. Every part of this ultimately guides collective improvement because the lessons learned from large conferences are taken home and spread to neighboring communities as ideas pass between local and regional colleagues. Unfortunately, the best aspects of a conference are also the exact reasons we can't have them—large face-to-face gatherings may promote the sharing of good ideas, but we're also trying to not spread a deadly virus. While in-person opportunities may begin to come back in 2021 (I hope to see you at ACE21 in San Diego), consider making provisional space for yourself and your staff to stay connected through virtual conferences as much as possible. Although more screen time is the last thing we typically want, you can start by enjoying the fact that you don't need to go to an airport, you get to sleep in your own bed, and you can make your own coffee. Added benefits of virtual conferences include savings on travel and the fact that many events are recorded for on-demand viewing—together, this means more water professionals can attend. Smaller organizations that might not normally budget for travel to large events now have the same opportunity to hear about practical approaches and voice their experiences and boundary conditions. Water professionals from across the globe can truly come together to exchange ideas. And for the many who need certification or education credits, virtual conferences provide the answer. Whether it's in person, online, or both, water professionals must do their best to stay connected. Make sure young professionals in your organization participate. Go into events with specific goals, email questions to presenters, and make sure your organization's attendees share what they learned. While in-person connections are limited for the time being, it's up to all of us to keep the flame alive by attending and promoting online events and training in the water industry. This month's Journal AWWA features articles on water reuse, pandemic planning, and utility optimization, all topics you will be guaranteed to find in a virtual conference. If you are interested in submitting an article, contact me at journaleditor@awwa.org.