Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic's constraints on travel, academics frequently traveled over 150,000 kilometers per person per year for conferences, board meetings, collaborations, fieldwork, seminars, and lectures [1]. It is therefore unsurprising that academic air travel is one of the primary sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for universities. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced a significant shift in how we gather and connect, with massive annual conferences and small society meetings moving online. This transition has presented challenges and opportunities, but it has also highlighted the potential of virtual gatherings to bridge geographical and social divides.