Online 37^th EGOS Colloquium 2021

Against the background of remaining uncertainties concerning the development of the COVID-19 pandemic and our prioritization of the health and safety of EGOS members and the wider society, the EGOS Executive Board together with the local organizing team have decided to hold the 37^th EGOS Colloquium online. Our joint decision was somewhat easier to make thanks to the positive feedback on the virtual format that had been adopted by the Hamburg EGOS Colloquium organizers in 2020. We are confident that we will be able to organize the academic program in a way that should cater to our needs and wishes in terms of academic content. In addition, our decision aligns with the long-term goal of the EGOS Executive Board for the Colloquium to become more sustainable and inclusive.
 
Thus, the entire program of the 37^th EGOS Colloquium will be held online to ensure inclusive and safe participation for all EGOS members. There will be no offline, physical Colloquium activities, nor will there be facilities for participants at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.

However, we are well aware of the need for, and benefits of, face-to-face encounters. We will therefore schedule time slots in the program that allow for people to meet locally. For example, people from the same university could meet for a (COVID-safe) drinks session, or attend plenary sessions together, as some scholars already did this year.

In addition, if the situation in July 2021 allows, we might explore the possibility to meet in person with those EGOSians who decide, are able, and/or are allowed to travel to Amsterdam closer to the time of the 37^th EGOS Colloquium. This reflects not only our own desire but also the express wish of the EGOSians for face-to-face interaction. However, such possibilities are entirely contingent upon the situation in July 2021, and any local social activities will therefore be organized and announced in early summer 2021.
 
The tremendous efforts by the local organizing team in Hamburg 2020 and the EGOS Executive Board paid off in terms of the positive feedback provided by participants. However, the symbolic Colloquium fee did not cover the costs incurred. Far from it. You may wonder what costs are involved in running a virtual conference, when no food and drinks are provided, no venues need to be booked, and no staff are required for guiding participants on the ground. As was the case in 2020, the EGOS Colloquium 2021 will be run on a professional virtual conference platform for which licensing costs occur. In addition, the local organizing team will need to contract the professional services of a specialized agency, which will design the platform and offer real-time technical support. This is necessary to ensure the smooth and seamless running of the entire Colloquium.
 

We very much look forward to welcoming EGOSians to the 37^th EGOS Colloquium in July 2021 and to keeping up the EGOS spirit in a safe and inclusive space. We thank you for your continuous support of our scholarly community.
Let us have inspiring dialogues about organizing for an inclusive society!
 
The Amsterdam EGOS Colloquium organizing team