Join us in advocating for a change in the way international conference venues are chosen.

The scientific community prides itself on its openness and inclusivity, valuing diverse collaborations from researchers worldwide and actively striving to break down barriers for a global network of knowledge sharing.

Regrettably, major conferences in brain imaging and machine learning are predominantly hosted in North America, with an overwhelming majority concentrated in the western world (e.g., between 75% - 85% of conferences by the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM), Organization for Human Brain Mapping (OHBM), and Association for Computational Linguistics (ACL) were held in Western countries, of which 30% - 60% of the aforementioned conferences were held in North America). This trend is not limited to these fields and can be observed across various other disciplines as well. Read this article in Nature on how one's citizenship impacts their career in geoscience.

This causes many researchers to encounter complex and time-consuming visa procedures, creating significant hurdles that impede their participation in international scientific exchanges. Further to a non-refundable financial investment in these applications, the reality is that some of these researchers encounter the heartbreak of having their visa applications rejected, rendering their efforts in completing the cumbersome procedures in vain. Consequently, many researchers are excluded from these prestigious gatherings solely based on the passport they hold. However, the scientific community thrives on diverse perspectives, which is currently curtailed through the inaccessibility of these meetings.

Let’s join our voices in urging conference organizers to choose venues having these challenges in mind, by:

1. Choosing locations with less restrictive policies; and/or
2. Working closely with local governments to ensure broader international participation.

By taking these actions, we can foster inclusivity and accessibility for all, advancing progress within the global scientific community.

Supported by:

• Patrik Vuilleumier (Professor at the University of Geneva)
• Dimitri Van De Ville (Professor at EPFL and University of Geneva)
• Sujania Talavera-Soza (Author of article in Nature on citizenship affecting geoscientists' carreers)