scholarly journals Sustainable Science? Reducing the Carbon Impact of Scientific Mega-Meetings

2011 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 65-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra G. Ponette-González ◽  
Jarrett E. Byrnes
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Footprint ◽  
Selection Process ◽  
Air Travel ◽  
Scientific Society ◽  
Location Selection ◽  
Ecological Society ◽  
Scientific Meetings ◽  
Combat Climate Change ◽  
Business As Usual ◽  
Alternative Solutions

Scientists across the globe recognize the importance of reducing carbon emissions to combat climate change.  At the same time, we have increased our carbon footprint through air travel to the growing number of scientific society “mega-meetings” that host thousands of attendees.  Although alternative solutions have been proposed to reduce the environmental impact of annual conferences, these have yet to be evaluated against the business-as-usual scenario.  Here, we use 9 years of annual meeting attendance data from the Ecological Society of America and the Association of American Geographers to assess the efficacy of two additional solutions: 1) alternate large national meetings that require significant air travel with smaller regional meetings that do not; and 2) incorporate geography into the meeting location selection process.  The carbon footprint of annual mega-meetings ranged 3-fold, from 1196-4062 metric tons of CO2.  Results indicate that an alternating schedule of national and regional meetings can reduce conference-related CO2 emissions up to 73%, while improved spatial planning may result in further reductions.  We discuss the benefits and tradeoffs of proposals to green scientific meetings, with a view to spark further debate on how to increase the sustainability of scientific conferences.

The carbon footprint of a scientific community: A survey of the historians of mobility and their normalized yet abundant reliance on air travel

2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 121-141
Author(s):  
Arnaud Passalacqua
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Footprint ◽  
Social Factors ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Strong Dependence ◽  
Air Travel ◽  
Moral Problem ◽  
Annual Conference ◽  
Academic Networks ◽  
Main Association ◽  
Alternative Solutions

This paper presents a survey conducted among the community of transport historians, on the occasion of the annual conference of the main association in this field, T2M. The survey collected quantitative and qualitative data on air travel by these scholars during 2019. The paper discusses the weight of social factors (gender, academic position, age) in the carbon footprint of these researchers due to flying. It shows the strong dependence of this community on flying, perceived as the only system likely to meet the need for physical encounters, particularly for conferences and the life of academic networks. It also shows that these historians see the issue of the airplane as a moral problem for which their institutions are expected to propose solutions. However, the scale of the weight of long-haul flights seems to be underestimated by the scholars' perception, while it raises questions about the ability to find alternative solutions.

scholarly journals There is a silver lining: carbon footprint reduction by holding Preventive Cardiology conference 2020 virtually

2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
T Batool ◽  
A Neven ◽  
Y Vanrompay ◽  
M Adnan ◽  
P Dendale
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Co2 Emissions ◽  
Carbon Footprint ◽  
Carbon Emission ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Air Travel ◽  
Co2 Production ◽  
Scientific Conference ◽  
Preventive Cardiology ◽  
Transport Modes

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Other. Main funding source(s): Special Research Fund (BOF), Hasselt University Introduction The transportation sector is one of the major sectors influencing climate change, contributing around 16% of total Greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions. Aviation contributes to 12% of the transport related emissions. Among other climate change impacts, elevated heat exposure is associated with increased cardiac events and exposure to air pollution caused by GHG emissions has also well-known association with increased cardiovascular related morbidity and mortality. The global temperature rise should be restricted to less than 2 °C which requires keeping carbon emission (CO2) less than 2900 billion tonnes by the end of the 21st century. Assuming air travel a major contributing source to GHG, this study aims to raise the awareness about potential carbon emissions reduction due to air travel of international events like a scientific conference. Purpose Due to the global pandemic of COVID-19, the Preventive cardiology conference 2020 which was planned to be held at Malaga Spain, instead was held in virtual online way. This study aims to calculate the contribution of reduced CO2  emissions in tons due to ESC preventive cardiology conference 2020, which was then held online and air travel of the registered participants was avoided. Methods Anonymized participant registration information was used to determine the country and city of the 949 registered participants of the Preventive Cardiology conference 2020. It is assumed that participants would have travelled from the closest airports from their reported city locations to Malaga airport, Spain. At first, the closest city airports were determined using Google maps and flights information, then the flight emissions (direct and indirect CO2-equivalent emissions) per passenger for the given flight distances were calculated. The CO2 emissions (tons) were calculated for round trips in economy class from the participants of 68 nationalities (excluding 60 participants from Spain as they are assumed to take other modes of transport than airplane). Results In total, 1156.51 tons of CO2  emissions were saved by turning the physical conference into a virtual event. This emission amount is equivalent to the annual CO2 production of 108 people living in high-income countries. Conclusion The pandemic situation has forced us to rethink the necessity of trips by air and has shown us the feasibility of digitally organized events. The information from this study can add to the awareness about reduced amount of carbon emission due to air travel by organizing events in a virtual way when possible. Apart from only digitally organized events there are others options to reduce the carbon footprint of conferences such as limiting the number of physical attendees, encouraging the use of relatively sustainable transport modes for participants from nearby countries (e.g. international trains and use of active transport modes at conference venue etc.) and including CO2 emission offsetting costs.

Determining criteria interaction and criteria priorities in the freight village location selection process: the experts' perspective in Turkey

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehmet Pekkaya ◽  
Nuh Keleş
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Selection Process ◽  
Transportation Cost ◽  
Social Dimensions ◽  
Labor Costs ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Location Selection ◽  
Interaction Diagram ◽  
Market Opportunities ◽  
Trade Potential

PurposeConsidering the contribution of freight villages (FVs) to the economy and sector, transportation cost advantage, environmental externalities, labor costs, employment, etc. criteria evaluation is important in selecting FV location. Environmental sustainability and social dimensions are becoming important criteria for companies in logistics. The purpose of the study is to determine/model the criteria interaction and also determine the criteria priorities in the FV location selection process. Meanwhile, the study aims to evaluate these criteria and present information to researchers and decision makers.Design/methodology/approachSix main criteria and 29 sub-criteria are selected from related literature. Decision making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) method is used for determining/modeling the criteria interaction and sketching interaction diagram, and the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method is used for determining the criteria priorities. One/two-way pairwise compared main/sub-criteria views are obtained from 48 experts for calculations.Findings“Trade potential”, “transportation networks” and “economic factors” have the highest priorities, respectively, out of six main criteria, and they have the most powerful interactions that put these criteria to the center of decision process. Sub-criteria of “foreign trade potential”, “proximity to the port”, “market opportunities” and “proximity to the railway” out of 29 have a total 36.42% priority, more than one-third of the importance.Originality/valueCriteria are evaluated in FV location selection for FV sustainability using criteria interaction diagrams, affecting/being affected by the level of each criterion and their priorities. This study shows a hybrid derivation from DEMATEL-AHP usage methods together. High-volumed and qualified/experienced expert group judgments in Turkey are evaluated.

scholarly journals Carbon footprint of air travel to international radiology conferences: FOMO?

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (11) ◽  
pp. 6293-6294
Author(s):  
Derya Yakar ◽  
Thomas C. Kwee
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Footprint ◽  
Air Travel

scholarly journals Chapter Two - Growth and professionalisation: towards a national, professional and scientific society

2009 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 19
Author(s):  
Sarah Rood ◽  
Katherine Sheedy
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Society ◽  
Australian Society ◽  
Changing Roles ◽  
Scientific Meetings

Immediately after its establishment, the Australian Society for Microbiology began to thrive. The founders of the ASM had been correct in their assessment of the need for the Society. By the second decade of its existence, membership numbers had swelled to over 1200. The services it provided for members had also diversified as the Society consolidated and became a strong voice of microbiology in Australia. Not only did the number of members grow, but the Scientific Meetings became more frequent and attracted international speakers, the committees on which the ASM was asked to be represented became more numerous, and the activities in which the Society was involved continued to grow. The needs of members also began to change. It soon became clear that the structure of the ASM needed be addressed so that the Society could adapt to the changing roles it was being called upon to play.

Applying Fuzzy Data Mining to Tourism Area

2011 ◽  
pp. 563-584 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. A. Carrasco ◽  
F. Araque ◽  
A. Salguero ◽  
M. A. Vila
Keyword(s):  
Data Mining ◽  
Data Warehouse ◽  
Selection Process ◽  
Fuzzy Data ◽  
Competitive Sport ◽  
Location Selection ◽  
Number Of Factors ◽  
Complex Decision Making ◽  
Complex Decision

Soaring is a recreational activity and a competitive sport where individuals fly un-powered aircrafts known as gliders. The soaring location selection process depends on a number of factors, resulting in a complex decision-making task. In this chapter, we propose the use of an extension of the FSQL language for fuzzy queries as one of the techniques of data mining that can be used to solve the problem of offering a better place for soaring given the environmental conditions and customer characteristics. The FSQL language is an extension of the SQL language that permits us to write flexible conditions in our queries to a fuzzy or traditional database. After doing a process of clustering and characterization of a large customer database in a data warehouse, we are able of classify the next clients in a cluster and offer an answer according to it.

Business as Usual - Transactions Violating Rhodesian Sanctions

1973 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 7-17
Author(s):  
Stephen Park ◽  
Anthony Lake
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
South Africa ◽  
The United States ◽  
Air Travel ◽  
Pan American ◽  
Southern Rhodesia ◽  
Business As Usual

Travel to many parts of Africa is a complicated undertaking — visas and shots, tickets … delays. A trip to Southern Rhodesia, however, is a breeze. No visa is required, just one or two innoculations, a passport and a confirmed onward reservation. Air travel reservations? Drop by a Pan American ticket counter anywhere in the United States and in seconds the computer will confirm space for you on an Air Rhodesia flight from Johannesburg, South Africa to the Rhodesian capital of Salisbury. It is all very convenient. The trouble is that when Pan Am, TWA, and perhaps other American carriers help make the going great, they apparently do it illegally.

Optimization Model for Fire Station Location Based on GIS and Python: A Case Study in North Cyprus

2013 ◽  
Vol 330 ◽  
pp. 1059-1064 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahdi Kazemi ◽  
Mehmet M. Kunt ◽  
Iman Aghayan ◽  
Reza Jalali Larijani
Keyword(s):  
Selection Process ◽  
Service Area ◽  
Location Selection ◽  
Fire Station ◽  
Service Areas ◽  
Fire Stations ◽  
Python Programming ◽  
Station Location ◽  
Service Location

In this paper, the location selection process related to fire stations in Famagusta city is enhanced by applying Quantum Geographic Information Systems (QGIS) and Python programming language. This procedure leads to obtaining the optimum emergency service location based on the minimization of response time. This study aims to commence service coverage modeling in a consistent demand region, with road availability considerations. In addition, this study focuses on the capability of GIS to create service areas by means of the travel time regions in a facility location model. Another purpose of this research is to maximize the overall service area of the determined number of facilities and to state the capability of GIS for establishing the suitable service areas of fire stations in Famagusta city so as to achievie a maximal overall service area from a specific fire station facility to other locations. The best location for only one fire station is determined which is placed around the signalized intersection joining Mustafa Kemal Boulevard and Topçular Boulevard in Famagusta (node 230).

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document