Network development activities has been somewhat limited this year, due to the pandemic.
The online ECER was an interesting experience for the network’s presenters and session participants, offering a possibility to try out the format and discover merits and drawbacks with the digital conference alternative. Network meeting attendees concluded that the quality of presentations and discussions had not been much affected by the digital format; they commended the high quality of these and noted a good attendance in the sessions. The sessions further felt participatory as all were encouraged to keep their cameras on. The shorter presentation time requested by the network, in order to offer more opportunity for discussion, was also experienced as being beneficiary for the session overall quality. The social elements of the conference were however highly missed. The valuable informal conversations and networking that take place in breaks, receptions and evenings were difficult to recreate. The available options, such as the Kumo space, could have been better used and some suggestions were made. The submission rate to the network was in line with previous years, but the rejection rate was higher. The network could thereby leave one session each day unscheduled, which reduced the screen time for those wanting to follow the network’s sessions, or opened for visiting other networks without missing out on the network’s sessions.
The network undertook convenor elections this year. Nominations for link-convenor and co-convenors were submitted during April to the appointed election administrator. There were five nominations, the four previous convenors and one new person. The meeting decided to increase the convenor team to five persons, and elected all nominees as convenors.