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This is a guest post by Jennifer Gibson, Associate of TBI Communications
It was great to be back in Boston, especially as I joined fellow conference attendees in exploring the newly developed Seaport area. Mingling over meals, coffee, and drinks with colleagues in this lively district made the event even more memorable. Here are some key moments from my time at the meeting.
With over 1,000 attendees, this was the largest SSP meeting I have ever attended, significantly outnumbering last year’s conference in Portland, which had around 600 participants.
The conference was very well organised. Posters and exhibits were conveniently located near the meeting rooms, and served as central hubs for meals and drinks receptions which gave lots of opportunities for networking with colleagues.
A Focus on Research Integrity
Wednesday’s industry breakout sessions were particularly well-attended. I joined a session on supporting research integrity through enhanced metadata collection in XML, presented by Kyriadocs. The session was so popular that it was standing room only, reflecting the keen interest in this crucial topic.
Innovative Models in Action
Innovation was a recurring theme throughout the conference, and there were two sessions that I attended which really illustrated this. The first session explored the technologies supporting the publish-curate-review model. We heard from eLife and Coko, and a researcher from Johns Hopkins associated with the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Research Compendium (NCRC) – a platform that empowered researchers to review preprints independently. The second session delved into innovative approaches in journal management, including strategies for engaging editorial boards. The discussions emphasised breaking away from traditional norms and adopting more flexible approaches.
Looking Forward
In the session titled “The Diminishing Importance of the Article: An Overview of the Emerging Modular, Multi-Modal Research Landscape,” I was inspired by the community’s growing interest in exploring fundamental changes in the way we publish research. This session highlighted a collective enthusiasm for rethinking traditional models and embracing new, more flexible approaches.
Community and Support
The discussions on innovation showed a strong desire within our community to evolve and adapt. This spirit of community and mutual support was highlighted during Randy Townsend’s speech, as he handed over the SSP presidency to Heather Staines. Randy highlighted the importance of supporting one another as human beings, a sentiment that really resonated with me.
As I reflect on the sessions and conversations from this year’s meeting, I’m excited by the appetite for both innovation and collaboration. Here’s to another year of progress in the world of research communications!
