SIGCOMM Community Conferences Survey

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As availability of vaccines begins to change the COVID-19 situation, the SIGCOMM Executive Committee is exploring how it can best support events with some return to in-person activities. The EC recognizes that we have learned a lot over the past year about what is possible to do virtually, that virtual conferences can lower barriers for participation, reduce impact on the environment, and that some in our community face permanent disruptions and changes which may be better served by virtual events. On the other hand, conferences are about creating opportunities for participants to share their ideas and projects, get feedback, reach to underrepresented communities, and promote a culture of education and diversity. Remote conferences may not be as effective as in-person on the points above.

To help us plan for the next few years, it would be very helpful to us if you can fill out this survey, to help us ensure we take actions that are in best support of the community. This form does not record your identity and all your answers will be completely confidential.

QUESTION 1: What form of attendance would you prefer for our community conferences (e.g. SIGCOMM, IMC, CoNEXT) in 2022?

I prefer they should be organized as in-person events, held in a single location

I prefer they should be organized as in-person events, held in a single location, but there should be an option to attend remotely

I prefer they should be organized as in-person events in multiple locations (e.g., near major cities in multiple countries) to minimize travel, while allowing people to meet in person

I prefer they should be organized in multiple locations, with also an option to attend remotely

I prefer they should be organized entirely virtually/online

Clear selection

QUESTION 2: What sort of safety policies or situations would enable to you to attend conferences in person?

I already feel comfortable to attend in-person, no particular policies are needed

If conferences required all in-person participants to have a negative covid test of some sort (e.g., within 48 hours), I would feel comfortable to attend

If conferences required all in-person participants to be vaccinated, I would feel comfortable to attend

I feel that both vaccinations and some form of testing would be needed for me to feel comfortable to attend

Requiring vaccinations or testing of attendees would not be sufficient, I would need COVID to either be eradicated or to have a very substantial reduction in spread in addition, for me to attend in-person events

I don't plan to attend, or otherwise hope to avoid in-person events regardless of the COVID situation

Clear selection

QUESTION 3: Before COVID, how often did you attend in-person conferences?

Less than once a year

About once a year

2-3 times a year

3 or more times a year

Clear selection

QUESTION 4: Longer-term, what do you expect for your in-person event attendance?

I would probably return to my normal rate of in-person attendance

I would probably attend in-person conferences even more

I would probably attend in-person conferences a bit less

I would substantially decrease my rate of in-person attendance

Clear selection

QUESTION 5: If COVID were to be completely eradicated, how would the existence of a "remote participation" option for conferences affect your attendance? Please check all that apply.

I would continue to attend in-person; remote options don't make a difference for me.

I would switch from in-person to remote attendance (e.g., because remote attendance is more convenient for me)

I would attend more events (e.g., because remote attendance makes it possible for me to attend more events)

None of these options apply to me

Clear selection

QUESTION 6: The SIG is considering making all conferences' TPCs virtual, with the motivation to reduce carbon footprint, allowing committees to be more geographically spread, etc. In other words, future TPC meetings would be held online (e.g., on zoom, meet or team), instead of in-person. Would you support such a decision?

Yes

Yes for most, but not as an across-the-board policy

Unsure/no opinion

Clear selection

QUESTION 7: (Optional) SIGCOMM thrives on diversity and we want to be on a continual lookout for situations that adversely affect underrepresented portions of our community. Your answer to this question may help us do this more effectively (check all that apply):

I consider myself a member of an underrepresented group (gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, education, age, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, disability, or other unique characteristics),

My financial or personal situation faces constraints that would make ordinary travel/registration charges/efforts of in-person events a nontrivial cost/burden for me.

I live in a geographic region that I believe is currently underrepresented in the Sigcomm community

My family circumstances make travel to conferences challenging.

None of these options apply to me

QUESTION 8: (Optional) Would you mind sharing with us what region/country you are located in?

QUESTION 9: Given what we've learned during COVID, it may make sense to make some changes to in-person conferences. What changes would you like to see to future in-person events?

QUESTION 10: Virtual/online events have been maturing, but still have some shortcomings. If Virtual/hybrid events are offered, what sorts of improvements would you like to see in them?

QUESTION 11: We thank you very much for providing us feedback. We will carefully read and consider all your feedback. Do you have any other comments for us (on this, or any other topic)?

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