Boycotting American Conferences

[Hibush]

Organizers of US academic conferences are well aware that there is likely to be little international participation this year. A lot of domestic prospects will have their travel authorizations cancelled due to funding uncertainty, which will reduce participation as well.

[MarathonRunner]

CAUT is advising Canadian university instructors to avoid travel to the U.S. unless essential https://www.caut.ca/latest/2025/04/caut-advises-academics-against-non-essential-travel-us

[Kron3007]

CAUT is advising Canadian university instructors to avoid travel to the U.S. unless essential https://www.caut.ca/latest/2025/04/caut-advises-academics-against-non-essential-travel-us

Yeah, our school is now offering loaner computers for faculty travelling to the USA in case we don't want to bring our computer with our data along.

Strange times.

[MarathonRunner]

CAUT is advising Canadian university instructors to avoid travel to the U.S. unless essential https://www.caut.ca/latest/2025/04/caut-advises-academics-against-non-essential-travel-us

Yeah, our school is now offering loaner computers for faculty travelling to the USA in case we don't want to bring our computer with our data along.

Strange times.

Yes, our university sent us the CAUT message and provided us with resources if we absolutely HAVE to travel to the USA, this week. Thankfully plenty of Canadian and EU/UK conferences in my field that are on par with U.S. conferences. Our university also sent out guidelines on procurement, and we are now to prioritize Canadian companies when procuring pretty much anything, with the USA as the last resort if we can't procure something from Canada, the EU, UK, Aus, or anywhere that is not the USA. Never would have thought it would come to this!

[Kron3007]

CAUT is advising Canadian university instructors to avoid travel to the U.S. unless essential https://www.caut.ca/latest/2025/04/caut-advises-academics-against-non-essential-travel-us

Yeah, our school is now offering loaner computers for faculty travelling to the USA in case we don't want to bring our computer with our data along.

Strange times.

Yes, our university sent us the CAUT message and provided us with resources if we absolutely HAVE to travel to the USA, this week. Thankfully plenty of Canadian and EU/UK conferences in my field that are on par with U.S. conferences. Our university also sent out guidelines on procurement, and we are now to prioritize Canadian companies when procuring pretty much anything, with the USA as the last resort if we can't procure something from Canada, the EU, UK, Aus, or anywhere that is not the USA. Never would have thought it would come to this!

Yeah, it's wild. 

For me, my annual conference in America is probably the best for, but there are still plenty of good options in Canada, Europe, and elsewhere.  In fact, it is probably good for me to skip so that I can network with new people more.

If I really want, I can register for the virtual version of the US conference.  At least this way I don't in have to travel there but I get to see some of the talks that are of interest.

[pgher]

I'm in the US and on a conference organizing committee. The conference isn't until next spring, but abstracts are due in July, so people need to decide soon-ish if they will travel here next year. I have a lot of concerns. I certainly don't blame anyone for staying away, and absolutely don't blame those traveling from places where visas are needed in advance and may be extremely difficult to get. We will likely have strong US participation, but typically 1/3 or more of the participants are international (China, Europe, Canada mainly).

[Kron3007]

I'm in the US and on a conference organizing committee. The conference isn't until next spring, but abstracts are due in July, so people need to decide soon-ish if they will travel here next year. I have a lot of concerns. I certainly don't blame anyone for staying away, and absolutely don't blame those traveling from places where visas are needed in advance and may be extremely difficult to get. We will likely have strong US participation, but typically 1/3 or more of the participants are international (China, Europe, Canada mainly).

For me, this could end up being a permanent reorientation, and I would definitely not be signing up for a conference next spring. 

If I find a comparable conference in Europe, I may just continue with that instead.  America has always been convenient for me, but it has not really led to real collaborations or anything.  Maybe Europe will be better in the end. Also, more interesting locations for conferences to me (I've traveled a lot in the US already).

America was convenient,

[spork]

I am spending my conference funding in the UK this year. I stand with Canada, even though I'm south of the border. I've also let my memberships in U.S. professional associations lapse.

[Kron3007]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/conference-us-travel-1.7531255


Seemed close enough I this topic, so I am sharing here rather than a new thread. 

The issue I see with this is that a lot of American scholars are not American born and are anxious about international travel as well (for good reason).  My sister is American by marriage and living down there.  She is planning a trip to visit home, and she is quite nervous about the whole thing even though she is completely legal and should set off any alarm bells (ie is a CIS white woman).

[MarathonRunner]

One group in our department that annually goes to the big US conference in their field have chosen to go to the big European conference in their field this fall. They even mentioned that Spain is much nicer to visit then Illinois, while that not being their primary motivation.

[Kron3007]

One group in our department that annually goes to the big US conference in their field have chosen to go to the big European conference in their field this fall. They even mentioned that Spain is much nicer to visit then Illinois, while that not being their primary motivation.

Similar to my group.  We generally attend the conference I started the post about, but this year we kept to Canadian conferences.  I am also speaking at one European conference virtually.  Next year, I will probably encourage my group to stay in Canada again and/or look to Europe.

I agree though, going to a conference in Europe is more appealing than where my normal conference usually is in the US. More importantly, my students are much less interested in networking in the US now.