A show of hands: Does anyone else feel a bit conflicted about virtual work? On one hand, I love that my home is close to my yoga studio, and I can finally make their 5:15 pm classes. But I do miss connecting with my colleagues daily in a physical office. And now that I am in the role of mentor at my organization, I see how the lack of daily interaction can hinder the development and "visibility" of my younger employees. That’s why industry events like CESSE’s ACCESSE Conference are more important than ever.
I attended my first ACCESSE in 2023 in Detroit, MI. While initially, I thought my excitement was from attending my first post-pandemic industry event, I quickly realized my excitement was an immediate sense of belonging and feeling understood by my peers in attendance. I've attended other association-focused events but being amongst the scientific community [at ACCESSE] felt different. They understood the challenges of running an international organization, the challenges of running a large organization, and the challenges of non-commerciality in an increasingly commercial world. The list goes on.
