CHICAGO (RPT) – A group of the world’s leading psychologists are planning an in-person conference to discuss strategies for promoting social distancing during the COVID19 pandemic. “Everybody knows that all of the world’s biggest problems are solved at academic conferences,” the chair of the conference organizing committee told RPT, “so it is essential that we come together in this challenging time.”
Many psychologists have been at loose ends to figure out how to make their research relevant during the pandemic, and this conference is offering many of them an opportunity to feel like they are making a contribution despite their inability to help in other ways because they lack skills required for volunteering to assist in hospitals and COVID-19 testing facilities. “My colleagues in biology and medicine get to feel useful now volunteering their time to help fight COVID-19. I deserve to feel helpful too,” one psychologist told RPT. Prospective attendees are enthusiastic about this meeting as well; one told an RPT reporter, “I can’t wait for the conference! I heard that they invited Rudy Gobert to be the celebrity guest speaker!”
Because of the unique situation resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, the organizers are carefully considering how to best organize the meeting logistics. One conference organizer told RPT, “Our goal is to have the world’s brightest minds meet face-to-face in a small, enclosed space to brainstorm new and creative solutions for encouraging the general public to avoid congregating face-to-face in small, enclosed spaces.” An RPT reporter asked what type of venue would be booked for the conference. “Well, we’re really committed to communicating science to the public, so we were thinking either a Chick-fil-A or a mall. Wherever we can transmit our knowledge to the greatest number of people.”
