Declining Attendance at Major Science Conferences
Attendance at major science conferences in the U.S. has taken a hit in recent years. Many researchers are finding it harder to travel, partly due to changes in visa policies under former President Donald Trump’s administration. Some scientists are feeling discouraged and opting not to attend.
Take the recent NeurIPS AI conference, held in San Diego. This year, for the first time, it also offered an alternative location in Mexico City. The aim? To ease travel issues for international researchers. Similarly, a group in Europe launched EurIPS in Copenhagen for those who felt left out.
Attendance Trends
A recent survey by Nature looked into six major conferences scheduled for late 2025 and early 2026. Half of these events reported lower expected attendance compared to the previous year. For instance, the Society for Neuroscience saw a drop from 22,359 attendees in 2024 to 21,093 in 2025. The number of countries represented also declined from 88 to 73.
The American Geophysical Union (AGU) conference, another big event, is also experiencing a dip. Last year over 30,000 attended, but only about 20,000 registered this year. Organizers noticed fewer crowds in the exhibit halls, indicating that interest is waning.
Travel Barriers
New regulations have made it challenging for international scientists. Under Trump’s administration, stricter immigration and visa enforcement meant more scrutiny at U.S. entry points. In June, a travel ban affecting citizens from 19 countries, including Iran and Venezuela, was implemented.
Laurel Schafer, chair of the Pacifichem meeting in Hawaii, shared that fewer attendees from Canada are showing up. She believes this aligns with decreased tourism due to tariffs and negative rhetoric directed at Canada.
For some, the political climate is a dealbreaker. Tanja Junkers, a chemist from Australia, skipped the Pacifichem meeting due to personal safety concerns linked to Trump’s views on gender diversity. Although she organized a symposium, she felt unable to participate in any form.
A Changing Landscape
Experts indicate that the landscape of science conferences is evolving. As attendance dips, some organizers are looking for creative solutions to foster international collaboration. Online formats, hybrid events, and alternative locations may become more common as the scientific community adapts to these challenges.
Recent data from the American Association for the Advancement of Science shows that around 45% of scientists have reported difficulties in traveling for conferences due to visa issues or safety concerns. This phenomenon might lead to a shift in how science is presented and shared globally.
Ultimately, these barriers prompt us to rethink how we connect and collaborate in the scientific world.
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Conferences and meetings,Politics,Scientific community,Science,Humanities and Social Sciences,multidisciplinary
