Periodic Reporting for period 1 - ICRI 2024 (International Conference on Research Infrastructures 2024)
Période du rapport: 2024-03-01 au 2025-02-28
ICRI 2024 was held in Brisbane, Australia, from 3 to 5 December 2024. It was the first time the conference has been held in the Asia Pacific. ICRI Brisbane followed on from the previous ICRI events to provide an opportunity for strategic discussions about global cooperation in research infrastructure. Bringing together policymakers, research institution leaders, facility operators, users and researchers, the Conference facilitated discussions around pressing topics of interest, trends and challenges facing research infrastructures around the world. As was pointed out during some ICRI sessions there has, historically, been a lack of conversation between Northern and Southern Hemisphere nations around research infrastructure. Bringing ICRI to Brisbane enabled more nations from the Asia Pacific to engage with the global research infrastructure community. 11 Southeast Asian and Pacific nations attended ICRI 2024. Representatives from some of those nations also took part in panels, introducing voices and viewpoints to ICRI previously absent. ICRI 2024 also successfully introduced other new perspectives, through a focus on Indigenous knowledge and engagement. As a hybrid event, ICRI 2024 was livestreamed around the world. Doing so ensured the greatest possible level of global involvement and benefit from the sessions held, and allowed the expertise and experiences discussed to disseminate in many countries not otherwise represented at the conference. ICRI 2024 resulted in the development of the Brisbane Statement, encouraging all research infrastructure stakeholders to actively consider the role of research infrastructures in addressing global challenges, and how strengthening international collaborations can help solve them. ICRI 2024 was jointly hosted by the European Commission and the Australian Government Department of Education, and delivered by Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO.
Work performed in hosting ICRI 2024 included developing the content and outcomes for the event and managing all logistics.
Here are the key achievements:
- Developed the Conference themes in collaboration with the International Program Committee.
- Developed the Conference program including keynote speeches, panel sessions and breakout sessions
- Developed the program of 23 side events and site visits with partner organisations
- Managed sponsors in-person and online information booths
- Developed and published the Brisbane Statement
- Created a brand and visual identity for the Conference in line with the Communications Strategy, including branded merchandise
- Developed the ICRI2024.au website, LinkedIn social media page, and YouTube Channel to host the recordings
- Created media releases for local and international media coverage
- Sent invitations and communication updates to attendees
- Developed the dedicated conference app and schedule using Brella
- Live Streamed and recorded all Conference sessions
- Published the Conference Report featuring the full proceedings across the week
Here are the key achievements:
- Developed the Conference themes in collaboration with the International Program Committee.
- Developed the Conference program including keynote speeches, panel sessions and breakout sessions
- Developed the program of 23 side events and site visits with partner organisations
- Managed sponsors in-person and online information booths
- Developed and published the Brisbane Statement
- Created a brand and visual identity for the Conference in line with the Communications Strategy, including branded merchandise
- Developed the ICRI2024.au website, LinkedIn social media page, and YouTube Channel to host the recordings
- Created media releases for local and international media coverage
- Sent invitations and communication updates to attendees
- Developed the dedicated conference app and schedule using Brella
- Live Streamed and recorded all Conference sessions
- Published the Conference Report featuring the full proceedings across the week
ICRI 2024 in Brisbane brought several innovations and impacts, namely:
- Community engagement - CSIRO brought its 3D marine science INVESTIGATE exhibit to QUT’s Gardens Point campus. INVESTIGATE showcases what research infrastructure and global collaboration can accomplish. The exhibit takes the audience on a deep dive into the research delivered by Australia’s 94-metre advanced ocean research vessel (RV) Investigator, allowing them to ride the waves in an Antarctic storm, fly through the atmosphere on a data-stream, and dive into the abyss to uncover the mysteries of the deep. INVESTIGATE opened for the ICRI 2024 welcome reception on Monday 2 December, and was open to the public for a month after the Conference ended.
- Commitment to Indigenous Knowledge - ICRI 2024 was the first to focus on Indigenous knowledge and engagement. As part of this theme, ICRI 2024 presented the exhibition “Stories & Structures – New Connections” as part of the conference. The art exhibition was curated by Australia’s national research infrastructure for microscopy, Microscopy Australia, to explore images that pass on knowledge and shape our understanding of the world. The art exhibition showcased 43 pieces that explored the rich visual parallels between the microscopic structures hidden in the natural world, and Indigenous artists’ impressions, giving us new cross-cultural perspectives on how we all know and understand our world.
- Focus on Networking - To manage registrations, scheduling, live-streaming and networking, the event team procured Brella as the Event App for ICRI 2024. The App uses AI technology to match attendees and suggest possible networking opportunities based on topics of shared interest. The event held a dedicated networking session on Day 2 of the Conference to maximise the time available for networking. The App was also used by online participants to watch the live-streamed sessions, and also featured a chat functionality both for virtual and in-person attendees. 949 attendees logged into the App (both in-person and online), and 56 one-on-one meetings were held in-person via the App.
- The Brisbane Statement - ICRI 2024 resulted in the development of the Brisbane Statement, endorsed by the ICRI Co-Chairs. The Statement calls on all RI stakeholders worldwide to support, invest in, and grow the collaborative global research infrastructure ecosystem. The world will continue to rely on RIs for addressing future challenges, both foreseen and unforeseen, and with strong global connections, research can continue to advance society to meet these challenges.
- Community engagement - CSIRO brought its 3D marine science INVESTIGATE exhibit to QUT’s Gardens Point campus. INVESTIGATE showcases what research infrastructure and global collaboration can accomplish. The exhibit takes the audience on a deep dive into the research delivered by Australia’s 94-metre advanced ocean research vessel (RV) Investigator, allowing them to ride the waves in an Antarctic storm, fly through the atmosphere on a data-stream, and dive into the abyss to uncover the mysteries of the deep. INVESTIGATE opened for the ICRI 2024 welcome reception on Monday 2 December, and was open to the public for a month after the Conference ended.
- Commitment to Indigenous Knowledge - ICRI 2024 was the first to focus on Indigenous knowledge and engagement. As part of this theme, ICRI 2024 presented the exhibition “Stories & Structures – New Connections” as part of the conference. The art exhibition was curated by Australia’s national research infrastructure for microscopy, Microscopy Australia, to explore images that pass on knowledge and shape our understanding of the world. The art exhibition showcased 43 pieces that explored the rich visual parallels between the microscopic structures hidden in the natural world, and Indigenous artists’ impressions, giving us new cross-cultural perspectives on how we all know and understand our world.
- Focus on Networking - To manage registrations, scheduling, live-streaming and networking, the event team procured Brella as the Event App for ICRI 2024. The App uses AI technology to match attendees and suggest possible networking opportunities based on topics of shared interest. The event held a dedicated networking session on Day 2 of the Conference to maximise the time available for networking. The App was also used by online participants to watch the live-streamed sessions, and also featured a chat functionality both for virtual and in-person attendees. 949 attendees logged into the App (both in-person and online), and 56 one-on-one meetings were held in-person via the App.
- The Brisbane Statement - ICRI 2024 resulted in the development of the Brisbane Statement, endorsed by the ICRI Co-Chairs. The Statement calls on all RI stakeholders worldwide to support, invest in, and grow the collaborative global research infrastructure ecosystem. The world will continue to rely on RIs for addressing future challenges, both foreseen and unforeseen, and with strong global connections, research can continue to advance society to meet these challenges.