Towards the Three Dimensions of Sustainability for International Research Team Collaboration: Learnings from the Sustainable and Healthy Food Systems Research Programme

Rashieda Davids, Pauline Scheelbeek, Nafiisa Sobratee, Rosemary Green, Barbara Häesler, Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi, Suparna Chatterjee, Nikhil Srinivasapura Venkateshmurthy, Georgina Mace, Alan Dangour and Rob Slotow
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Rashieda Davids: School of Agriculture, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg 3201, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Pauline Scheelbeek: Centre on Climate Change and Planetary Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
Nafiisa Sobratee: School of Agriculture, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg 3201, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Rosemary Green: Centre on Climate Change and Planetary Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
Barbara Häesler: Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, London E16 2PX, UK
Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi: Centre for Transformative Agricultural and Food Systems, School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg 3201, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Suparna Chatterjee: Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment Royal Enclave, Sriramapura, Jakkur Post, Bangalore 560064, India
Nikhil Srinivasapura Venkateshmurthy: Public Health Foundation of India, Gurgaon 122002, India
Georgina Mace: Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
Alan Dangour: Centre on Climate Change and Planetary Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
Rob Slotow: Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 22, 1-24

Abstract: This paper highlights the potential for learning and virtual collaboration in international research teams to contribute towards sustainability goals. Previous research confirmed the environmental benefits of carbon savings from international virtual conferences. This paper adds the social and economic dimensions by using a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods to measure the constraints and benefits for personal development, economic costs, efficiency and team learning of holding international virtual conferences (VCs). Using the Sustainable and Healthy Food Systems (SHEFS) research programme as a case study, we analysed VC participant survey data to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of VCs. We estimated ‘saved’ GHG emissions, costs, and time, of using VCs as an alternative for a planned in-person meeting in Chennai, India. Hosting VCs reduced North–South, gender, and researcher inclusivity concerns, financial and travelling time costs, and substantially reduced emissions. For one international meeting with 107 participants, changing to a virtual format reduced the per capita GHG emissions to half the annual global average, and avoided 60% of travel costs. The benefits of VCs outweighed weaknesses. The main strengths were inclusivity and access, with 20% more early/mid-career researchers attending. This study identified opportunities for international research partnerships to mitigate their carbon footprint (environmental benefit) and enhance inclusivity of early/mid-career, women and Global South participants (social benefit), whilst continuing to deliver effective collaborative research meetings (economic benefit). In doing so, we present a holistic view of sustainability opportunities for virtual collaboration.

Keywords: sustainability; climate change; carbon footprint; virtual conference; transdisciplinary team; virtual team; learning (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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