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**Underline Science is looking forward to visiting the picturesque town of Lovran, Croatia, from May 31 until June 3, and exhibiting at the Special and Academic Libraries Days, an annual conference that brings together librarians and information professionals from a wide range of institutions to discuss the latest trends and developments in the field of library science. Attendees are invited to stop by the Underline Science booth to learn more about how its groundbreaking Digital Video Library can help provide more research content in their respective institutions.**

**“The path to “open” libraries” leads to Lovran**

Lovran is indeed the perfect host for the 18th Special and Academic Libraries Days. This charming coastal town on the Adriatic Sea is known for its rich history, stunning architecture, and beautiful beaches. With its mild climate, picturesque streets, and vibrant cultural scene, Lovran offers the ideal setting for a conference that brings together numerous librarians and information professionals.

The theme of this year’s event is “Inclusivity: The path to “open” libraries” which is certain to be of interest to anyone who is passionate about the role that libraries play in education and research. Participants will be able to attend informative presentations, educational workshops, interactive discussions and peer networking events, all of which explore new trends, technologies, and approaches in librarianship.

**First showcasing of Underline’s revolutionary library in Croatia**

One of the exhibitors at this year's conference will be Underline Science, a leading provider of digital video lectures for academic and research libraries. At the conference, Underline Science will be showcasing its Digital Video Library, a unique platform that allows libraries to easily and affordably provide their users with access to high-quality video content from leading academic publishers, societies, and institutions, and demonstrating its many features and benefits. 

The numbers never lie - the Underline Science video collection of lectures and presentations on Artificial Intelligence, Natural Language Processing, Machine Learning, Robotics, Medicine and many other fields, is indeed impressive. Currently, over 30,000 videos available within the library are undeniable proof that the platform offers a truly academic viewing experience.  

The uniqueness of Underline’s Digital Video Library lies both in its easy access and user-friendly and customizable design, with features that allow librarians to easily curate video content to meet the specific needs of their users. This is why numerous professionals, especially those dedicated to curating and preserving the scholarly record, will find much value in the Underline offering.

**Why meet with Underline Science at the conference?**

Underline Science is proud to be a part of this important event, and we look forward to meeting with attendees and contributing to the conversation about the transformation of libraries and the digital information landscape. Conference attendees will have the opportunity to learn more about the platform and how it can enrich their institutions with the latest research, lectures, and other educational content in a very convenient way. 

Moreover, we are eager to show you how our innovative platform provides users with quick access to thousands of academic videos from leading publishers, scientific societies, and academic institutions around the world. Therefore, our team will be on hand not only to provide demonstrations of the library's capabilities but to answer any questions about other aspects of the platform.

With its focus on the latest trends and technologies, we are sure that the 18th Special and Academic Libraries Days will be an exciting and rewarding gathering for librarians, researchers, students, and anyone interested in the advancement of knowledge and information. If you're attending the conference, be sure to stop by the Underline Science booth to learn more about how our platform can benefit your institution in the long run.

**Sign up [here](https://lets-meet-underline.paperform.co/) to arrange a meeting with us and let’s discuss the role the Underline Digital Video Library can play in improving the access to groundbreaking educational and research content.**

Underline Science is looking forward to visiting the picturesque town of Lovran, Croatia, from May 31 until June 3, and exhibiting at the Special and Academic Libraries Days, an annual conference that brings together librarians and information professionals from a wide range of institutions to discuss the latest trends and developments in the field of library science. Attendees are invited to stop by the Underline Science booth to learn more about how its groundbreaking Digital Video Library can help provide more research content in their respective institutions.

Revolutionizing Access to Academic Video Content: Underline Science at Special and Academic Libraries Days

**The Society for Scholarly Publishing (SSP) Annual Meeting is a highly anticipated event that brings together professionals from the scholarly publishing industry. From May 31 until June 2, 2023, the vibrant city of Portland (Oregon), will host this renowned gathering, offering a platform for intellectual exchange, collaboration, and the exploration of emerging trends and challenges in the field. With an opportunity to schedule a meeting with our team beforehand and a very special surprise at our company’s booth, the SSP Annual Meeting promises to be a transformative experience for all participants**.

**Portland (Oregon) – the perfect port of innovative ideas**

Portland, Oregon, serves as the perfect setting for hosting the SSP Annual Meeting. Known for its inclusive culture, Portland embodies the spirit of innovation and forward thinking that characterizes the scholarly publishing community. The city's commitment to sustainability aligns with the industry's focus on open access and ethical publishing practices. Additionally, Portland's robust academic and research institutions, contribute to its reputation as a hub for intellectual discourse and cutting-edge scholarship. 

Beyond the academic discourse, the SSP Annual Meeting in Portland offers attendees a chance to experience the city's outstanding culture, picturesque landscapes, and renowned culinary scene. Unique for its environmentally conscious practices and creative spirit, Portland serves as an ideal backdrop for networking and relaxation. Attendees can explore local attractions, visit innovative libraries, and engage in social events that foster informal interactions and strengthen professional bonds.

**Unraveling cutting-edge industry trends**

The SSP Annual Meeting serves as a melting pot of ideas and insights, offering a great opportunity to stay at the forefront of the scholarly publishing landscape. Attendees will gain valuable knowledge through numerous educational sessions over the course of several days led by industry experts that delve into topics such as open access, digital transformation, ethical publishing, and more. Paired with ample opportunities for networking and socializing at evening receptions, interactive lunches, and other events, renowned experts and thought leaders will share their experiences, unveiling innovative strategies that can shape the future of scholarly communication.

Collaboration and networking lie at the heart of the SSP Annual Meeting. The event provides a dynamic environment for forging connections and nurturing professional relationships. Attendees can engage in insightful discussions, exchange ideas, and establish partnerships with like-minded individuals representing various sectors of the industry, including academics, funders, librarians, publishers, service providers, technologists, and countless others with a communal interest and stake in disseminating scholarly information. From casual conversations in the exhibit hall to structured networking events, the SSP Annual Meeting cultivates an atmosphere conducive to collaboration and knowledge sharing.

**Underline Science’s unique path to advancing scholarly research**

This year’s SSP's annual meeting highlights the Trust and Transparency issues that underlie many of the challenges we face and explores what it takes to create a more meaningful Transformation in scholarly publishing. As a company ensuring a unique and innovative platform to advance scholarly research, covering the latest development topics from a wide range of fields (including Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, NLP, Robotics, etc.), Underline Science is not only showcasing its specific and unique technological outreach but is continuously positioning itself as a leader in the industry.

With that in mind, we are delighted to be exhibiting at SSP's 45th Annual Meeting, in Oregon Convention Center & Hyatt Regency Portland, in Oregon, at Booth 217. By attending SSP 45th Annual Meeting and connecting with publishers, librarians, researchers, and other stakeholders, Underline Science is keen on fostering further collaborations, understanding the challenges faced by the industry, and exploring potential partnerships to advance the field of scholarly research.

**Let’s meet in Portland and discuss new ideas**

Both active participation in the event and informal gatherings can further strengthen relationships and create opportunities for mutual growth and success. Attendees will have the opportunity to gain valuable insights, foster collaboration, and discover innovative solutions that drive the industry forward. With its engaging program, dynamic networking opportunities, and the allure of Portland's unique atmosphere, the SSP Annual Meeting is a must-attend event for anyone passionate about scholarly publishing and its future.

We are extremely looking forward to meeting our industry colleagues during the conference and we’re scheduling meetings, sessions and get-togethers now to try to see as many of our colleagues as possible while we’re in Portland and explore ways in which we can jointly thrive within the constantly changing scholarly publishing marketplace.

In addition to that, as part of its commitment to providing an engaging and memorable experience, we are excited to offer a unique attraction at its booth - a professional caricaturist. Visitors to the Underline Science booth will have the opportunity to have their caricature drawn by a talented artist, adding a touch of fun and creativity to their conference experience. The caricatures will capture the essence and personality of each individual, making for an entertaining keepsake and a memorable interaction with our company.

**Sign up [here](https://6urydm4n.paperform.co/) to arrange a meeting with us or a session with the caricature artist, and let’s discuss new ideas to transform the scholarly research industry together!**

The Society for Scholarly Publishing (SSP) Annual Meeting is a highly anticipated event that brings together professionals from the scholarly publishing industry. From May 31 until June 2, 2023, the vibrant city of Portland (Oregon), will host this renowned gathering, offering a platform for intellectual exchange, collaboration, and the exploration of emerging trends and challenges in the field. With an opportunity to schedule a meeting with our team beforehand and a very special surprise at our company’s booth, the SSP Annual Meeting promises to be a transformative experience for all participants.


SSP 45th Annual Meeting: How Does Underline Science Contribute to Transformation, Trust, and Transparency in Scholarly Publishing?

**The 17th Conference of the European Chapter of the Association for Computational Linguistics (EACL) is scheduled to take place in the beautiful city of Dubrovnik, Croatia, from May 2nd through May 6th 2023. The conference, which will also be accessible virtually on the Underline platform in real time, is one of the most prestigious events in the field of Computational Linguistics and brings together researchers, practitioners, and students from across the globe to exchange knowledge, ideas, and the latest developments in this rapidly evolving field.**

**An emerging field impacting our daily lives**

Computational Linguistics is a rapidly growing field of research that has a significant impact on our daily lives. The field encompasses various areas such as machine learning, artificial intelligence, and natural language processing, and plays a crucial role in the development of smart technologies such as virtual assistants, chatbots, and intelligent language processing systems. It also has practical applications in areas such as education, healthcare, business, and entertainment. 

With the increasing demand for intelligent systems that can understand human language, the importance of research in Computational Linguistics cannot be overstated. Advancements in this field have the potential to enhance human-machine interactions, improve accessibility, and facilitate more effective communication in various domains. Therefore, investing in research in Computational Linguistics and attending such events is crucial for the development of intelligent technologies that can improve the quality of life and transform the way we interact with the digital world.

**A wonderful event in a wonderful city**

The 17th EACL was to be held in Kyiv but unfortunately, the ongoing conflict made the organization in Ukraine impossible. Considering the importance of physical interaction among researchers, the idea for the event soon went hybrid. What does this mean? The conference will be held in the stunning Croatian city of Dubrovnik and hosted virtually on the Underline platform in real time. The original aim of strengthening ties with the Ukrainian community has also not changed as the official program will feature a dedicated session and a workshop to highlight work on Ukrainian language technologies.

For those unfamiliar with Dubrovnik, the venue for this year's conference is a picturesque and historic city situated on the Adriatic coast of Croatia. Known for its beautiful architecture, rich cultural heritage, and stunning landscapes, Dubrovnik is the perfect destination for an international conference such as EACL. Participants will have the opportunity to explore the city and its surroundings, enjoy local cuisine, and experience the unique culture of Croatia.

**What can I expect this year at EACL?**

The conference will feature a wide range of activities including keynote speeches from distinguished experts in Computational Linguistics, presentations of research papers, poster sessions, and workshops. The conference will cover various topics such as natural language processing, machine learning, deep learning, semantic analysis, and speech processing. Moreover, participants will get a chance to learn about the latest research, trends, and challenges in Computational Linguistics, and will also have the opportunity to network with fellow researchers, industry professionals, and academics.

**Is this event for me?**

Attending the EACL conference is an excellent opportunity for anyone interested in the field of Computational Linguistics. The conference provides a platform to share knowledge, ideas, and expertise, and to collaborate with like-minded professionals from around the world. It is also an excellent opportunity to keep up-to-date with the latest developments in the field and to gain new insights into the rapidly evolving world of Computational Linguistics.

**Is it too late to take part?**

Luckily, you are not too late to take part in this unique event since registration is still open and attendees can both register and find out more on the [official conference website](https://2023.eacl.org/registration). For those unable to attend the event in person, the EACL Conference will be hosted fully on the [Underline virtual platform](https://underline.io/events/383/reception/). All registrants will be asked to create an Underline account prior to accessing the virtual platform and attending the event. 

The 17th Conference of the European Chapter of the Association for Computational Linguistics (EACL) promises to be an exciting event for researchers, academics, and practitioners in the field of Computational Linguistics. With a wide range of activities, cutting-edge research presentations, and a simply breathtaking venue, this conference is not to be missed.

The 17th Conference of the European Chapter of the Association for Computational Linguistics (EACL) is scheduled to take place in the beautiful city of Dubrovnik, Croatia, from May 2nd through May 6th 2023. The conference, which will also be accessible virtually on the Underline platform in real time, is one of the most prestigious events in the field of Computational Linguistics and brings together researchers, practitioners, and students from across the globe to exchange knowledge, ideas, and the latest developments in this rapidly evolving field.

Dazzling Dubrovnik as the Host of the 17th Conference of the European Chapter of the Association for Computational Linguistics (EACL)

**The 2023 IPSO Virtual Conference is just around the corner and promises to be a fantastic event. It is set to take place on 28-29 April 2023, bringing together healthcare professionals, researchers, and families affected by pediatric stroke from around the world. This year's conference, which Underline is proud to host on its virtual platform, will focus on the latest advances in pediatric stroke research, diagnosis, and treatment.**

**A unique event to fight a global problem**

Pediatric stroke is a devastating condition that affects thousands of children worldwide each year. The IPSO Virtual Conference is a unique opportunity for healthcare professionals, researchers, and families to come together to share their knowledge and experiences and learn about the latest developments in the field.

The conference will feature a range of keynote speakers and panel discussions covering a broad range of topics, including the latest research on the causes and risk factors of pediatric stroke, advances in diagnosis and treatment, and strategies for long-term management and care. The conference will also provide an opportunity for attendees to network and connect with experts and peers from around the world.

**What can I expect this year at IPSO Virtual Conference?**

One of the key themes of this year's conference is the importance of collaboration and partnership in advancing pediatric stroke research and care. The conference will bring together experts from a range of fields, including neurology, pediatrics, rehabilitation, and psychology, to share their insights and explore new avenues for collaboration.

One of the highlights of the conference is the keynote address by Dr. Heather Fullerton, a renowned pediatric stroke specialist and Professor of Neurology at the University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Fullerton will be sharing her insights on the latest advances in pediatric stroke research and treatment.

The conference will also provide an opportunity for families affected by pediatric stroke to connect with one another and share their experiences. This will include a range of sessions focused on supporting families, including discussions on coping strategies, advocacy, and the importance of peer support.

**Is this event for me?**

The IPSO Virtual Conference is an essential event for anyone interested in the latest developments in pediatric stroke research and care. It is an excellent opportunity to learn from leading experts in the field, network with peers and colleagues, and connect with families affected by pediatric stroke.

Without any doubt, the 2023 IPSO Virtual Conference promises to be an informative and engaging event for anyone curious about the most recent pediatric developments. Whether you are a healthcare professional, academic, scientist, researcher, or family member, this conference is a must-attend event. 

**Can I still participate?**

Luckily, registration for the IPSO 2023 Virtual Conference is still open, and attendees can register through the [official conference website](https://internationalpediatricstroke.org/2023-virtual-conference/registration/). The registration fee includes access to all conference sessions and networking opportunities.

The IPSO Virtual Conference will be held on the [Underline virtual platform](https://underline.io/events/385/reception/). All registrants will be asked to create an Underline account prior to accessing the virtual platform and attending this important event. 

Be sure to mark your calendars for 28-29 April 2023 and join us for what promises to be an unforgettable conference. See you there!

The 2023 IPSO Virtual Conference is just around the corner and promises to be a fantastic event. It is set to take place on 28-29 April 2023, bringing together healthcare professionals, researchers, and families affected by pediatric stroke from around the world. This year's conference, which Underline is proud to host on its virtual platform, will focus on the latest advances in pediatric stroke research, diagnosis, and treatment.

IPSO 2023 Virtual Conference: Paving a Path for Preventing Pediatric Stroke

What an amazing and exciting event this was! The bar was set (very very) high. 5 days packed with 23 workshops, 2 satellite conferences, keynotes, plenaries, posters, with 6 thematically organized parallel sessions and live Q/A and interactive discussion immediately after the talks.

The idea of this unique undergoing was to create a full democratic and equal experience for every attendee, on-site and online. Not everyone could enjoy the beautiful Barceló Bávaro Convention Centre and surroundings in Punta Cana but we did our best to bring the atmosphere to everyone on their computers and to make them feel as if they are there with us. Physical distance didn’t exclude anyone from participating actively in real-time.  

The idea was grand in itself but so are the numbers that proved us right! With 500 people on site and 4,000 virtually attendees, 23 workshops including 600 presentations, and 1,500 papers from the main conference on 6 parallel tracks, we can proudly claim, we fulfilled our goals and paved the way for events of the new era.

Better than reading about it is to experience the **[Conference on Empirical Methods in Natural Language Processing, EMNLP 2021 ](https://underline.io/events/192/reception)** for yourself!

As it often is, with ideas this big, those 5 days were not always smooth sailing for us. This was the biggest hybrid conference we ever did and the pressure was high.

Our AV team, led by **Luka Šimić**, Head of Video and Media, faced some truly difficult challenges on site. The conditions were tough and we seemed to have been hitting strong waves constantly. But we knew what we were signing up for and we were more than ready to make this tough sail into a wonderful experience.

In November, the Underline team successfully coordinated the biggest scientific hybrid livestream event with more than 500 participants on site and 4000 remotely, in the Dominican Republic. With different knowledge, experience and diversity of skills, 8 team members effectively navigated 2796 lectures and 1735 speakers in 5 days. Due to the complexity of combining in-person with virtual audience, creating a successful hybrid event required a lot of planning and brainstorming. 

It was not easy, but as my dear colleague Dan Luise liked to say during those 5 days: "A problem was not a problem, only an opportunity for success”. So with a focus on seamless streaming, technical solutions and end user experience, Underline overcame all challenges and exceeded all expectations. This proved to us that we are more than ready for scientific hybrid events as a new normal in the industry," Luka said.

The talented people that comprise the Underline team have learned so much through the extraordinarily challenging times of the past year. With event cancellations, stay at home and safety measures, events like this are rare and it is more important than ever to provide access to such valuable content to everyone. 

Our CEO **Alex Lazinica** is honored to have Underline be part of this groundbreaking experience: *“We are honored to work with ACL on EMNLP and their flagship conferences"*, so we take this opportunity to thank EMNLP 2021 Chairperson **Marie-Francine Moens** and **Priscilla Rasmussen**, ACL Chief Executive.

Gone are the times when we looked back. Now, we only look ahead and set our sails high(er)! This is only the beginning as we already have more hybrid events planned in the near future.

We dare to say that in the post Covid world, events will be better (and more sustainable)! 

**About Underline Science**

Underline is the premier virtual conference platform for events in science, medicine, academia and other professional fields. Underline’s mission is to capture and disseminate scientific knowledge through video, making it globally accessible by enriching and preserving both virtual and hybrid conference content. Underline’s groundbreaking scientific [Digital Video Library](https://underline.io/library) is providing new opportunities to access and expand the scientific record and accelerate scientific discovery. For more information, visit the Underline [website](https://underline.io/) and follow Underline on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/underlineio).

Discover why the **[EMNLP 2021](https://underline.io/events/192/reception)** was such a unique experience and what it means for the future of events.

Going beyond (incredible) numbers: How Underline created a game-changing experience  

**The Largest Scientific Hybrid Conference To Date**

*Thousands projected to participate in EMNLP 2021*

NEW YORK- October 27, 2021  - Some three thousand scientists and researchers are expected to participate in the upcoming [EMNLP 2021](https://2021.emnlp.org) (2021 Conference on Empirical Methods in Natural Language Processing). Based on current estimates, 600+ people will be in beautiful Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, with thousands more attending and presenting online. 

Unique in the design is that every attendee, whether local or virtual, will have a rich engaging immersive experience. Presenters and attendees can either be local or remote, with full and equal participation for all.

It is easier said than done with an  [exciting program spanning 5 days](https://2021.emnlp.org/program) (November 7-11 2021), with 21 workshops, 2 satellite conferences, many parallel sessions, keynotes, plenaries, posters and more. 

Powered by [Underline ](https://underline.io)(underline.io), EMNLP 2021 is easily one of the larger scientific conferences, unique in that it is promoting a full democratic and equal experience for every attendee, with the notable exception that the online participants will not physically enjoy the beautiful Barceló Bávaro Convention Centre and surroundings in Punta Cana.

EMNLP 2021 Chairperson Marie-Francine Moens explained that “EMNLP has a long rich history of successful conferences that our community is looking forward to every year.  We were hoping that by November 2021 much of the world would already be past the pandemic. As the situation is fluid and changing daily, we needed to find a way to hold the event so every participant and presenter would have a deeply engaging and satisfying experience, regardless of their ability to attend in person.”

Priscilla Rasmussen, ACL Chief Executive said “running a conference of this size is always challenging. This becomes infinitely more difficult during the pandemic; especially when our goal is to provide an equal, engaging, interactive experience that is seamless, whether you are in or virtual. Besides the technical challenges, people’s availability change daily due to personal, health and country mandates.

We are happy to partner with Underline to produce this conference since their platform and services will host much of the technical and organizational challenges both virtually and in-person.”

Alex Lazinica, CEO of Underline added “We are honored to work with ACL on EMNLP and their flagship conferences. Having produced Hybrid events of various kinds for many months, our team provides white-glove service and an unbeatable online platform to leading associations such as ACL, IEEE and many others.” 
                                                     
**About ACL and EMNLP ** 

The Association for Computational Linguistics (ACL) provides the preeminent forum for dissemination of the latest developments in computational linguistics and natural language processing. In recent years, ACL conferences have enjoyed a growth spurt.  Empirical Methods in Natural Language Processing (EMNLP) is a leading conference in the area of natural language processing and artificial intelligence.  EMNLP is organized by the ACL special interest group on linguistic data (SIGDAT) and was started in 1996. According to Microsoft Academic, EMNLP is the 14th most cited conference in computer science.

**About Underline Science **

Underline is the premier virtual conference platform for events in science, medicine, academia and other professional  fields. Underline’s mission is to capture and disseminate scientific knowledge through video, making it globally accessible by enriching and preserving both virtual and hybrid conference content. Underline’s groundbreaking  scientific Digital Video Library is providing new opportunities to access and expand the scientific record and  accelerate scientific discovery. For more information, visit the Underline website and follow Underline on Twitter. 

Thousands projected to participate in EMNLP 2021.



EMNLP -Largest Hybrid Scientific Conference to Date

After a year that collectively left us exhausted and perhaps occasionally questioning our sanity, we are all looking forward to a return to normal this year. Still, there are countless questions about what the future holds.

Depending upon where one is located in the world, we have a long way to go with feeling safe and managing the daily mess of Covid 19. Travel is still complicated, with a dynamic patchwork of protocols and entry and exit rules for different countries, and even regions or states within countries. Couple this with varying levels of vaccine distribution, and one thing is very clear: it will be touch and go for the next 12–18 months with individuals, organizations and municipalities assessing their comfort levels for any given situation or event.

2020 became the year of the virtual event, as associations conference organizers pivoted en masse to the digital format. While this was a great solution for many groups, there were elements of in-person events that missed. As our understanding of Covid-19 evolved, opportunities presented themselves for “hybrid” events, and as we march into 2021, it seems clear that this will be the year of the hybrid event.

**WHAT IS A HYBRID EVENT?**

Hybrid events take the best and most manageable elements of physical gatherings and blend them with a virtual event. You can host attendees at your venue — with event planners following guidelines for social distancing and ongoing sanitization of areas throughout the event — while offering live streams to some or all the content for those who can’t make it, or those who are not quite yet comfortable attending in person.

The hybrid event offers a winning situation for both organizers and attendees while the world recovers from the challenges of the pandemic. But hybrid events offer much more than this. Now that many conference organizers have seen the benefits of a virtual offering, several polls show a solid majority of event planners have indicated they will continue to accommodate a virtual audience as a permanent part of their planning going forward. While events have been slowly but steadily moving in this direction for the last few years, 2020 turbocharged this evolution, and there is likely no going back.

**BENEFITS OF CHOOSING HYBRID EVENTS**

**More Attendees**

More ways to attend will boost numbers. Not all of your potential registrants will be able to attend your events due to scheduling conflicts, healthy concerns, and/or budgetary restrictions. By making your event available online, you’ll remove these barriers and reach more people with your content. The first week of February it was announced that the Sundance Film Festival — utilizing a hybrid format — secured a total audience 2.7 times their typical in-person edition, and its biggest-ever audience in the history of the storied festival. 

While a small number of guests were on hand for limited in-person events, Sundance mostly streamed its 2021 content to online viewers in all 50 states and additionally in 120 countries. In total, the festival recorded more than 250K views of feature and short films through its online platform and apps.

**Go Green**

Scaled down physical attendance can also translate to a more environmentally conscious event, with lower carbon emissions and waste. This is a key point you can promote to your target audience, attendees and sponsors, which may help drive interest and engagement.

**Less Risk for Organizers**

Because we have seen constantly shifting protocols, it makes both organizers and sponsors nervous to deploy resources to an event being planned months in advance, when the rules of the day are so dynamic. Hybrid events can be scaled up or down to adjust the in-room/virtual balance based upon the municipal or regional restrictions in place at the time of the event.

**Additional Revenue Streams**

Keynote and session recordings can be repurposed as promotional pieces for other events, which has the potential to significantly lower future marketing costs. In addition, with Underline’s Digital Video Library, you can establish a new source of ongoing non-membership revenue. All these videos now reside in our repository and continue to promote the discourse and scholarship presented at your conference. 

More than 90% of Libraries surveyed have expressed the willingness to allocate funds and purchase access to an authoritative repository of scientific conference information. Underline shares 20% of this revenue with you on a pro-rate usage basis.

**Data**

Finally, Underline can track extremely detailed event engagement through virtual conferences, and this information can then be used to improve event details in the future.

**HYBRID EVENT CONSIDERATIONS**

It feels like several years have passed since the pandemic started. In that time, the events realm has already gone from a complete halt, to a pivot to virtual, and now to a mashup of virtual and hybrid. At Underline, we have done several of these hybrid events, including IEEE’s Big Data Conference in December, which predominately a digital event, also had an intriguing hybrid component, via partnership with IBM and their IBM Watson supercomputer.

Combined with our deep experience hosting digital events, we have learned some considerations when planning a hybrid event.

You’ll need to determine:

Do you have the resources and budget for both virtual and hybrid events?

Which components of your event should be virtual versus in-person?

Hybrid events aren’t as simple as just live-streaming pre-existing sessions. They require careful planning, engagement, and logistical management that differs across both formats.

Hybrid events also require a happy balance to be struck between the virtual and in-person components. This can be done several ways, from flanking the main stage with large-scale screens to allow the digital participants to be engaged alongside the in-person guests, to creating tiered access to your attendees. With all of these considerations, having a partner on your side with the team and experience to help guide you is essential.

**PICK YOUR PARTNERS CAREFULLY**

You may have read articles about how hard it is to do a hybrid event. That it is twice the work, and that you will need two sets of staff– one that does traditional event planning, and one that can handle the digital portion of the event.

The truth is that what really matters is your choice of event partner. The virtual component of these events is complex, with myriad technical considerations and other factors that are likely new to an association or conference organizer.

So, why try to do both?

At Underline, we’re with you every step of the way. We sweat the details, so you can focus on your in-person stakeholders, attendees and VIPs.

**THE UNDERLINE DIFFERENCE**

With Underline, event organizers get an experienced team of 20+ people who live and breathe your event, from pre-planning through complete execution.

We communicate with all the speakers, panelists, presenters and poster sessions.

We collect all the pre-recorded addresses with our proven workflow and easy browser-based recording system.

We do ‘dry runs’ and coach the keynote and other star presenters.

Production values are paramount. Evidenced by our previous scientific conferences, we strive for the highest-quality production values.

We are proud to have a 4-time Emmy award-winner directing our efforts to ensure the highest quality for your conference.

We create a custom experience for your conference that becomes an extension of your website or conference app — and provides for an unparalleled experience.

Our client partners provide the direction and then just show up and enjoy.

Hybrid Events are not the future - they are NOW.

Hybrid Events Are Here To Stay, And That’s A Good Thing

When the COVID-19 pandemic changed the world in 2020, many associations chose to transform their in-person events into virtual conferences. The world of scientific and scholarly associations has been irrevocably affected by COVID-19, and there is growing evidence that virtual events — including hybrid meetings — will be here to stay, long after the pandemic. There are several reasons for this:

Overall attendance for many events has increased 100–200% vs. in person events from the previous year. Due to the cost of travel and the logistics of managing complicated personal schedules, more people are able to attend virtual meetings and engage with attendees and conference content.

As we reflect upon the experiences of 2020, most of us have now attended one or more virtual events. Some went smoothly and were a blast. Some maybe not so much. The truth is that putting together a virtual conference is a major undertaking, and it really is in the details as to why some events thrive in a virtual or hybrid environment, and others struggle.

At Underline, we’re with you every step of the way. We sweat the details, so you can focus on your stakeholders, attendees and VIPs — and on having a good time at your own conference!

Academic, scientific and medical conferences are rich with valuable discourse and experiences that enable critical networking and idea exchanges. Pivoting these conferences to a virtual experience presents a unique set of challenges and opportunities for associations.
A conversion to a virtual format is not simply a choice to use whatever webinar software is within reach. Significant thought will need to go into a strategic plan on important decisions ranging from dates and registration fees, to how best to engage and showcase presenters, sponsors, and exhibitors.

Immediately, questions come up:

*How can we produce the same level of impact when we are all dispersed around the world and in front of our screens?*

*How do we organize a virtual conference?*

*What will it look like?*

*Maybe we can imagine a few keynotes & plenaries, but how do we handle 1,000+ presentations and associated papers?*

*What about the Panels? Poster Sessions? Workshops?*

*What will happen to our sponsors — how can we deliver value to them?*

*What happens if we experience technical difficulties — in the middle of the conference?*

And what about the attendees themselves?

When attending a conference, they are ‘captive audiences’ and will attend the various sessions on a program. 

*But what happens when they are at their desks and one quick click away from Facebook or their distraction of choice?*

And what about the networking opportunities — *how do we meet people if we are not gathering around a coffee stand or dining table?*

And finally, what happens after the conference? *What happens to all the scholarship and important discourse?*

These are all valid questions, and enough to make many association event managers or academic event chairs start to throw their hands up in the air and think that it is simply too much to manage.

The truth is, it can be…especially since this is likely new territory for most associations and academic societies.

**An Opportunity in Disguise**

After considering all the things required to successfully manage a virtual conference, many societies might consider moving to a virtual event as a problem — but it can also be an opportunity.
This could be an opportunity to dramatically ‘scale up’ instead of scale down the scope and impact of the conference.

You could:

• Expand the number of attendees

• Expand the possible revenue streams

• Offer a more engaging experience to your attendees

• Present an exciting program your delegates will anticipate attending

• Facilitate networking and conversations, multiplying the number and scope of interactions in ways not possible with a physical meeting

• Continue the conversations and conference impact after the conference

**Live-Streaming Takes Center Stage**

We always anticipated that live-streaming and even remote presentations would be part of many traditional in-person conferences and had previously developed those capabilities.

With the advent of the 2020 pandemic, those plans have now become the focus of many conferences, which, perhaps like you, are looking to move to a virtual presentation.

**An Exciting, Interactive TV-Quality Presentation**

You would never consider using unprofessional signage or communication at your events. Why settle for less at your most important conference?
Even if they don’t watch the Oscars or Emmy awards, your audience knows the difference between a professional TV production and anything less.

You want to make sure your production has those all-important production values that keeps your audience riveted to the screen and to your program.

**The Secret? Interaction**

Studies of conference attendees have shown that people attend conferences for two reasons: The Education and the Networking.

How do we preserve the networking? How do we have an interactive event rich with quality Q&A, immediate responses, discussions among attendees, discovery of new colleagues from around the world, discovery of new research and possible avenues for further collaboration?

We have heard from many attendees that networking via our virtual coffee break rooms and via other opportunities has been less intimidating than approaching someone in person. No more awkward 5-minute exits!

These are all hallmarks of the ingredients in the Underline platform and offering.

**Bottom Line: The Underline Difference**

Here are eight things which set Underline apart from all the other providers in the marketplace:

**1) Underline specializes in Scientific Conferences**

This is all we do. We are here to help produce your Scientific Conferences, and enhance and preserve the lectures in our Digital Video Library. This provides you with a way to preserve the important scholarship & discourse, continue the conversations, collaboration, and presenting new ongoing revenue streams.

**2) White Glove Service. Underline handles everything**

With Underline, event organizers get an experienced team of 20+ people who live and breathe your event, from pre-planning through complete execution.

We communicate with all the speakers, panelists, presenters and poster sessions.

We collect all the pre-recorded addresses with our proven workflow and easy browser-based recording system.

We do ‘dry runs’ and coach the keynote and other star presenters.

We create a custom experience for your conference that becomes an extension of your website or conference app — and provides for an unparalleled experience.

We sweat all the details. Our client partners provide the direction and then just show up and enjoy.

**3) TV Quality production**

Production values are paramount. Evidenced by our previous scientific conferences, we strive for the highest-quality production values.
We are proud to have a 4-time Emmy award-winner directing our efforts to ensure the highest quality for your conference.

**4) Maximizing Interactivity**

We are continuously improving this most-requested feature. How do we create interactivity within each presentation for Q&A? How do we have virtual coffee breaks or other discussion groups around certain subjects where people meet, discuss and forge new relationships? How can sponsors develop connections with people in their virtual exhibit space? How do poster presenters find new audiences for their presentations?

**5) Compressing Time — Optimizing for Virtual**

Taking a photo of a book does not magically turn it into an engaging digital publication. Similarly, a Virtual Conference is not a mirror of a physical conference conducted over Zoom or some other conferencing software.

We have strategies and tools to “compress time” and present your conference in an exciting, engaging TV-quality production (headed by our Emmy-award winning director); where your audience will look forward to watching and interacting with your entire program.

**6) Maximizing Attendance**

Here is another significant opportunity for a virtual conference that you cannot match in a physical venue. People would want to attend more conferences but are limited in schedule, cost/budgets and/or visa considerations.

With your virtual event it is much more affordable — without the travel, hotel costs and food.

This can potentially open up your attendance to a much larger pool of prospective delegates from around the world.

**7) Maximizing Sponsor Revenue**

No longer limited to sponsoring networking breaks or lunches, we have developed an entirely new smorgasbord of sponsorship options and revenue opportunities. We look to maximize the ‘digital real estate’ in a dignified and meaningful way to construct impactful packages which resonate with your sponsors.

**8) New Post Conference Revenue Streams**

Using our optional Digital Video Library, you can establish a new source of ongoing non-membership revenue. All these videos now reside in our repository and continue to promote the discourse and scholarship presented at your conference.

More than 90% of Libraries surveyed have expressed the willingness to allocate funds and purchase access to an authoritative repository of scientific conference information. We then share 20% of this revenue with you on a pro-rate usage basis.

**So, yes, an experienced virtual conference partner is critical, and can make the difference between an average or even disastrous conference, and one that will ensure your attendees come back next year!**

Underline's White Glove Service makes planning a virtual conference easy.

Why Underline’s White Glove Service Is So Important When Planning a Virtual/Hybrid Conference

Underline Science, the premier virtual conference venue for events in science, medicine, academia and other professional fields, is currently hosting the **28th Annual International Conference on Computational Linguistics (COLING 2020), through Friday, December 11th**. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and uncertainty about international travel, the COLING Steering Committee shifted to a virtual format, from the face-to-face meeting that was due to be held in Barcelona, Spain.

**COLING, the International Conference on Computational Linguistics, is one of the premier conferences for natural language processing and computational linguistics.** Often grouped within the field of artificial intelligence, but actually pre-dating the development of artificial intelligence, advances in computational linguistics and natural language processing are now some of the major drivers behind the use of artificial intelligence for commercial and social applications – for example, on-line search, machine translation and with voice-assisted conversational devices. 

First established in 1965, the biennial COLING conference is held in diverse parts of the globe and attracts participants from both top-ranked research centers and emerging countries. Today, the most important developments in our field are taking place not only in universities and academic research institutes, but also in industrial research departments and in technological startups. COLING conferences provide opportunities for all these communities to showcase their exciting developments. **To register for COLING 2020, or to learn more about the conference, please visit: https://coling2020.org. **

**The 4-day live stream/virtual conference features talks from world-renowned scientists, a selection of webinars, panel discussions, live tutorials, workshops, online presentations, interactive Q&A sessions and special events** with leading professionals in the field of natural language processing and computational linguistics. Invited speakers include, among others: **Amanda Stent, Bloomberg LP; Harald Baayen, University of Tübingen; Margaret Mitchell, Google Research and Machine Intelligence; Monica Lam, Stanford University; and Tal Linzen, New York University.**

“These are extraordinarily exciting times for our field. Computational Linguistics is no longer just the future: it’s already here!” said **COLING 2020 General Chair, Donia Scott, Professor of Computational Linguistics, University of Sussex**. “The presentations and discussions at COLING 2020 will showcase the state-of the-art in natural language technologies and forefront some of the challenges that arise when language is viewed as not just data but as the most vital part of human communication in all its complexities.”

**COLING 2020 content, including all live streams, presentations and lecture videos, is currently available for viewing on underline.io. With attendees joining the conference from around the globe and from different time zones, Underline’s platform maximizes the scholarship, interactivity and networking opportunities for this year’s COLING 2020 conference.**

Underline’s mission is to capture and disseminate scientific knowledge through video, making it globally accessible by enriching and preserving both virtual and hybrid conference content. Through Underline, conferences – physical and virtual – can reach new global audiences, while conference attendees have the flexibility to watch and re-watch any lecture any place, any time. Underline enriches hosted conferences and lectures with transcriptions, real-time language translations, DOIs, MARC records and presenters’ slides and profiles. 

In addition to enabling conference participants to connect with speakers, lectures can be easily cited, shared and searched, thus, turning presentations into sources of collaboration and conversation. With a custom-built virtual conference platform, Emmy Award-winning production team, and exclusive digital library – Underline is fast becoming an important destination for research, teaching and learning.

“We are honored to partner with the COLING 2020 chairs and organizers to host this important meeting on the Underline platform, and with no geographical barriers, we are pleased to help them expand their audience,” said **Alex Lazinica, CEO of Underline Science**. “Conferences and technical meetings are critical tools for scientists to learn about the latest breakthroughs and research. Like the globally oriented team on the COLING committee and with the International Committee on Computational, at Underline we are working to accelerate discovery in an open and connected world.”

Top Scientific Conference for Natural Language Processing Goes Virtual for 2020.

 UNDERLINE Hosts 28th International Conference On Computational Linguistics (COLING 2020)

**Underline Science**, the premier virtual conference venue for events in science, medicine, academia and other professional fields, will host the first two days of the **44th Annual UKSG Conference and Exhibition, on Monday, April 12th and Tuesday, April 13th**. The final day on April 14 will feature demos on the UKSG website. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and uncertainty about international travel, the UKSG Steering Committee shifted from the face-to-face meeting to be held in Harrogate to a virtual format.

**The annual UKSG Conference and Exhibition is a major event in the scholarly communications calendar which attracts more than 900 delegates each year from around the world - librarians, publishers, content providers, consultants and intermediaries. The conference combines high-quality plenary presentations, lightning talks and breakout sessions with entertaining social events and a major trade exhibition.** **To learn more about UKSG 2021 please visit: https://www.uksg.org/.**

The x-day live stream/virtual conference will feature talks from world-renowned scholars, a selection of webinars, panel discussions, live tutorials, workshops, online presentations, interactive Q&A sessions and special events with leading professionals in the research education and publishing sectors.

UKSG 2021 content, including all live streams, presentations and lecture videos, will be available for viewing on underline.io. With attendees joining the conference from around the globe and from different time zones, Underline’s platform maximizes the scholarship, interactivity and networking opportunities for this year’s UKSG 2021 conference.

“After a detailed search for a vendor, UKSG has selected Underline to work with us to make UKSG 2021 a success. We were pleased to see the list of current customers who use Underline who are already members of UKSG, and are excited for the possibilities to move our dynamic, engaging, fun conference online” said **Bev Acreman, UKSG Executive Director**. “We have a reputation for the quality of our content and delivery and we do not intent to compromise on that in these new times.”

Underline’s mission is to capture and disseminate scientific knowledge through video, making it globally accessible by enriching and preserving both virtual and hybrid conference content. Through Underline, conferences – physical and virtual – can reach new global audiences, while conference attendees have the flexibility to watch and re-watch any lecture any place, any time. Underline enriches hosted conferences and lectures with transcriptions, real-time language translations, DOIs, MARC records and presenters’ slides and profiles. 

In addition to enabling conference participants to connect with speakers, lectures can be easily cited, shared and searched, thus, turning presentations into sources of collaboration and conversation. With a custom-built virtual conference platform, Emmy Award-winning production team, and exclusive digital library – Underline is fast becoming an important destination for research, teaching and learning.

“We are honored to partner with the UKSG 2021 chairs and organizers to host this meeting on the Underline platform, and we look forward to helping them extend the reach of this important scholarly event,” said **Alex Lazinica, CEO of Underline Science**. “Conferences and technical meetings are critical tools for scientists and scholars to learn about the latest breakthroughs and research. At Underline we are working to break down geographical barriers and build global connections to accelerate discovery.”


Leading Scholarly Communications Conference Goes Virtual for 2021.

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Revolutionizing Access to Academic Video Content: Underline Science at Special and Academic Libraries Days

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