Event Overview
On November 7–12, 2024, the University of Iowa hosted the Virtual PhD Showcase: Explore Management PhD Programs, a digital event designed to engage prospective students, faculty, and researchers in an immersive poster fair format. The event successfully brought together approximately 150 participants, offering them the opportunity to explore cutting-edge research and academic programs within the field of management. Through its seamless integration with Gatherly, the University of Iowa fostered deeper connections and enhanced participant engagement, making the event a resounding success.
Objective and Vision
The University of Iowa’s commitment to advancing new knowledge and artistic creation is central to its mission. The event’s objective was to showcase its transformative PhD programs in management and highlight the groundbreaking research that contributes to local, national, and global communities. With a strong emphasis on collaboration and intellectual discovery, the event aimed to attract prospective students who are passionate about pursuing a path of academic rigor and innovation, ultimately contributing to societal impact through their research.
Challenges in Virtual Engagement
The transition to virtual events has posed significant challenges for institutions aiming to replicate the dynamic, face-to-face experiences typically found in academic conferences and poster fairs. While virtual platforms offer accessibility, they often fall short in providing the immersive, engaging environment that fosters authentic human connection—especially in a scholarly setting where deep interaction and nuanced conversation are key to success.
Faced with this challenge, the University of Iowa sought a platform that could create a more natural and interactive environment, allowing participants to engage with each other and with the event content in a meaningful way. The solution was Gatherly—a cutting-edge virtual platform designed to simulate real-life interactions in online spaces.
Implementing Gatherly: A Virtual Space for Lifelong Connection
Gatherly offers a unique approach to virtual events, focusing on replicating in-person social dynamics. Through its innovative spatial audio technology, Gatherly allows participants to “move” through digital rooms, approach other users, and engage in spontaneous conversations, much like they would in a physical setting. This design was critical for the success of the Virtual PhD Showcase, where engaging one-on-one conversations between prospective students, faculty, and current PhD candidates were central to the event’s objectives.
Key Features of Gatherly in the Event:
1. Spatial Audio & Interactive Spaces: Participants navigated virtual rooms, interacting organically with those nearby, simulating real-life event dynamics. Whether discussing research or program details, these interactions fostered engaging, life-like conversations.
2. Poster Fair Format: Gatherly’s customizable virtual spaces showcased research through digital posters. Attendees explored various projects, interacted with presenters, and asked questions, replicating the immersive experience of an in-person poster fair.
3. Dynamic Networking Opportunities: Virtual "tables" enabled topic-based discussions, helping researchers, students, and faculty connect and collaborate more effectively.
4. Customizable Virtual Booths: Each PhD program hosted a virtual booth, offering direct interaction with program representatives and access to digital brochures, videos, and other key resources.
Outcomes and Impact
The integration of Gatherly into the Virtual PhD Showcase allowed the University of Iowa to achieve several key outcomes:
1. Enhanced Participant Engagement: Gatherly’s interactive design fostered organic conversations and personalized interactions, with attendees praising the spatial audio feature for replicating an in-person atmosphere.
2. Greater Networking Opportunities: Participants felt more connected to the University of Iowa community, appreciating the relaxed, interactive environment for engaging deeply with faculty and PhD candidates in meaningful, intellectual exchanges.
3. Expanded Reach and Accessibility: The virtual format broadened the event’s audience globally, enriching discussions with diverse perspectives while eliminating travel barriers, leading to greater participation and engagement.
4. Elevated Presenter Experience: Gatherly empowered presenters with dynamic interactions, enabling impactful, memorable presentations that built stronger connections with prospective students and colleagues.
Conclusion
The University of Iowa's Virtual PhD Showcase, powered by Gatherly, redefined virtual academic events by blending in-person interaction with the accessibility of digital technology. Gatherly created an engaging, immersive experience, showcasing the potential of virtual platforms to bridge distance and foster meaningful connections. The event highlighted the university’s dedication to global collaboration and intellectual exchange, while demonstrating Gatherly’s ability to set a new standard for authentic virtual interactions in academia.