Some may say the virtual event has had its day, but here at Mearns & Gill we still believe they can offer a lot of value when utilised in the correct way. While many argue that traditional in-person events are still the preferred option (especially after the dreaded Covid years), there are several reasons why online events still have a place in today’s world.

One of the main reasons online events are so valuable is their accessibility. With online events, attendees can participate from anywhere in the world, allowing for a much wider reach and the opportunity to engage with a more diverse audience. In contrast, in-person events are more limiting in terms of location and may exclude individuals who are unable to travel or attend in person.

The ‘Geothermal Seminar’ is an event that Mearns & Gill manage on behalf of our client SPE Aberdeen and has been virtual since its inception in 2022. The third annual event took place recently on virtual platform, Swapcard, on 21 – 22 February 2024. The Seminar remains at the forefront of fostering innovation, collaboration, and advancements in Geothermal Energy production science, engineering, and economics. As nations continue to grapple with the urgency of Sustainable Energy solutions, events such as these are important to bring together researchers, practitioners, financiers, regulators, and transition enthusiasts to share knowledge, research, case studies, systems, and technologies in order to advance the industry as it works towards the Energy Transition.

Though organised by the local SPE Aberdeen chapter, this particular event relies heavily on case studies and experiences from out with the Northeast of Scotland, the UK, and even Europe. Bringing together experts from across a wide range of backgrounds, with relevant and real case studies and technology developments, is at the heart of the Seminar’s aim to help geothermal energy reach its full potential here in the UK.

The two-day virtual seminar offered attendees the opportunity to watch live technical presentations (and to watch them back on-demand), get involved in Q&A and panel sessions, learn about the latest technologies from the 5-minute “Tech-byte” presentations, and network with like-minded professionals on a global scale. Delegates tuned in from around 20 countries worldwide including the UK, Netherlands, Bulgaria, United States, Austria, France, Canada, Spain, Australia, Poland, Belgium, Italy, Denmark, Norway, Dubai, Myanmar, Ukraine, India, and Sweden.

Mearns & Gill act as Professional Conference Organisers (PCO) for SPE Aberdeen providing a full event management service including abstract management, financial management, supplier liaison, virtual platform selection and management, programme formation, marketing, sponsorship sales and liaison, delegate management, and more. We managed the Geothermal Seminar from start to finish, working with the technical committee to create an interesting and engaging event for over 160 delegates from around the world.

If you want to find out more about how virtual events, or a PCO or Event Manager, can benefit your organisation, please get in touch.