Note: The situation with the spread of the virus and government and company responses to it is very fluid. To meet press deadlines for JPT, this piece was written in early March 2020. As the situation evolves, SPE will update this article and individual event or other activity websites with the latest information.
Networking is core to SPE activities, whether through an event, a local section meeting, service on a committee or other activity. The rapid spread of the COVID-19 virus globally is having far-reaching impacts across SPE activities. SPE has acted quickly, first in Asia Pacific, then elsewhere, to avoid increasing potential member and staff exposure. To date, SPE has postponed a number of conferences and most workshops.
View the current list of impacted events here.
Wherever possible, by postponing, rather than cancelling, these events we ensure that the significant work of program committees and authors to prepare for these events covering important technical topics will not have been wasted.
In determining whether to postpone or cancel an event, SPE is taking into consideration the following factors:
- Conditions in the location where the event is to be held
- Mix of local and international participation expected at the event
- Guidance from key companies for the event about employee travel and participation.
SPE will continue actively monitoring the situation and potential impacts on future activities. The health and safety of our members, attendees, and staff is our highest priority, and that will guide any decisions that we make.
Find a complete listing of upcoming SPE events at www.spe.org/events.