Abstract for: Bridging the Gap: Exploring Barriers and Enablers to Conference Participation

Being able to attend academic conferences like the ISDC is very important to share knowledge and develop professionals. However, there are barriers like cost, distance, visa issues and internet access. This Work-in-progress paper examines what these barriers are and explores potential enablers such as financial aid and online participation options. Using system dynamics concepts, we aim to understand the complex interactions between these factors and propose solutions to improve conference accessibility and diversity.