🌍 Should NeurIPS Enable Paper Presentations in Europe?
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Originally posted on Bluesky by Serge Belongie (@serge.belongie.com), this timely thread opens a conversation about decentralizing paper presentations at NeurIPS.
🧭 The Poll That Sparked a Discussion
Serge Belongie (University of Copenhagen) and Søren Hauberg (DTU) are exploring a simple but profound question:
Would you present your next NeurIPS paper in Europe instead of traveling to San Diego (US), if this was an option?
They’re collecting data to gauge interest in offering official NeurIPS paper presentations at a European location, without requiring long-haul travel to the US.
Link to participate in the poll (Google Form)
🧠 Why This Matters
Several compelling motivations were outlined:
️ Environmental Impact: Transatlantic flights carry a heavy carbon footprint.
Family Considerations: Long travels can be difficult for researchers with children.
US Entry Concerns: Visa policies and border control have become increasingly strict and unpredictable.
Conference Scale: NeurIPS has grown large — some argue, too large for meaningful in-person interaction.
🧩 Community Reactions
The thread generated a flurry of responses from researchers around the world:
- Concerns about fragmentation:
“Splitting the community weakens the social connections.” — Kosta Derpanis
- Necessity due to constraints:
“Many US-based researchers fear not being let back in if they travel.” — David Marx
- Existing precedents:
“Since the pandemic, we’ve had NeurIPS@Paris and CVPR@Paris satellite meetups.” — David Picard
- Institutional support growing:
IJCAI 2025 will officially include a satellite event in Guangzhou, China to accommodate researchers unable to enter Canada.
→ IJCAI Announcement- Feasibility discussions already underway:
“There is discussion of a NeurIPS 2025 satellite outside the US but in a similar timezone.” — Thomas Dietterich
Implications for Peer Review & Conference DesignThis idea challenges the default notion of “main venue” = “main stage.” As the global AI/ML community grows, inclusivity and accessibility in paper presentation become just as critical as peer-review rigor. Should presenting a NeurIPS paper require thousands of dollars and international visas?
While decentralization may create new logistical and identity challenges, it could also lead to:
- More inclusive participation
- Better environmental stewardship
- Stronger regional AI communities
What Do You Think?Would a European satellite venue dilute the prestige of NeurIPS, or increase its relevance and reach?
Is it time for flagship CS conferences to rethink hybrid and distributed formats, especially post-pandemic?
Drop your thoughts below.
Special thanks to @serge.belongie.com for initiating this much-needed discussion.
