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Proposals how to WFH... successfully .docx The new normal A common observation among IIASA researchers is how easily many face-to-face activities have moved online post-lockdown and how quickly virtual working has become the norm. “The transition from physical to virtual appeared almost seamless, possibly because everyone wanted it that way. Even those of us with silver hair learned to use the multiple modes for interaction offered by online communication platforms and found the ‘raise hand’ function,” observes IIASA Deputy Director General for Science, Leena Srivastava. Keywan Riahi, coordinating lead author on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report and Energy Program director was surprised at how effective large-scale virtual meetings can be if they are organized well. “I was in IPCC plenary meetings with more than 250 people logging on at the same time. These online meetings seem to be more productive: parallel threads and discussions can be opened, and while somebody is giving a plenary presentation, others can start real-time discussions in the chat.” Increased efficiency? The sense that virtual working leads to improved efficiency is echoed by Caroline Zimm, a researcher with The World in 2050 (TWI2050) initiative. “In our third TWI2050 report released earlier this year, we again brought together authors from all over the world. The advantage of moving online was that we were able to meet several times during the writing process, while previously we just had one large in-person meeting. In virtual meetings I experienced people to be more punctual, to stick closer to the agenda, and to give more concise remarks.” For others, the increased efficiency of going digital is not as clear-cut. Piotr Magnuszewski, a researcher in the Risk and Resilience and Water programs, designs simulations and role-playing games to engage diverse audiences on issues of complexity and sustainability. “COVID-19 has had a huge impact on stakeholder engagement as stakeholder events have needed to be redesigned for the virtual world. Building relationships is an important part of these meetings and it is hard to replace face-to-face communication,” he explains. “Careful planning is needed to engage participants beyond typical teleconferences so that they can fully contribute to the discussion and co-creation of results. We used the Miro software to allow large groups to contribute to a joint assessment of climate-related hazards, vulnerabilities, and impacts in Spain.” VIDEOmicrophone phone By Rachel Potter The post-COVID digital workplace Practically overnight, COVID-19 lockdowns have caused the international research community to move its activities online. What has this meant for IIASA and our ability to produce and communicate research? Virtual meetings and remote working have steadily become part of our professional spaces. However, the current pandemic and consequent lockdowns have forced an almost instant digital transformation of our workplaces. VIDEOmicrophone IIASA File Edit Connect Schedule Discuss www.iiasa.ac.at16 Options Winter 2020