A couple years ago, a carbon footprint calculator clearly showed my flight CO2 footprint heavily outweighing all the other actions in my life, by more than a factor of 10. As an academic and STEM communicator, I began declining invitations to give talks abroad, many of which were paid and fully travel-funded. Instead I refer colleagues who live closer, or I offer to teleconference in. I also try to understand the impact of online presence — I am considered an “influencer” in the field of AI, and I think this is because videos and online articles have a much broader reach than in-person talks.

By traveling less, I have more time to concentrate on my research and students, and feel healthier and less tired. That said, I still flew a few times last year — these were mainly shorter domestic hops rather than transatlantic flights, and for opportunities to make connections in a new community.