Agree, besides being further away, this would most probably reduce the number of EAs from LMICs who go to EA conferences. I’m from Turkey and the limited number of people from Turkey who have gone to an EAGx did so because there was travel funding(including my first two conferences) and I’m quite confident none of them would be able to go if there was no funding(because I personally know them). I was thinking that 6 people from our college group would come to the next EAGx in Europe, but if there is no travel funding no one besides me most probably won’t go(and I would be able to go because I’m on an EA fellowship!)
Still, I’m not saying all EAs from LMICs should be reimbursed or it makes sense to fund people who wouldn’t otherwise be able to come to conferences(if they didn’t receive funding) but i) on the margin providing travels grants to people from countries with low EA presence may have higher bang for the buck ii)A very selective travel grants policy would have this consequence(effectively reducing a considerable number of EAs based in LMICs from participating in EAGs)
Agree, besides being further away, this would most probably reduce the number of EAs from LMICs who go to EA conferences. I’m from Turkey and the limited number of people from Turkey who have gone to an EAGx did so because there was travel funding(including my first two conferences) and I’m quite confident none of them would be able to go if there was no funding(because I personally know them). I was thinking that 6 people from our college group would come to the next EAGx in Europe, but if there is no travel funding no one besides me most probably won’t go(and I would be able to go because I’m on an EA fellowship!)
Still, I’m not saying all EAs from LMICs should be reimbursed or it makes sense to fund people who wouldn’t otherwise be able to come to conferences(if they didn’t receive funding) but i) on the margin providing travels grants to people from countries with low EA presence may have higher bang for the buck ii)A very selective travel grants policy would have this consequence(effectively reducing a considerable number of EAs based in LMICs from participating in EAGs)