This paper seeks to advance our understanding of the underlying reasons that sustain high levels of academic flying, and examines how a low-carbon academia with less air travel might come about. Data from 30 interviews with academics showed that expectations of internationalisation, networking, and ideals of a productive academic stand among the strongest drivers of academic flying. These drivers come forth from underlying objectives such as pursuing excellence in research and working towards successful careers. Findings from this research suggest that institutional and cultural change are prerequisites to mainstream practical alternatives to academic flying, such as wider use of digital communication tools, grounded travelling, and low-carbon conferences and meetings. We see a role for universities, grant-providing authorities, and other academic organisations to include environmental standards and criteria in internationalisation strategies, the concept of excellence, and funding evaluation processes. From our analysis of academics' experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, we identify three factors that appear essential in determining whether digital communication tools can substitute for physical presence: (1) desired type of interaction, (2) existing social relations among participants, and (3) number of participants. Finally, we discuss whether and to what extent voluntary guidelines, the adoption of digital tools, and other soft measures may lead to cuts in academic flying at the scale and pace required for meeting climate targets, suggesting that enforcing limits on academic air travel might be unavoidable.

中文翻译：

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减少 COVID-19 之后的学术飞行：驱动因素、替代方案和变革途径

本文旨在加深我们对维持高水平学术飞行的根本原因的理解，并研究如何实现航空旅行较少的低碳学术界。来自 30 位学者访谈的数据表明，对国际化、网络化和富有成效的学术理想的期望是学术飞行的最强大驱动力。这些驱动力来自根本目标，例如追求卓越的研究和为成功的职业而努力。这项研究的结果表明，制度和文化变革是学术飞行的实用替代方案成为主流的先决条件，例如更广泛地使用数字通信工具、接地旅行以及低碳会议和会议。我们看到了大学、资助机构的作用，和其他学术组织将环境标准和标准纳入国际化战略、卓越概念和资助评估过程。根据我们对 COVID-19 大流行期间学术界经历的分析，我们确定了三个因素，这些因素对于确定数字通信工具是否可以替代实际存在至关重要：(1) 所需的互动类型，(2) 参与者之间现有的社会关系， （三）参加人数。最后，我们讨论了自愿性指导方针、数字工具的采用和其他软措施是否以及在何种程度上可能会导致学术飞行的削减达到气候目标所需的规模和速度，这表明对学术航空旅行实施限制可能是有效的。不可避免的。