Dmitriy Muravyev is the A.J. Pasant Fellow and associate professor in the Department of Finance in the Broad College of Business.
Conferences, workshops and seminars are seemingly back to normal, with in-person events and gatherings taking place in full force. But it’s worth noting how technology has truly enabled new methods of learning and connection, specifically for researchers like me.
During the first few months of the pandemic, I saw the social distancing challenge as a chance to create new platforms for sharing and discussing research. I teamed up with two other professors and launched the Virtual Derivatives Workshop, an online academic seminar series focused on derivatives markets.
The VDW mimics a traditional academic seminar, with a paper presentation followed by a question and answer session. We host seminars biweekly on Zoom, and anyone interested can join by subscribing to the mailing list. Since its inception in May 2020, the VDW has attracted a large and diverse audience including leading academics in this field.
We have featured more than 70 distinguished speakers, including John Hull, the author of the seminal textbook on derivatives. The VDW covers a broad spectrum of topics related to derivatives, such as valuation, hedging, risk management, market microstructure, regulation and more. It also fosters diversity by showcasing early career researchers and underrepresented groups.
The seminars are recorded and uploaded to the VDW YouTube channel which has reached more than 2,000 hours watched. This allows academics who have a time conflict or who are in a different time zone to access the seminars at their convenience and learn about the latest research. Using videos also makes cutting edge academic research more accessible to a wider audience.
The VDW is not only a valuable source of information and feedback for researchers in derivatives but also a testament to how the pandemic has changed the norms and perceptions of academic communication. Before COVID-19, online seminars were not widely accepted or appreciated by the academic community. However, after experiencing the benefits of virtual platforms, many academics have become more open-minded and supportive of online seminars.
Moreover, online seminars can provide a niche for specialized fields, like derivatives, that may not have enough audience or resources in local settings. While many academic seminars have faded away after the return to in-person life, the VDW has survived and thrived because it caters to a specific and dedicated group of scholars who share a common interest in derivatives.
The VDW is a great example of how technology can be used to create new opportunities for learning and collaboration. You will be amazed by how much you can learn from these online seminars!
