THE WORLD AT ONCE

摘要

THE COUNCIL ON Safe Transportation of Hazardous Articles (COSTHA) held its Annual Forum this year in virtual format. Given the limitations imposed by travel restrictions and social distancing, this was inevitable, although it was noticeable that COSTHA had learned from last year's event, as well as those hosted since then by other organisations, and provided a platform for presentations that also encouraged debate and discussion. For instance, while the presenters were on screen, a side bar was very busy with comments, queries and clarifications, with that conversation quite possibly much livelier than can be achieved during a live event, where the audience is normally hushed and reverent. As it was, questions were asked and answered, either by one of COSTHA's many expert people on hand, by the presenters themselves after they had finished speaking, or by other attendees. After all, COSTHA's membership - and others that attend the Annual Forum - are the creme de la creme of the hazardous materials world and a well-stocked fount of knowledge on all things dangerous goods-related. And with more than 200 people online for many of the sessions, attendance was not far short of what was usual in the good old days of an in-person event.