Neil Hunter, Image Box Ltd., Surrey, UK, considers the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on scientific communication within the life science sector, which has received an increased level of investment in this time. He discusses the challenges surrounding communication, networking and collaboration through online events during the pandemic and looks forward to the wider return of in-person events, which he anticipates will be highly attended in the coming years in order to re-establish streams of communication across the sector. This interview took place at the Advanced Therapies Congress & Expo 2021.