How Tsinghua University Powered a Full-Day Research Workshop with SpatialChat

Riddhik Kochhar -

About Tsinghua University

Tsinghua University is one of China’s leading research institutions, known globally for excellence in engineering, applied mathematics, and interdisciplinary research. For its Model-Based Optimization workshop, the university planned a full-day virtual academic event combining formal sessions with poster-style discussions and parallel researcher conversations.

Delivering this format online required recreating the dynamics of an in-person academic workshop, where participants move fluidly between presentations and engage directly with presenters.

The Challenge: Managing Parallel Poster Discussions in a Virtual Format

The organizing team needed to run a full-day workshop with multiple poster sessions operating in parallel. Traditional video platforms made it difficult to prepare poster rooms in advance, manage several discussion areas simultaneously, and allow participants to transition naturally between conversations.

Without spatial movement or pre-configured environments, webinar-style formats risked limiting interaction and reducing the depth of researcher-to-researcher exchange. The team required a system that could support advance preparation, structured flow, and organic discussion.

The Solution: Pre-Configured Poster Rooms and Natural Attendee Movement

SpatialChat was selected to host the workshop and poster sessions within a dedicated virtual space. Organizers were granted access 24 hours before the event, allowing them to upload materials, configure poster rooms, test layouts, and rehearse session flow.

The platform enabled the team to create multiple discussion clusters where presenters could host conversations while attendees moved freely between posters, mirroring the experience of an in-person research event. This flexibility reduced day-of friction and ensured presenters were comfortable with the format before the workshop began.

The Results: Smooth Delivery and Stronger Researcher Interaction

The workshop was successfully delivered as a full-day virtual event with parallel poster sessions and structured plenary moments. Key outcomes included:

  • Parallel poster discussions running simultaneously
  • Natural attendee flow between rooms and discussion clusters
  • Pre-configured materials and room layouts reducing day-of setup stress
  • Higher quality researcher-to-researcher interaction compared to webinar-style formats

The seamless execution validated SpatialChat as a reliable format for academic workshops requiring structured programming and decentralized discussion. The success of the event ultimately led to the deal being closed, reinforcing confidence in the platform for future research-focused gatherings.

Power Research Workshops with Spatial Interaction

Academic workshops depend on conversation, movement, and preparation. SpatialChat enables universities to design virtual research events that preserve the dynamics of in-person poster halls, while supporting structured sessions, parallel discussions, and smooth execution at scale.