Given the rapidly evolving situation, we made the difficult decision to reschedule the conference. Initially envisioning a physical gathering, we soon realized the pandemic's unpredictable nature made planning precarious. Subsequently, we pivoted towards creating a fully virtual conference.

While none of us had prior experience in this domain, and despite enduring periods of doubt and uncertainty, we deemed ICPR 2020 a resounding success. Attracting nearly 1,400 attendees from around the world, and featuring three days of simultaneous tracks, all orchestrated seamlessly from a single base in Amsterdam, we marveled at our technical adaptability in pulling off such an event.

Distinguished speakers like Michael Mithoefer, Janis Phelps, Wade Davis, and Katrin Preller left a lasting impression, along with thought-provoking discussions on critical topics such as diversity, equity, and access in psychedelic medicine, as well as the medicalization and mainstreaming of psychedelics. The ability to engage in post-event discussions fostered a sense of community, particularly during a time when many were isolated or in small groups. The digital format enhanced accessibility and significantly reduced our carbon footprint, allowing us to easily record talks for YouTube. As the pandemic subsided, we began contemplating ways to revisit the original plans that had been temporarily set aside.