Feedback session 2024

[samumantha]

80% of the group will come again.

Good:

• time for discussions, not too packed
• food was included
• number of days: ideal with 2 days
• map was really nice
• Food was better than NeiC conferences (vegetarian options, yay!)
• info emails were sufficient

To improve:

• more diversity in talk length, have workshops
• have timings ready during submission, or ask how long people want their contribution to be
• First session too unstructured
• Keynote could be on first day
• pre-conference program, eg hackathon
• signage missing
• air conditioning
• outreach materials (posters for others to print/hang in universities)
• theme (maybe, but could also be too restricting)
• maybe couple it to another conference to increase participation? Like in time after one another. Or do it co-located to some other Scicomp event to attract local people
• find discussion topics that interest everyone, or parallel tracks
• information emails came quite late, presenter information could be on website

[bast]

Notes from our group work:

What to definitely keep

• Informal nature
• Long breaks
• Time-keeping
• Keep single-threaded and two days, do not introduce parallel tracks quite
  yet. Do not add more days. If it means we have to split into tracks, then
  that's OK.

What to change

• Put more weight on unconference format
• Less one person talking, more discussion and interactivity
• All info in one place (website and schedule)
• More demos
• Involve/invite more researchers (but see also also points below
  "unsolved/unclear")
• Invite policy makers and representative from a funding agency
• More note-taking by all (show and use the notes more)
• Consider adding tutorials/workshops. But the risk is that it introduces
  parallel tracks or makes conference longer.
• Consider adding 1-2 days of hackathon.

Unsolved/unclear

• How to reach people who would benefit but don't know about this?
• Outreach
• What is the goal of the conference? Showing what services RSE can offer to
  researchers? Or is it to exchange among RSEs?

[simo-tuomisto]

Notes from our group:

What would you change?

• More ads / announcements
• Maybe not organize on Friday (one suggestion)
• Some outward facing forum / board / discussion to ask about conference
• Audit the talks

What would you keep?

• RSS feeds
• Well organized breaks between talks
• Short 15 min talks
• Talks about challenges / difficulties
• Great introduction session