Conference formats

The well-known traditional conference formats such as papers and panels, roundtables and plenary sessions are the foundation of the DVRW-conference 2019.  On one of the afternoons, we will create the space for an "unconference", also known as "deconference" or "open space".


Panel sessions

The panel sessions during the conference will be 90 minutes long. They have a chair and consist of no more than four individual papers. There should be enough room for discussion and questions. If more than four papers are submitted to one panel session and accepted, we will automatically reserve two consecutive sessions of 90 minutes each.  However, we can adjust this upon request. The rooms feature projectors with screens and HDMI as well as VGA connection ports including cables. You will have to bring your own notebook and, if needed, adapters (e.g., for apple devices).

Panel sessions may be submitted as open or closed sessions. Closed panel sessions are submitted together with all individual papers to be presented during the session. Further submissions for these session are not possible. Interested contributors may submit individual papers to open panels sessions. Roundtables are similar to panel sessions. However, they aim at discussing a specific topic and do not contain discrete individual papers. Important publications may be discussed or conversations with authors organised ("author-meets-critics").

image: freepik.com

Unconferencing

image: freepik.com

An „Unconference “is less structured than traditional conference formats: participants have the opportunity to put topics, questions and issues during the conference ad hoc on the agenda. There will be no individual paper presentations. The scope and dynamics of an unconference depends therefore on spontaneous and active participation of those interested. We will place white boards, flip charts and pin boards on central conference locations. During the conference, participants may briefly sketch out or note topics on these  "black boards". At the beginning of the unconference-session, we will briefly introduce the topics in order to facilitate group formation. If we do not have enough space to cater for all groups, we might have to vote. Those who have proposed a topic should also be chairing the respective group. However, this may of course be negotiated within the group. The remainder of the "unconference" dependes on the dynamics in the groups. You should keep in mind that "unconferencing" goes hand in hand with "unpanelling": There should be no individual presentations, everybody should get the space to voice ideas, thoughts and questions and every voice should be heard and reacted upon. Sitting in a circle helps to facilitate a conversation. Further information, concerning, for instantce, time and location, will be provided in due course after the conference programme has been compiled.