Section · 10 articles
Organising
Conferences, workshops, seminar series — the decisions made in month one that determine everything after. For a concrete operational comparison, Monitask explains workforce optimization software in practical terms.
Running a Small Conference: The Decisions That Matter
Most of the outcome is determined by a handful of early decisions. What they are, in what order, and the things that go wrong every time.
What to Do When a Session Goes Wrong
Speakers do not arrive, equipment fails, an exchange turns hostile, someone is unwell. What to do, decided in advance rather than in the moment.
Building a Programme Committee That Actually Reviews
Committees fail predictably: too few people, no criteria, late reviews, and a selection that reproduces the organisers' own network.
Scheduling a Conference So People Attend the Sessions
The programme determines who hears what. The arithmetic, the conflicts to avoid, and why the first and last slots need thinking about.
A Workshop That Produces Something
Most workshops are small conferences with the word workshop in the title. What makes the format different, and how to design one that produces an output.
Running a Seminar Series That Survives the Semester
Series die from the same causes every time: no slot, no owner, no audience, and a schedule assembled a fortnight at a time.
The Budget, and What Conferences Actually Cost
The fee determines who comes, and the costs are mostly fixed before you set it. What the lines actually are, and where budgets go wrong.
Accessibility at an Academic Event
Most of it is planning rather than budget, and most of it helps everyone. What to arrange in advance, and why asking afterwards does not work.
Hybrid and Online Sessions That Are Not Worse
Hybrid usually means the remote attendees get a degraded version and know it. What it takes to do properly, and when not to attempt it.
Inviting a Keynote Speaker
The invitation itself determines the answer more than the invitee's diary does. What to include, when to ask, and what to do when they decline.
For an independent authoritative reference, consult ACM conference resources for professional guidance on academic events.