---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: ICTD 2015 Secretariat <secretariat@ictd2015.org> Date: Sun, Jun 1, 2014 at 7:24 AM Subject: ICTD 2015: Call for Submissions for Open Sessions To: open@ictd2015.org Would you like to lead a lively, interactive program at the ICTD 2015 conference, outside of the full papers and notes? We invite you to propose an Open Session! Open sessions are two additional days at the conference with events of a less formal flavor to take place on the 15th and 18th of May 2015. Sessions can vary widely in style and theme, and include, but not be limited to: panels, workshops, discussions, SIGs, live performances and fishbowls. Successful proposals will work towards inclusiveness, participation and excellence. The language of the submitted proposals and their reviews will be in English, the official conference language. In some cases, a session may merit being conducted in a language other than English. If so, please note the proposed language and indicate why it is important to the session topic. Instructions An open session may run for a whole day, half day or for just 90 minutes. Types of sessions might include: - Workshops, that include hands-on training and exercises for participants - Panels/Debates, on particular areas of theory, practitioner roles, definitions (e.g., What is development? What is sustainability? Ethics in ICTD), reflections on the state of the field and its future--both for research and practice - Special Interest Groups (SIGs); project presentations from different institutions on a common theme (e.g., sustainability, gender, climate change, participatory design, RCTs, failed projects) - Roundtable discussions/Fishbowls/Speed Geeking/Open spaces/Unconferences - Performances/Video Screenings/Storytelling/PechaKucha - Anything else that engages a range of interdisciplinary participants over a short, focused session For more ideas see accepted open sessions for ICTD 2013, ICTD 2012 and ICTD 2010. While organizers may extend invitations to particular participants to attend or present, participation would be open to any conference attendee who wishes to join in on the day of the session (up to room capacity). To propose an open session, please fill out the proposal form providing a 75-word summary and an additional 2-page explanation with more detail about your goals for the session and how they will be achieved (as suggested on the form provided). Please send the completed proposal to open@ictd2015.org by the deadline, December 14, 2014 (11:59pm UTC). Review Proposals for sessions will be reviewed by the open sessions’ committee and judged on the following criteria: - Accessible to a highly interdisciplinary ICT and development audience (if a session should be conducted in a language other than English, please indicate its importance to the topic) - Lively, inclusive, and participatory in style and content - Relevant to the themes of the conference - Demonstrating careful planning and a clear agenda Important dates Dec 14, 2014 Deadline for submission of Open Sessions Jan 19, 2015 Notification of Open Sessions General Conference Chair Arul Chib, Nanyang Technological University Open Sessions Committee Chairs Indrani Medhi Thies, Microsoft Research India Brian DeRenzi, IBM Research Africa