Are You Talking to Me? I recently attended a rather theoretical computer-science conference, and sat, as is my habit, in the front row. The speaker was trying to convey the fine details of 4 ther otete mathematical com Smeton. as opel lost AC that Pot 1 found the tale niingsah- he om Doug Zonghers celebrated “Chicken Cisken Chicken” ak pre ented act 2007 AAS Humor Seton (euhomyoutbe cmimtehPo 14a0sdi). Looking behind me ts bow ater atendees were exctng the highly dene preenaion, It reed aval ofapopsreens peo lwereburiy reading eal, ‘the business mesting tat eve ning asked How many peopl could {allow 10% of 100% ofthe al lence a0 of Y8?" One brave soul ‘esponded psi. twasoniywhen Igor eo os of 0%" hae abou 0% ofthe partipants sve ther ane ‘Ofcourse the statistic should not be taken too serous, but nevertheless, ‘ound shocking! About 100 peo ple ae spending our dap tending {allay and ony St understand 508 ‘ofS the ake? What ite ola of leer ended of Lance Fortnow's pithy destin. of a compater {sence conference as “a Joural tht tees a hotel" indeed the pint ‘ofthe conference i simply to sere # prestigous pubiation, then aend- Ingen conference and gga ak Jshordlethatonemastovercomeas ‘condtionofpleaton Ast pointed fein my may 0s teahora Teen ty Ha Soll Consequences” many onferener ciminated facets lace progamcomiitee meetings In the Site 19808 o sive tae expenses and asl Why don we akethenet og ‘al nepand viuaize our conferences Inthemameotettceney? Tam no serious, of couse Tart ile conferences ey much. Tbe eve hey ate areal component the selene enterprise scence i Sala undertaking For mostofes ou ‘eietife social neces tly lak Meeting a conferences the oni ‘gto maintain ou inks, earn wha furlauest and preatet While some cl the stv of conference happens {coe breaks ad alway, ite cor stirs pace inthe leer al, nd tls ety beter be eet, Sehich means the ashes be cles, Informative, and intecesting. Why © ‘Rehen that we pt so much tention fon ensuring ee quality of the paper, Shdaolile tention on ensuing eh ually ofthe talks? "These ate many ways in which we am temp to rprone he quality ef Sonfeence ake, Some ofthese mes Sire ae ey and obvious Fore ple, greduate students should be up hat preparing 2 good alk ‘ule diferent rom, though equally Afnportane as, wring geod pepe ‘They shoul never pe a conference Taiwtiou sme dy rans wth Dv tay ones eeaback rom thee a Sorandfeiow studen as, for he? frst few conference talk, prada Many wil be eather shocked hen Seeing and hearing themselves forthe frstime Thisadice apples not ony fen make the ook mistake f ns latter lng oe the aulence everyting in thei pape, eater than tell the ad ‘ence abut thir paper, they ate 08 Thon ones ging por hs. "Conferences shoul in my opinion, take active measures Co prove pe entation gual. & radia! proposal Would bee regire authors submit ‘otonly papers bu alia ide eed Ings ofthe tals. The qual of bose presentations would. be considered In making program decisions. Less dial a move to requie authors to Send draft presentations before the Conference, andreclve feedback om ‘hel session chats Ie shoul ls be ‘elt eyo augment conference: management stems with feedlack ayes where conference patpnts [Sn espesker anonyme eedback fon ther presentations. (hat would (Gre atendees something constructive "odo during poor pesentattons) ‘some conferences, Lave raed the issue of poor presentations, and ‘eneauntered upwilinges by confer ‘nee offal tote any coneetemea ure am wld my proposals ae “oo. Intasive”which stray puzaling We ‘manage conference programs with an mend often rafting man ether by eometimes conversa progam Arison. Why are we suddenly "End fran geri” when icomes to pre= Sin gual? 1 conferences ate ior e ug ete steer than "Jouraals meting ato {er and make nurethe ise we pend | Sending them nvelspene fo radaste students While dent | Moshe, vad erro nour