On June 6 and 7, 2024, PublicSpaces and Waag Futurelab are hosting the fourth annual PublicSpaces conference. This year's conference theme is Taking back the Internet! With a varied program of keynotes, panels, art, expert sessions, workshops, networking opportunities and a bazaar, we'll work our way toward an Internet where we collectively set the rules. How do we - as citizens, organizations and governments - regain control of our data and our digital lives?

If you have an answer to this question, we invite you to respond to this Call for Proposals! Help us put important topics on the agenda and be part of the conference program. There is room for a variety of topics and initiatives within the theme, and contributions can take different forms. For example, present your idea in a lightning talk, host a panel around your topic or organize a workshop to help people get started with your prototype.

We are looking for topics and projects that address or reflect on digital current events in innovative, surprising ways. Possible topics include:

• The Fediverse and decentralization of the Internet
• Artificial Intelligence
• Privacy
• Education (primary and secondary school)
• Open standards and open source
• Online Public Values
• Online diversity and inclusion
• Ecology of digitization
• European collaborations
• Dutch and European policies
• Digital Commons

Proposals can be submitted in the form of:
• Lightning talks (5 min)
• Panels (45 or 110 min)
• Art, installations, performances
• Workshops (50 or 110 min)

What do we offer speakers?

Through participation in the PublicSpaces conference program you will reach a diverse audience of administrators and policy makers from government, business, science, education, culture, heritage, healthcare and media. Mainly from the Netherlands, but also from other European member states.

Speakers from an organization or institution receive the following as standard:
• Speaker badge with access to the entire conference
• Lunch, coffee/tea/fresh drinks
• Invitation to the speakers' dinner

Foreign and independent speakers, artists and creators (not employed), can claim a modest fee and reimbursement of travel and accommodation expenses (if necessary).
Production support is available, technique, materials and hardware by arrangement.

How to submit your proposal?

Submit your proposal by March 15 using the button below. We ask that you explain the following in the form:

Description - please include in this:
• What is the purpose of this presentation/proposal?
• What will the audience/participants learn by attending this program?
• Is certain prior knowledge required?

Biography/CV - include in this:
• What do you do for work or where have you worked? What position(s)?
• Why is the topic of the presentation important to you?
• Have you written any software? If so, what names?
• Do you ever write or blog or have you recently published anything?
• Where can we read more about you?
• Do you have relevant hobbies and passions? What drives you?
• What social media are you active on?

About the selection

The submitted proposals will be reviewed by the program team. During the month of April you will hear whether your submission has been selected. We may ask you to make some adjustments to the outline or we may ask speakers to join other parts as well.

If you have any questions, please contact us at programma@publicspaces.net.

Good luck!

This Call for Papers closed on 2024-03-19 23:54 (Europe/Amsterdam).