The DebConf Content team would like to call for proposals for the DebConf20 conference, which will take place online, from August 23rd to 29th, 2020.

Submitting an Event

You can now submit an event proposal. Events are not limited to traditional presentations or informal sessions (BoFs): we welcome submissions of tutorials, performances, art installations, debates, or any other format of event that you think would be of interest to the Debian community.

Regular sessions may either be 20 or 45 minutes long (including time for questions), other kinds of sessions (workshops, demos, lightning talks, …) could have different durations. Please choose the most suitable duration for your event and explain any special requests.

In order to submit a talk, you will need to create an account on the site. We suggest that Debian Salsa account holders (including DDs and DMs) use their Salsa login when creating an account. However, this isn’t required, as you can sign up with an e-mail address and password.

Timeline

Late submissions are possible and will be considered on a case by case basis.

Topics and Tracks

Though we invite proposals on any Debian or FLOSS related subject, we have some broad topics on which we encourage people to submit proposals, including but not limited to:

You are welcome to either suggest more tracks, or to become a coordinator for any of them. For more information, see the Content team wiki.

Language-specific miniconfs

This time we will try something different: language-specific miniconfs as tracks inside DebConf20. If you would like to organize one, get in touch with the content team by email to content@debconf.org or on the #debconf-content channel on IRC. Note that for that to work, you will have to provide volunteers who speak the language to the content team (to review and approve talks) and to the video team (to operate the streaming tools live during the talks or edit pre-recorded talks in advance), because those jobs will need people with knowledge of the language spoken in the talks.

Time zones

As a global online conference, scheduling needs to fit around participants’ time zones. Please indicate the time zones you’ll be available to host your events from. And if you have expected participants (e.g. for a BoF) please indicate relevant time zones or a preferred time range (in UTC).

Online Talks

We are still working on specifics of how exactly the talks will happen, but the accepted speakers will be notified as soon as we know about that. In principle, there are 2 possibilities: you can either pre-record your talk and be available for a live Q&A session, or give it live over videoconferencing.

Talk proposal help on IRC

This year we will be holding office hours on IRC. Those will be designated times where the DebConf content team will be available to help potential speakers prepare their talk proposals for DebConf.

Dates and times for those will be announced later.

Code of Conduct

Our event is covered by a Code of Conduct designed to ensure everyone’s safety and comfort. The code applies to all attendees, including speakers and the content of their presentations. Do not hesitate to contact us at content@debconf.org if you have any questions or are unsure about certain content you’d like to present.

Video Coverage

As an online conference, talks will be streamed live over the Internet. And unless speakers opt-out, all scheduled talks will be recorded and published later under the DebConf license (MIT/Expat), as well as presentation slides and papers whenever available.

Please note that, although we will make your wishes known to the participants, we cannot control whether attendees record and publish your talk from the live stream.

Closing note

DebConf20 is accepting sponsors; if you are interested, or think you know of others who would be willing to help, please get in touch with sponsors@debconf.org.

In case of any questions, or if you wanted to bounce some ideas off us first, please do not hesitate to reach out to the content team at content@debconf.org.

We hope to see you online soon!

The DebConf team