Mark Childs
University of Warwick, UK
Conference papers submissions for DIVERSE 2005
Mark Childs discussed conference paper submissions to date
University of Warwick, UK
MOD:
So, Mark, how is the conference organisation coming along? What stage are you at?
MC:
That's a very timely question. We're just now receiving the re-submissions of the papers that weren't accepted by the panel outright the first time round.
MOD:
Re-submissions?
MC:
Yes. We had 43 papers submitted, from around a dozen countries, of which the panel accepted 28 outright. I passed the papers round to the conference committee and just took the average response from the members, then only intervened if it was a borderline "accept as is" or "accept with amendments". There weren't any rejected completely - well not as a majority decision. Everyone has a slightly different take on what the conference is for, both on the committee and from the submitters point of view, so one of the challenging things for me is to balance these different viewpoints. I've tended to err perhaps towards inclusivity, but I also thought it was important that submissions that perhaps didn't come across that well got another chance to submit.
MOD:
So you've had another round of papers come in?
MC:
Yes. In some cases I thought that the abstracts hadn't made the educational context, or the novel nature of the work, sufficiently clear, but that in all of them there was some interesting work happening. I didn't want to just go with what they'd sent in already because I know from presenting at DIVERSE that it can feel quite competitive between the different streams. I think this year there is such a high quality of material, and so many fascinating pieces of work being discussed, that we're all going to be spoilt for choice. The abstract needs to be clear enough that the delegates will know the value of attending your session, and I'd like to think that the people I've asked to resubmit will see it in that light. I'm hoping that all 15 of the people who didn't get through the first time will resubmit.
MOD:
Any papers in particular you're looking forward to seeing?
MC:
Yes, there are, but I don't want to look like I'm displaying favouritism. I will say though, that whether you're subject's Shakespeare or space travel, there's something for you at the conference.
MOD:
How are things shaping up for conference itself?
MC:
Well, Lori has some great activities planned, and is providing some excellent accommodation. Brandon's website is looking good, but I'm leaving that side of things in their capable hands. I'm just now myself starting the acclimatisation process of inuring myself to country music, because I gather there's rather a lot of it round there.
This document was prepared for the DIVERSE newsletter November 2004 - ref: www.diverse-net.org/diversenl0305mc1.htm
