OOPSLA panels have always been informative and lively and are among the best-attended events at the conference. If you would like to engage large numbers of OOPSLA '97 attendees in debate or discussion of a current topic, we invite you to organize and submit a panel proposal.
A successful panel raises important issues and encourages discussion, both among panelists and between panelists and the audience. Creativity in the panel format, audience engagement, and actual discussion by panel participants are key factors in making panels stimulating and useful. Your proposed panel format should include considerations of audience size (a popular panel might attract upwards of 1000 attendees). However, panel content is also important: good panels provide a forum for lively discussion, but excellent panels also deliver a few key practical suggestions or take-home lessons. We prefer not to offer panels that simply provide an opportunity for panelists to give short talks on their own areas of expertise.
Panels will be presented in parallel with papers; each panel will be no more than 90 minutes in length, with at least 45 minutes allotted for discussion and debate. Although the standard format has panelists introducing their positions followed by open discussion and debate, we welcome other more creative formats.
Each submission must include the panel title, a brief summary of the key issues to be discussed, the proposed panel format (including any unusual operational issues), panel moderator contact information (name, affiliation, address, phone and fax number, electronic mail address), the concrete suggestions the panel might deliver to the audience (if appropriate), and panelist information (for each panel member, supply background biographical information and a short position statement on the issues and the concrete steps). Panel proposals should be submitted by e-mail: plain text files, please.
Proposals must be received by Panels Symposium Chair: March 3, 1997. Notification of acceptance or rejection: May 1, 1997. Deadline for camera-ready and electronic copy: July 18, 1997.
Panels Chair - Mary Beth Rosson
Virginia Tech
Department of Computer Science
McBryde 660
Blacksburg, VA 24061-0106 USA
Phone: +1-540-231-6470
Fax: +1-540-231-6075
E-mail: rosson@vt.edu
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