This is an archive of a past conference. Visit the latest LibrePlanet conference site.


March 21-22
MIT Stata Center
Cambridge, MA

Call for Sessions

The Call for Sessions for LibrePlanet 2015 is open from Monday, September 15th, 2014 to Sunday, November 2nd Sunday, November 9th, 2014 at 19:59 EST (23:59 UTC).

This year, the theme of LibrePlanet is "Free Software Everywhere." We're looking for talks that touch on the many places and ways that free software is used around the world, as well as ways to make free software ubiquitous. Think "where" in the broadest sense of the word--it's not just geography-based talks we're after. What are some contexts where free software is thriving, and some others where it needs a push? How have you worked to gain a foothold for free software in your company or community? And what about free software on all of the myriad pieces of hardware we use, including laptops, phones, tablets, and even coffee makers? At LibrePlanet 2015, we're taking software freedom around the world, to outer space, and through all kinds of industries, governments, organizations, fields of study, and communities.

Should I submit a session proposal for LibrePlanet?

Yes! We encourage speakers of all experience levels to submit a proposal. LibrePlanet is a great place for new and seasoned speakers alike. While LibrePlanet always includes technical talks, our program also emphasizes topics that are appropriate for newcomers. We are especially interested to see proposals from people who use free software or apply its values for social benefit, from academic research to community organizing, education to medicine and the arts.

While we do not provide honorariums for our speakers, speakers are eligible to apply for travel scholarships (see our list of important dates for more info). So yes, please submit a proposal even if you live far away and aren't sure you can afford a plane ticket!

Important dates (subject to change)

  • September 15: Call for sessions opens
  • November 2: Call for sessions deadline
  • Week of December 15 December 8: Speakers notified
  • January 15: Conference schedule announced

Some ideas for sessions

  • Sharing a story of how free software has been applied for social benefit
  • Tackling a threat or organizing challenge facing the free software movement
  • Demonstrating a new and exciting piece of software or development within an existing software project
  • Engaging youth, the future of the free software movement. We're looking for proposals for all age groups, from young children, to high school age, to college students
  • Thinking critically about challenges and opportunities facing the movement, and charting a path to victory
  • Bringing a key part of free software history to life
  • Giving newcomers a way to learn about free software principles and philosophy, and/or giving newcomers a way to start using free software in their daily lives

At LibrePlanet, we are looking for sessions that embrace the free software movement's ideals and also its language. For example, successful proposals will use phrases like "free software" and avoid phrases like "open source."

Past sessions

Other ways to engage

There is also a place on the proposal form to indicate if you would like to participate in the conference in other ways in addition to your session – by framing and moderating a panel; facilitating a caucus space; sharing media-making skills; demonstrating something cool in the exhibit hall; or blogging about the conference. Please let us know about the community-building skills you have to share!

We'll put your organization on your speaker name tag if your presentation is accepted.


Session information

Individual presentations

Presentations are typically 45 minutes in length. This is an opportunity to talk about your software project, organizing effort, licensing knowledge, or just something you've learned from using free software, with time for discussion. Describe your proposal, your background, how it relates to the conference theme, and what you hope participants will gain from your presentation.

Panels

Panels are typically 1 ½ hours long and are composed of three or more people who want to engage deeply with a particular question, challenge, or theme. Describe your proposal, how it relates to the conference theme, and what you hope participants will gain from your presentation. We encourage you to propose a full list of panelists from diverse backgrounds. In addition to you own biography, please use the "Presenter bio(s)" field to include biographical and contact information for each panelist and indicate whether you have approached them about participating in your panel. If accepted, we will work with you and connect you with similar proposals. In some cases we may combine proposals or add speakers to a proposed panel.

Workshops

Workshops are generally 1 ½ hours long and are submitted by one or more people who have an intersectional, interactive presentation to share. Workshops take many formats – from software or hardware demonstrations, to workshops for new contributors, to skillshares and tutorials. If you are submitting a proposal for a workshop, please describe the goals and take-aways for the session. In addition to you own biography, please use the "Presenter bio(s)" field to include biographical and contact information for each panelist and indicate whether you have approached them about participating in your workshop.

Strategic Action Sessions

Strategic action sessions are generally 1 ½ hours long and provide a space for activists to learn from each other’s organizing work and share strategies, successes, and challenges. Examples of strategy sessions might include: starting a local user group, discussing how to message free software to political activists, sharing PR best practices to promote free software, among others.

The working title for your proposed session. If your session is accepted, we will contact you to finalize the title and description.

Would you like to participate in the conference in other ways – by framing and moderating a panel; facilitating a caucus space; sharing media-making skills, or blogging about the conference? Please let us know about the community-building skills you have to share!


Identity and demographics

LibrePlanet is committed to increasing the diversity of the free software movement, and to making the diversity that already exists more visible. To that end, our CFS process takes demographic information into account in order to build a program that features as many different voices and perspectives as possible. We ask you to please share any demographic information about yourself that you are comfortable sharing.

Your proposal will not be judged negatively if you decline to answer any of the following questions.


Miscellaneous

We are unable to provide honorariums or speaker's fees to presenters at LibrePlanet. However, presenters are eligible to apply for travel scholarships which may fund or partially fund transportation and hotel expenses.

We will not publish or share your information with any party outside the FSF. See our privacy policy for more information.

Please hit save when you complete the form, then check your email for a confirmation. Your session proposal will not be submitted until you confirm.

Thanks for submitting a proposal!