Lightning Talks

What is a "Lightning Talk"?

Lightning Talks are a very popular format invented at Open Source conferences. Talks are very short -- five minutes maximum -- so you can hear ten or eleven topics in the 65-minute session. There is no approval process: speakers merely sign up at the door. Topics are generally up-and-coming Python projects: things not big enough to warrant a regular talk this year but maybe they will next year. You heard about it first at Lightning Talks! Be the first on your block to learn about the new project everyone will soon be buzzing about! Talks also cover projects you'll never see again but are still interesting. Wow, you can do that with Python? Others ask the community for help implementing something, show what they've learned, or spout off about a pet peeve. See the topic suggestions below for additional ideas. If a topic is boring, don't worry, it'll be over in five minutes!

Sessions

One lightning talk session will be held in the Ballroom at 4:15PM on Saturday the 25th.

For speakers

If you've never given a talk before, Lightning Talks are a good place to start. You don't need to make slides, and if you do decide to make slides, you only need to make three.

Be on time because slots fill up quickly! If the slots are full, consider doing an Open Space session for your topic instead.

The five-minute limit is strictly enforced. You will be given warnings during the last two minutes. Practice your talk beforehand, and don't pack it tightly. Plan to just introduce the topic and point people to a website or contact address for more information. Five minutes is generally equivalent to 1-2 pages of handwritten notes.

Lightning Talks don't have Q&A periods. If people want to talk further they'll catch you in the hallway or contact you after the conference. If you sense significant interest, you can schedule an Open Space session to answer questions or discuss the topic more thoroughly.

Topic suggestions

Anything Python-related goes. Here are some ideas:

• I want to do cool project X. Does anyone want to help?
• Successful Project: I did project X. It was a success. Here's how you could benefit.
• Failed Project: I did project X. It was a failure, and here's why.
• Why my favorite module / add-on package is X.
• Heresy: People always say X, but they're wrong. Here's why.
• You All Suck: Here's what is wrong with our community.
• Call to Action: Let's all do more of X / less of X.
• A Funny Thing happened to me on the Way to the Mailing List / Newsgroup / Web Forum.
• Wouldn't it be cool if X?
• Someone needs to do X.
• Wish List
• Why X was a mistake.
• Why X looks like a mistake, but isn't.
• What it's like to do X.
• Here's a useful technique that worked.
• Here's a technique I thought would be useful but didn't work.
• Why add-on package X sucks.
• Comparison of similar add-on packages X and Y.
• Why we should be paying more attention to X.
• My Favorite Feature

Tell me more

For more information, contact the "Lightning Talks Coordinator" found on the Department Heads page.