Open Space

The PyCon schedule intentionally leaves some timeslots empty for attendees to informally schedule talks. These Open Space blocks are where the attendees can customize the overall conference by forming their own events on whatever topic they wish.

Things you can do in Open Space:

• Have a Birds-of-a-Feather session.
• Give a presentation or tutorial.
• Hold a panel discussion.
• Run a mini-sprint.
• Brainstorm about a new project.

To set up an open space event:

1. Decide on what you want the event to be and create an appropriate wiki page. If the event is a Birds-of-a-Feather session, please add it to the BoF wiki page. For all other types, add a description as a sub-page of http://wiki.python.org/moin/PyCon2006/ or http://us.pycon.org/TX2006/OpenSpaceTalks.
2. Go to the talks schedule and identify an available timeslot, marked as Open Space Talk: Unassigned.
3. Click on that available timeslot to be taken to a page where you can enter a 5-10 word title describing your event, and a URL pointing to your wiki page that gives more information.
4. When you click to save that form, your talk will be added to the conference schedule and available for everyone to see.
5. Please feel free to publicize your event; post a paper notice on the physical (not online) bulletin board, mention it during the question period of relevant talks, etc.

If you don't have a laptop at the conference, please ask the staff at the registration desk to make the requisite edits. Or, you can contact the "Open Space Talks Coordinator" found on the Department Heads page.