BOBCATSSS 2009

Hi everyone!

Organizing BOBCATSSS has been a real adventure. It all started when we were given the opportunity to participate in BOBCATSSS 2008, at Zadar, in Croatia, thanks to the University of Porto, which financed the trip for one lecturer and a student. There we met our Finnish colleagues from the University of Tampere, with whom we had already exchanged a few ideas via MSN Messenger. I think it was only then that we truly realized the sheer dimension and complexity which organizing such a symposium implied. Thus, I fervently advise the future BOBCATSSS organizers to come to Porto in January 2009, as only then will they have direct contact with the work involved. The trip to Zadar was also an excellent opportunity for us to publicize the city which is going to host the upcoming BOBCATSSS, to present the theme and sub-themes and to captivate participants. We were loaded with information to distribute and there was high interest and curiosity in our stand, which was kindly conceded by our hosts.

The meeting we had with the BOB’2008 organizing team was very important, as we were able to clarify all the doubts that came up during the 3 days of the symposium. We exchanged contacts and these have proved very useful. We use them when we need to and we always get ready answers. I would thus like to thank everyone for all their help.

Once we were back in Porto, it was down to work. We had to get together with the team and show them what BOBCATSSS was really all about. We had to discuss what we had seen in Zadar so that everyone could have an idea as to what we were getting into. We organized the team into work groups, with two general coordinators and sub-coordinators, who are responsible for each of the areas. There are meetings between coordinators and sub-coordinators whenever necessary. We contact our colleagues in Finland regularly, through MSN, Moodle and we’ve also had a video-conference session with them. I think so far everything is going very well and that we have put together an excellent team.

Time stands still for no man, we’re already going on the 2nd Call for Papers and sponsors have been showing up. We hope Porto will be invaded in January 2009, that participants will benefit from the issues to be discussed and, obviously, that they will truly enjoy their stay in the magnificent and captivating city of Porto.

All the best,

Susana

Here are step-by-step instructions on how to send your abstract through the OpenConf system.

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We have been adding new content and altogether new pages to the website. You can now read the frequently asked questions (and their answers), there’s information for the press, and you can get to know the organisers. A summary in Finnish is available, too.

The deadline for the sending of the extended abstracts is approaching! Please keep in mind that you can send your submission through the OpenConf system and still edit it until the deadline closes. See the contributions page for details.

June 12: Posters created by Team Porto have been added to the press page. Print them out and spread the word!

June 15: Most of the website has been translated into Portuguese.

June 17: Information added about the city, flights, hotels and hostels.

June 26: Some updates to the FAQ.