The virtual nature of EDM 2020 makes navigating the conference a bit different than usual, but just as in an in-person EDM, we hope that this conference will be an opportunity to learn new things, connect with others, and be inspired in new research directions. Here is some info about how to navigate the conference and tips for how to get the most out of it:

  • The conference schedule and written question-and-answer are all in Whova. You can download the Whova app in the app store for your Android or iOS tablet, or access it via the web app. You can view a video about how to use Whova here.
  • We want to make EDM 2020 a welcoming place. Please take a look at the Code of Conduct for expectations about behavior at EDM and what to do if you encounter something troubling.
  • All sessions will be on Zoom. You can sign up for a free Zoom account or simply access the links through Whova to see the sessions without an account.
    • To make it easier for everyone to hear, please mute yourself in each Zoom meeting unless it’s a coffee break, you’re presenting, or you’ve been called on. 
    • You’re welcome to have your camera on or off in Zoom, but if it’s on, please be mindful that everyone in the room can see you and whatever else is visible in the webcam. 
    • In Zoom, please use the name you use in your professional life, just as you would on a badge at an in-person conference. You’re welcome to include your institution and/or your pronouns if you wish.
    • There is some integration of Zoom in Whova that will allow you to access Zoom sessions directly in Whova, without downloading the Zoom app. However, it’s probably worth downloading the app as some features may not function quite as well within Whova.
  • Workshops and tutorials will take place at several different times on July 10 and are coordinated by the organizers of each workshop or tutorial. You can see the agenda on Whova, and get more information at the webpage for each event (linked from this page).
  • During the main conference, there will be several different types of sessions: keynotes and panels, paper sessions, poster sessions, and the doctoral consortium. Every session will have a Zoom link posted on Whova. This link will appear shortly (about 10 minutes) before the beginning of the session. Find the session under the Agenda to see the link.
    • Keynotes and panels will be live video events in Zoom. 
    • All paper presentations will be posted on YouTube under the EDM channel. You can turn on closed captioning for each video using the CC button on YouTube. Videos will be released on the day of the presentation. You can watch them during the presentation slot (followed by live question and answer!), or at any time you like. Shortly before the start of each session, you will find direct links to the presentation videos for that session on Whova.
    • There will be opportunities for live question and answer after each paper talk, panel, and keynote session. To ask a question, you’ll start by using the chat in Zoom. You can simply type “I’d like to ask a question” or you can type out your question. The session chair will call on you if you say you’d like to ask a question, or read your question aloud if you typed it out. The speaker will then respond. Please wait to ask your questions in Zoom until the presentation is complete, and please do not un-mute yourself without being called on.
    • For the poster sessions, each poster paper will have its own Zoom conference room that is managed by the presenter themself. You can move to rooms as you wish, and converse freely with the presenters in those rooms. Each poster paper will also have a PDF file representing the digital poster. You can view these on Whova by going to the subsessions for each poster paper.
    • There will be two doctoral consortium sessions, one on July 10 and one on July 13. Everyone is welcome at these sessions, where students will present their work and get constructive feedback and suggestions. These sessions will be organized slightly differently from other paper sessions in order to give ample time for small group conversations with students.
    • We recognize that not everyone will be able to attend all the talks they might wish to attend, both due to time zones and the fact that sessions are parallel tracked. Written question-and-answer is available for each paper (of any type) on Whova, and we strongly encourage presenters to respond to written questions about their work. Like most Whova features, you can access the written question-and-answer both in the webapp and in the Android/iOS apps. Go to the relevant paper in the Agenda to access the written question-and-answer forum for that paper. You can also directly Message a presenter to ask questions or see if they’d like to set up a time to chat.
  • We want EDM to be a place where you feel welcome and meet new people, regardless of whether this is your first EDM or your thirteenth.
    • The Community area on Whova allows all attendees to post messages to everyone at the conference or to respond to others’ posts, facilitating written discussion.
    • The Messages area on Whova allows you to message one or more other attendees privately. While you cannot start a new conversation from the webapp, you can do so in the Android/iOS app, and you can continue an existing conversation on any version of the app.
    • There are frequent “coffee” breaks to allow you to reset your attention span for formal presentations and to connect with other attendees. If you go to the Zoom link under the Coffee Break session, you’ll be randomly assigned to chat with a subset of others in a breakout room, keeping groups small enough for meaningful conversations even in the videoconference format. Since people may be moving in and out of the breaks, please make sure to greet any newcomers as they arrive, and if everyone in your room leaves or you want to switch up who you’re talking to, feel free to leave the breakout room and you can ask the moderator to assign you to a new room.
    • If you prefer not to chat with a random assortment of other people for coffee breaks, you can also connect with other attendees in a more focused manner during coffee breaks. A free Zoom account allows you to create a video conference where multiple people can join you and you can talk for up to 40 minutes (which is longer than any of the scheduled coffee breaks). You’re welcome to reach out to other attendees to suggest such a separate videoconference, perhaps to meet someone who gave an interesting talk, follow up on a question someone asked you, or connect with old friends. Use Messages in Whova to connect with other attendees. You could also post in the Community area on Whova about a virtual meet up, either during a coffee break or at another time, and include a video link so others can join.
  • Questions? You can post to Ask the Organizers in the Community area on Whova to ask us any questions you have about the conference. If you’re concerned about something that you’d prefer to be addressed privately, you can use Messages on Whova or email us.