Session formats

IST 2021 follows previous IST conferences by providing a range of formats to stimulate scholarly debate.

Full Paper Sessions: 90 minute sessions for presentation and discussion of original research papers (typically 3 per session). Authors are required to submit a draft of their full paper in advance of the conference. Full papers are also eligible for nomination for the best paper award.

Speed Talk Sessions: 60 minute sessions for 3 to 5 speed talks, which briefly introduce new research ideas, data and analytical insights, and early stage work to provide a basis for collective discussion. We encourage contributions from practitioners as well as PhD students. Submission of full papers is not required for speed talk sessions.

Posters: The online Conference Gallery will display posters both during and after the conference. Authors will have the opportunity to present their posters during dedicated poster sessions in the conference program. A prize will be offered for the best poster presentation.

Dialogue Sessions: 60 or 90 minute sessions, which aim to stimulate in-depth discussion and debate around a particular thematic focus. These sessions are proposed by an external session organizer / chair with pre-agreed speakers. Dialogue sessions should be conceived to maximize audience participation. The session organizer should propose the precise format of the session, which could be a panel, a sequence of speakers, a debate or workshop. We specifically invite proposals that feature non-academic participants and innovative formats. Submission of full papers is not required for dialogue sessions.

Special sessions: 90 minute sessions for presentation of full research papers under a pre-ordained topic. New to IST this year, this format is a hybrid of full paper and dialogue sessions. As in a dialogue session, a special session is proposed by an external session organizer with pre-agreed speakers. We suggest between three and five pre-agreed speakers, but this is flexible according to the convener. Like in a full paper session, authors are required to submit full research papers in advance of the conference.

Conference Gallery: The online Conference Gallery gives all authors the possibility to share additional digital content of their work. This may include the use of a poster, a presentation, a video, and other formats - we invite you to get creative here! The Conference Gallery will be online for the duration of and after the conference, giving participants more flexibility of access. A prize will be offered for the best submission to the conference gallery, voted for by the Conference participants.