Call for Interest: Hosting a Distribits Conference
Distribits: technologies for distributed data management #
Distribits is a community for enthusiasts of tools and workflows centered on distributed, reproducible, and collaborative computing. We are now looking to collaborate with you to organize a third Distribits meeting to take place in 2027!
This page provides some guidance on what we have prioritized for selecting a venue for Distribits in the past, and we are looking forward to welcoming proposals from a wide range of communities and locations. We are happy to work with local organizers to adapt the meeting format to suit their circumstances.
Above all, we want to continue to offer an event that is welcoming, accessible, and affordable, and that gives participants plenty of opportunities to meet, exchange ideas, and work together collaboratively.
Interested in hosting? #
We’d love to hear from you! Please send us a short proposal including:
- Names and affiliations of the proposed local organizing team
- Proposed venue and city/country
- Proposed dates, or any restrictions on when the event could take place
- Approximate venue capacity and available spaces
- Available digital and A/V infrastructure
- Information about venue accessibility
- Nearby accommodation, public transportation, and food options
- Any anticipated costs or in-kind support
There is no need to address every point in detail. We mainly want to understand what you have in mind and what a Distribits event could look like in your location.
Please email your proposal to distribits-org@fz-juelich.de by EOD AoE (Anywhere on Earth), September 30, 2026.
What does a Distribits meeting look like? #
There is no fixed format for a Distribits meeting. Past events have included:
- Two days of talks, discussions, and community sessions
- One optional hackathon or collaborative working day
- Roughly 60-100 in-person attendees, with the possibility of remote participation through livestreaming (plus permanent and free archival of talks)
- Participants from multiple countries and a variety of technical and scientific backgrounds
What makes a good Distribits venue? #
A convenient location #
The venue should be easy to reach for both domestic and international participants. In the past, attendees have valued being able to get around easily without needing a car. This could mean convenient public transportation connections and walking routes between the venue and a variety of restaurant and accommodation options.
Participants have generally arranged and payed for their own accommodation, so it is helpful if the area has several lodging options at different price points to meet different budgets.
Collaborative spaces #
Some of the most valuable time at past Distribits meetings was not only spent listening to talks, but also in the “downtime” spent talking with each other. The venue would thus ideally have a main presentation room as well as spaces suitable for informal conversations and smaller breakout discussions/hacking. Venues should be able to provide reliable wireless internet and typical A/V equipment, including microphones.
In the past, Distribits participants have self-organized for lunch, drank lots of coffee, and ate lots of snacks throughout the day! Catering options should be available at the venue, but could present in different ways, such as having a kitchen space for self-organizing coffee/snack breaks, bringing in external catering, or providing catering from on-site services.
An accessible and inclusive environment #
We want Distribits to be a meeting where everyone can participate comfortably. When proposing a venue, please consider accessibility broadly to meet diverse needs. The DISC Cookbook’s guide on Venue Selection & On-Site Services provides useful guidance.
How would local organizers be involved? #
Hosting Distribits is a collaboration between the local organizing team and the broader Distribits community. Local hosts would primarily help with things that are easiest to organize on-site, such as coordinating venue access and liaising with venue staff and sharing local recommendations about food, transportation, and accommodations. The broader organizing committee will work alongside the local team on the program, communications, registration, and overall event coordination. You don’t need to have everything figured out before getting in touch. We can work out solutions together!