[EuroPython] Lack of diversity within selected talks

[Daniel Kraft]

Absolute ack!

----- Ursprüngliche Mail -----
> To the EuroPython organizers, talk reviewers, and community at large,
> 
> For those of you who do not know me, I am a board member of the Python
> Software Foundation, the founder and leader of PyLadies San Francisco,
> and an engineer at Spotify.  I have been a speaker at the last two
> EuroPythons, with 3 talks last year, and a keynote the year before.
> 
> I see that the list of preliminarily talks are publicly available. Side
> stepping my issue with lack of communication to proposers of talks at
> large, I am writing to bring light to the lack of diversity of the
> current list of talks, and propose some action items.
> 
> There is how I understand things as they are. Please correct me if I am
> wrong.
> 
> - talk selection was/is being done blindly, as in no identifying
> information about the speaker is revealed
> - there are very little women on that preliminary talk list slated to
> speak
> - there are multiple selected speakers slated to give multiple selected
> talks
> 
> If you do not find a problem with item #2 and #3, please read this
> article [1] about importance of diversity in a technical field.
> 
> Here are my suggestions to rectify this issue:
> - limit speakers to only give one talk. Yes this means going back on the
> original acceptance.
> - reopen CfP and reach out to PyLadies globally to help get the word
> out. As one of the main leaders of the global organization, I know this
> did not happen originally.
> - re-review the talks. Give preference or help for those who would be
> first time speakers. First time speakers may need far more help writing
> a proposal tailored to the EuroPython audience. As reviewers, you have
> an understanding of the EP community and should help pull up new
> speakers.
> - related to #2, and #3, have open office hours  or create general
> availability during the time that the CfP is reopened to help those who
> want it craft a good proposal.
> - select talks for the remainder of the program with the context of the
> preliminarily talks in mind.
> 
> I understand that the blind selection process was meant in good faith to
> remove bias. However, the result is troubling, and needs to be looked at
> in context. If this preliminary list has any influence on the actual
> program, the conference will suffer in terms of overall diversity in
> attendance. I'm not writing to discuss the merit of diversity at a tech
> conference, because I have faith that the reviewers and organizers
> already grasp its importance. But this email is to address what I feel
> needs to change.
> 
> Thank you,
> 
> Lynn Root
> 
> [1]
> http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/06/technology/technologys-man-problem.html?_r=0
> _______________________________________________
> EuroPython 2014  Berlin, 21th27th July
> EuroPython mailing list
> EuroPython at python.org
> https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/europython
> 

-- 
*Daniel Kraft*
Geschäftsführer

D9T GmbH - Magirusstr. 39/1 - D-89077 Ulm
Tel: +49 731 1411 696-0 - Fax: +49 731 3799-220

Geschäftsführer: Daniel Kraft
Sitz und Register: Ulm, HRB 722416
Ust.IdNr: DE 260484638

http://d9t.de - D9T High Performance Hosting
info at d9t.de