Student volunteers

Message from Effie, Luciana and Kris:

Student Volunteers (SVs) are one of the key success factors for a large-scale conference like INTERACT 2007. Students from all disciplines and cultures are invited to contribute to one of the most inspiring and exciting events in the field of HCI. A wide variety of duties can be undertaken by SVs at the conference. None of these duties are unbearable, but all of them are important and provide SVs valuable opportunities to interact with HCI researchers and practitioners of diverse backgrounds and fellow students working in the same areas of interest from all over the world. We are seeking a number of SVs. If you are interested in becoming one of them, please sign up to help us make INTERACT 2007 a great conference!

Duties:

Student volunteers are required to meet the following requirements:

• To be present from 10th September 2007 to 14th September 2007 and commit to 20 volunteer hours of work during this period of time; but since something unexpected always happens, SVs are expected to commit themselves to the overall success of the conference.
• To wear whilst on duty the INTERACT 2007 T-shirts provided for easy identification.
• To carry out a range of the following tasks:
• Preparing the conference bags
• Assisting the reception desk
• Working at the registration counter
• Providing technical support (e.g. AV equipment and room setup) prior to and during sessions
• Directing attendees, providing direction
• Monitoring access to special rooms
• Contributing to the overall smooth running of the conference

Note: Please be aware that SVs who work very few or no hours at all will have to be charged for the conference registration fee afterwards.

Benefits

In return to their help at the conference, student volunteers will receive many benefits, including:

• Free conference registration
• Free accommodation (NB: Room-sharing will be arranged)
• Some free meals
• A conference reception/dinner ticket (NB: Some SVs will be on duty during the reception/dinner)
• An invitation to a thank-you party at the end of conference (NB: No SVs will be on duty but all SVs will enjoy themselves)
• Opportunity to attend conference events (e.g. tutorials, workshops, doctorial consortium) in your area of interest, if possible (NB: Some SVs will be on duty whilst attending these events)
• Networking with the HCI community of researchers and practitioners
• Insights into conference organization
• Getting a conference cool T-shirt (NB: SVs are invited to take part in T-shirt design competition)
• Informal exchange of experiences with HCI postgraduates from other institutions world-wide
Note: Student volunteers are responsible for their travel to and from Rio de Janeiro and for any meals that are not provided.

Note: Student volunteers are responsible for their travel to and from Rio de Janeiro and for any meals that are not provided.

Qualifications

• Student volunteers must be full-time undergraduate and graduate students during the 2006-2007 academic year
• Students from all disciplines and cultures are encouraged to apply
• Experience is not essential, though preferable
• Student volunteers are expected to be highly motivated, intelligent and reliable persons

Application Process

Applications will be accepted beginning 15th Jan 2007

Please send email to svs@interact2007.org with attachment (.pdf document) including the following items:

• Name
• Contact information (Address, Country, Email, Day Phone)
• Experience (Previous volunteer activities)
• Languages spoken
• Area of study
• Description of why you should be selected as a student volunteer (NB: A short paragraph of about 50-100 words)
• A letter from your university/school supervisor confirming your student status and that you have the permission to attend the conference as a student volunteer during the above stated period

Note:

• A valid, dated student identification card or a letter from your university/school must be presented when registering at the conference.
• If there are any changes on your side (e.g. change of arrival time, being unable to attend the conference), you should notify the SV-organizers immediately.

Important Dates

• 15th Jan 2007: Application Opens
• 15th March 2007: Initial Application Deadline
• 1st May 2007: Initial Acceptance and Reserve List Notification
• 1st June 2007: Final Application Deadline
• 1st July 2007: Final Acceptance Notification and Confirmed SV List

All applications will be reviewed. Successful applicants will be notified by email and required to confirm their availability. A reserve list will consist of applications received by the Initial Application Deadline but not initially selected. Applications received after the Initial Application Deadline and before the Final Application Deadline of 1st June 2007 will also be reviewed; the selected ones will then be placed at the end of the reserve list in the order in which they are received.

Early application is strongly encouraged as the number of places is limited. Nevertheless, applicants on the reserve list will still have a good chance of being accepted. So, do not hesitate to apply if you pass the Initial Acceptance Deadline!

Queries and Enquiries

For further information or assistance please email svs@interact2007.org