FAQ
Why is the conference online this year?
Due to the COVID-19 situation, we do not believe it is practical to host an in-person conference this year. Our main concerns are about the use of public transport many attendees are likely to use to visit the conference venue, the possibility of large numbers of people (likely hundreds) in rooms for extended periods of time, and the difficulty maintaining social distancing in a conference setting. The risk of attending is also likely to affect those with medical and other accessibility concerns disproportionately, leading to accessibility concerns if we were to host in person.
After careful deliberation we decided that virtual hosting is the way to go.
How was the date chosen?
We had originally planned to host the conference in Reading this year on the day after Reading Pride (5th September). After moving the conference online, we decided to keep the original date as there was no reason to change it.
Will the sessions be recorded?
All YouTube sessions and comments will be recorded. All Q&A questions will be exported for viewing later too.
Gather is not recorded.
Will you have more virtual conferences in the future?
We are undecided at this time. This conference is our first virtual event and we will examine feedback from it carefully. We appreciate that a virtual conference can have some advantages to a physical one, such as greater accessibility; lower costs for travel, accommodation, and hosting; and easier recording of the sessions; but there are also downsides including a reduced ability to meet others in our community and a higher risk of technical problems.
It is not clear how these advantages and downsides balance out, so we will be relying on your feedback to guide our future plans.
How can I provide feedback?
After the conference we will send out a feedback form to your email. There will be both set questions and open comment boxes for detailed thoughts.
Alternatively, at any point before, during, or after (even long after) the conference, you can email us at UKAceCon2020@gmail.com with any thoughts.
What time is the conference in other timezones?
The conference is 11:30am - 7:30pm in the UTC+1 timezone, which is UK summer time.
You can use this converter to determine when the conference is in your timezone: https://www.thetimezoneconverter.com/
Enter 1pm London time in the left set of boxes, and your desired timezone in the right set. Your local time will then display.
If you have any trouble with the conversion, please email us and we can help out! UKAceCon2020@gmail.com
Are there other AVEN events coming up that might interest me?
Yes! We will be holding talks online for Asexual History Day on or around the 13th October this year. This would mark the 20th anniversary of the Haven for the Human Amoeba, which was one of the original asexual communities and from which AVEN developed.
Keep an eye on AVEN, or email us closer to the time to learn further details.