A draft of the WisCon ’22 schedule is now available at WisCon.net! If you filled out the interest survey to participate on panels, please log into the app, view your personal schedule, and accept or reject your assignments by April 9th.
Even if you did not fill out the survey, there are still panels that are understaffed. If you see a panel with three or less people assigned and it’s something you’re passionate about, please volunteer by emailing panels@wiscon.net. And tell your friends!
Just as with in-person WisCon conventions, WisCon 44 will feature a variety of different programming types and events. This page gives information on how to access and participate in our various event types.
For the full schedule of programming during WisCon 44, see the full schedule grid or the list of program items with full descriptions.
Most video content for WisCONline will be available via YouTube. Links to YouTube streams and videos will be sent by email to all registered members, as well as posted to the WisCon Discord server. If you are registered and don’t receive the links, check your spam folder! If you still can’t find them, contact onlinecon@wiscon.net.
Panels
Live Panels will be streamed to the WisCon YouTube channel, but the panel itself will take place via private videoconference using the platform Jitsi; this video conference. (Each Jitsi room will also include a technical producer and someone providing captions, in case you’re wondering why there seem to be two silent participants on each panel!)
For each panel there will also be a dedicated channel on the WisCon Discord server (identified by the official panel hashtag). Discord will be the only forum in which you can ask questions during live panels; both comments and live chat on the YouTube streams have been disabled.
The Discord channel for each panel will be a space for parallel audience discussion, as well as a space to ask questions and submit comments. There will be an Online Chat Moderator who will relay questions from the Discord channel to the panel’s technical producer. The panel-specific channels will open for discussion shortly before the panel begins; the Online Chat Moderator will announce when questions and comments for the panel are open. If a stream fails or is unavailable, the panelists will congregate in the Discord channel for a live discussion in the chat.
After the panel livestream ends, we hope conversations will continue in text on the Discord server! Panelist are likely to join this discussion as well (assuming they weren’t already on Discord during the scheduled panel).
If you aren’t able to attend the panel at the scheduled time (or if you want to re-watch any of a panel that you did view live), it will be available to view on the WisCon YouTube channel until the end of the convention weekend (11:59 PM Central Time, Monday May 25).
For more information on audience participation in live panels, see our WisCon Guide to Discord.
Academic and Readings
Academic Programming and Readings at WisCon 44 will also be streamed on YouTube, but instead of streaming live they have all been pre-recorded. As with live panels, there will be dedicated discussion channels on Discord; presenters and authors will be available during the scheduled time for their presentation for live discussion and questions.
As with panels, these items will remain available to view until the end of the convention weekend (11:59 PM Central Time, Monday May 25).
Gaming
A number of Games have been scheduled for WisCONline. Details of the games available can be found in the convention program grid; signups will take place via the #sign-ups-and-troubleshooting channel on the WisCon Discord.
Virtual Reception (Thursday)
Opening Ceremonies (Friday)
& GOH Speech (Sunday)
Like Panels, Academic programming, and Readings, these events will all be available to watch via the WisCon YouTube channel. Links will be sent out by email to all registered members, as well as posted to Discord.
Gathering (Friday)
The Gathering at an in-person WisCon is an event at the beginning of the convention, where WisCon members come together in the hotel ballroom for a number of in-person activities.
For the online convention, a virtual Gathering will take place on Discord immediately after the Opening Ceremonies, across a number of activity-themed channels. Stop by to explore the Discord server and check in with both new and old WisCon friends!
If this is your first WisCon, check out the #first-time-at-wiscon channel on Discord during the Gathering to help get you oriented!
Otherwise Auction (Saturday)
The Otherwise Auction will take place online this year, hosted by auctioneer Sumana Harihareswara and live-captioned via CART. The auction will be streamed via YouTube, and you’ll be able to bid and converse using the live Discord chat. Donations to WisCon can be made here. Content warning: a few jokes about the pandemic (facemasks & distancing).
The format of the auction will be slightly different this year. The Otherwise Motherboard has decided to use pass-the-hat challenges this year to raise money for the Carl Brandon Society and for WisCon, instead of raising money for Otherwise. For more information on the items available for auction, and the auction format, visit the Otherwise Award website.
Vid Party (Friday)
Details to be announced Friday!
Floomp Dance Party (Saturday)
The theme for this year’s Floomp dance party is ROBOTS, and it’s taking place this year in an all-new virtual format! It will take place across two virtual rooms: the Dance Floor and the Chill Space. Room links will be posted to the #floomp channel on the WisCon Discord server. There will be DJ sets streamed to YouTube during the party (links posted to #floomp), as well as a VJ set streamed for the duration of the party. For more information, see the public information sheet on Google Docs.
Spontaneous Programming + Meetups
What makes WisCon is its members. We hope that you will all find other ways to create spaces for discussion and community during the convention. The #meetups channel on the WisCon Discord is available to post invitations and notices for discussions on other platforms, whether these are purely social or are for spontaneous panels or roundtables. If you would like to set up a video call you are welcome to use any platform, but we have instructions on setting up a private room on Jitsi (the open-source and secure video conferencing system we are using for live panels at WisCONline).
There will be a Spontaneous Programming schedule posted as a Google Spreadsheet, linked on Discord, where you’re invited to share your plans for spontaneous panels, roundtables, or other events. You can use the channel #spontaneity to announce Spontaneous Programming items.
Safer Spaces
When we meet in person, WisCon maintains a designated space at the convention for people of color to dialogue freely and openly, known as the Safer Space for People of Color. In recent years it has been joined by two more safer spaces, one for people with disabilities, and one for trans and genderqueer members.
During the virtual WisCONline convention, we can’t replicate these physically closed spaces, but each Safer Space is developing plans for virtual alternatives and the Safer Spaces may run programming accessible only to their members.
For more information you can contact the Safer Spaces coordinators directly:
For more information about any of our programming items or events, you can contact the relevant WisCon department. For general inquiries about the online platforms and infrastructure, contact onlinecon@wiscon.net
We’re very excited to announce that the Panel Sign-Up and Interest Survey is now live. Please give us YOUR feedback on what panels will run during WisCon 44.
WisCon programming is divided into separate tracks which group related concepts together in order to facilitate interesting and complex discussions. The current list of tracks are below:
You will need a WisCon account in order to view and take the survey. If you don’t have an account, create one at the “Create Your Account” page. For those with an account already created, go to “Log in to My Account” page. You should see the link to the survey once you have logged into your account. Or you can click here. https://account.wiscon.net/program/?edit=yes
Be sure to also update your availability so we know when you want to be assigned to panels.
Please note that even if you were the one that proposed a panel, you still need to log into the survey and sign up for it. Proposed names are not automatically carried into the survey sign up.
This is a very important stage of Panel Programming. The more people who participate in the survey and sign up for and/or rate the panels, the better chance you will have at seeing your panel selections on the final schedule. We understand that completing the survey can be laborious, but doing so is completely for your benefit.
As always, questions/concerns/feedback can be sent to panels@wiscon.net.
This year, WisCon Kids’ Programming is trying a new approach. Kids’
Program activities have their own track in the Panel Signup. For more information on how to sign up for panels, check out this post on our blog.
We’re hoping to get different people to volunteer for each hour of Kids’ Programming, to enrich the activities we can offer our kids, and to share the work so that Kids’ Program volunteers get time to enjoy
WisCon themselves.
WisCon is full of people who have learned how to do a few cool things! Some of you would enjoy the opportunity to teach one of those things to an interested group of kids. Kids’ Programs can offer you an hour and fifteen minutes, a small group of kids (6-11 years old), an adult assistant, and whatever materials our small budget can cover. Sign up for Panel Programming, in the Kids’ Programs track, and send email to kidsprograms@wiscon.net with questions or a description of what you’d like to do.
If you don’t want to run an activity, you can be the second adult in
the room. In this role, you have to be flexible. You might be
assisting with materials for a craft activity, or building Legos or
jigsaw puzzles with the kids who don’t want to do the main activity,
or firmly redirecting the energies of a kid who doesn’t want to do the
main activity and is trying to have a swordfight in that space
instead. To volunteer for this role, sign up for a panel in Panel
Programming, in the Kids’ Programs track, but don’t click the button
that says you volunteer to moderate this panel.
If you want to do more to help create a welcoming space for kids at
WisCon, consider joining the Kids’ Programming Team on ConCom. Share the work and the decision-making that make WisCon happen!
Volunteering at WisCon entitles you to the Volunteer Gift.
Volunteering for six hours entitles you to a rebate of part of your
membership fee.
If you have any questions, email kidsprograms@wiscon.net.
You have one week left! Panel Surveys are open until March 24th Now’s the chance to give YOUR feedback on what panels will run during WisCon 43. The survey is a big part on how Panel Programming is decided every year! If you want to more about how panel programming works, please view this post for a quick overview.
WisCon Panel Programming is divided into separate tracks which group related concepts together in order to facilitate interesting and complex discussions. The current list of tracks are below:
You will need to create a WisCon account in order to view and fill out the survey. If you don’t have an account, create one at the “Create Your Account” page. For those with an account already created, go to “Log in to My Account” page. You should see the link to the survey once logged into your account. Then you can choose your panel interests on the panel sign up and attendance interest form!
This is a very important stage of Panel Programming. The more people who participate in the survey and sign up for and/or rate the panels, the better chance you will have at seeing your panel submissions on the final schedule. We understand that completing the survey can be laborious, but doing so is completely for your benefit.
AV Requests for WisCon 43
As previously stated, the Panel Survey is currently live and will close on March 24th. However, some of you fine folk put in requests for AV equipment when you submitted your proposed panel ideas. If your proposed panel ideas for which you requested AV equipment made it onto the Survey, we ask that you confirm that you still require said equipment.
The Madison Concourse provides conference rooms with projector screens and projectors with HDMI ports for your laptop. We recommend that you bring your own HDMI cables or Macbook converters for your laptops, and any external sound amplifier equipment, as we cannot guarantee that the Concom will have equipment like that available.
To confirm, please email us at panels@wiscon.net with “AV Request – Your Submitted Panel Title” in the subject line, and what type of AV equipment you require in the body of the email by March 24th.
In order to streamline this process, we ask that only those who submitted the panels which made the survey email us with these requests. To view the entire list of panels, please log in to your WisCon account, click “Sign Up For Programming”, then click the full list of proposed panels link.
We cannot guarantee that AV equipment will be available for you if you do not submit an AV Request to us by March 24th.
Hand-Staffed Panel Requests for WisCon 43
You may have noticed that certain panels allow for only a “I would like to attend this panel” option. That is because those suggesters had requested that these particular panels be staffed with those folk who best fit with the marginalized identities about which the panels will discuss. If you have not already contacted us about hand-staffing your proposed panel, please email us at panels@wiscon.net with “Hand-Staff Request – Your Submitted Panel Title” in the subject line, and who you would like to be on your panel in the body of the email by March 24th.
Questions/Concerns/Feedback can be sent to panels@wiscon.net.
Jackie Gross, Lead Panel Programming
JP Fairfield, Panel Programming
Jennifer Cross, Panel Programming
Charlie Hawkins, Panel Programming
You have two weeks left! Panel Surveys are open until March 24th Now’s the chance to give YOUR feedback on what panels will run during WisCon 43. The survey is a big part on how Panel Programming is decided every year! If you want to more about how panel programming works, please view this post for a quick overview.
WisCon Panel Programming is divided into separate tracks which group related concepts together in order to facilitate interesting and complex discussions. The current list of tracks are below:
You will need to a WisCon account in order to view and fill out the survey. If you don’t have an account, create one at the “Create Your Account” page. For those with an account already created, go to “Log in to My Account” page. You should see the link to the survey once logged into your account. Then you can choose your panel interests on the panel sign up and attendance interest form!
This is a very important stage of Panel Programming. The more people who participate in the survey and sign up for and/or rate the panels, the better chance you will have at seeing your panel submissions on the final schedule. We understand that completing the survey can be laborious, but doing so is completely for your benefit.
Questions/Concerns/Feedback can be sent to panels@wiscon.net.
Jackie Gross, Lead Panel Programming
JP Fairfield, Panel Programming
Jennifer Cross, Panel Programming
Charlie Hawkins, Panel Programming
Panel Surveys are open until March 24th. Now’s the chance to give YOUR feedback on what panels will run during WisCon 43. The survey is a big part on how Panel Programming is decided every year! If you want to more about how panel programming, please view this post for a quick overview.
WisCon Panel programming is divided into separate tracks which group related concepts together in order to facilitate interesting and complex discussions. The current list of tracks are below:
You will need to have a WisCon account in order to view and fill out the survey. If you don’t have an account, create one at the “Create Your Account” page. For those with an account already created, go to the “Log in to My Account” page. You should see the link to the survey once logged into your account. Then you can choose your panel interests on the panel sign up and attendance interest form!
This is a very important stage of Panel Programming. The more people who participate in the survey and sign up for and/or rate the panels, the better chance you will have at seeing your panel submissions on the final schedule. We understand that completing the survey can be laborious, but doing so is completely for your benefit.
Questions/Concerns/Feedback can be sent to panels@wiscon.net.
Jackie Gross, Lead Panel Programming
JP Fairfield, Panel Programming
Jennifer Cross, Panel Programming
Charlie Hawkins, Panel Programming
We’re very excited to announce that the Panel Sign-Up and Interest Survey will go live in 1 week! On February 25th, get ready to give us YOUR feedback on what panels will run during WisCon 43.
WisCon Panel Programming is divided into separate tracks which group related concepts together in order to facilitate interesting and complex discussions. The current list of tracks are below:
You will need a WisCon account in order to view and take the survey. If you don’t have an account, create one at the “Create Your Account” page. For those with an account already created, go to “Log in to My Account” page. Come February 25th, you should see the link to the survey once you have logged into your account.
This is a very important stage of Panel Programming. The more people who participate in the survey and sign up for and/or rate the panels, the better chance you will have at seeing your panel selections on the final schedule. We understand that completing the survey can be laborious, but doing so is completely for your benefit.
So mark February 25th on your calendars!
As always, questions/concerns/feedback can be sent to panels@wiscon.net.
Jackie Gross, Lead Panel Programming
JP Fairfield, Panel Programming
Jennifer Cross, Panel Programming
C.J. Hawkins, Panel Programming
WisCon 43
Mark your calendars, Friends! Two weeks left until panel submissions close! We’re excited to see what the community will share at this year’s WisCon!
I’m a little fuzzy on how I should go about submitting a panel idea. Can you help me out?
Of course we can! Here’s the best way to go about it:
If you log into your profile, you will see a list of different options where you can submit your program idea to the right department on the left-hand side of the screen. Please see the screenshot below for an example.
If you want to submit a panel idea, please click on the “Submit Ideas” option.
We ask that you please use the correct option for submitting your program idea. If you want to submit a party, you will need to click on the “Host a party” option. If you want to submit a paper proposal or academic proposal, please click on the “Submit Paper Proposal” option.
If you submit an event to us that is not a panel, due to the volume of panel requests and the subsequent organization of the panel schedule, we cannot guarantee that your submission will be timely transferred to the correct department. The deadline to submit a panel idea to Panel Programming is January 21, 2019.
OK, that sounds very easy. Do I have to log in to submit a panel idea?
You actually don’t have to log in to your profile to submit a panel idea unless you want to receive a confirmation email to show that your submission has been received. For your benefit, we recommend logging in, especially if you submit multiple panel ideas! It will be easier for you [and us] to keep track.
This is super helpful information. Anything else I should know?
Panel Programming wants to help you get the best WisCon panel programming experience, so after you register, we would like for you to do a couple of things to help us help you.
All you need to do is log in to your profile, click the “Edit” link on the right side of your name, then click on “Save” once you’re done.
This information is essential for us. The more information you provide us, the better chance you have in getting your top choices of panels at your most desired times. To update your availability, please click on “Tell Us Your Schedule”. After you click on “Tell Us Your Schedule,” you will be brought to the following screen:
In this text, you will be asked for your arrival/departure information, your desired number of panels, as well as your preferred panel times. Once again, the more information you provide us, the better it will be for you. Given that it is still early, you can start off with a ballpark estimate, but please continue to update as we get closer to the availability deadline in March 2019.
As usual, if you have any questions regarding Panels, please email us at panels@wiscon.net.
The time to WisCon 43 is approaching, and we believe it’s important to keep the community updated, so let’s get it started off right!
Panel Programming wants to help you get the best WisCon panel programming experience, so after you register, we would like for you to do a couple of things.
1. Update your profile, especially your email address.
All you need to do is log in to your profile, click the “Edit” link on the right side of your name, then click on “Save” once you’re done.
2. Update your availability.
This is essential information for us. The more information you provide us, the better chance you have in getting your top choices of panels at your most desired times. To update your availability, please click on “Tell Us Your Schedule”. After you click on “Tell Us Your Schedule,” you will be brought to the following screen:
In this text, you will be asked for your arrival/departure information, your desired number of panels, as well as your preferred panel times. Once again, the more information you provide us, the better it will be for you. Given that it is early, you can start off with a ballpark estimate, but please update as we get closer to the availability deadline in 2019.
3. Submissions for Panel Programming are open! Please be sure to submit your proposal to the correct department.
If you log into your profile, you will see a list of different options where you can submit your program idea to the right department on the left-hand side of the screen. Please see the screenshot below for an example.
If you want to submit a panel idea, please click on the “Submit Ideas” option. If you want to submit a party, please click on the “Host a party” option. If you want to submit a paper proposal/academic proposal, please click on the “Submit Paper Proposal” option.
Panel Programming asks that you please use the correct option for submitting your program idea. If you submit an event to us that is not a panel, due to the volume of panel requests and the subsequent organization of the panel schedule, we cannot guarantee that your submission will be timely transferred to the correct department. The deadline to submit a panel idea to Panel Programming is January 21, 2019.
As we get closer to WisCon 43, Panel Programming will regularly update the community of its various deadlines. We are excited to kick off planning for WC43.
As usual, if you have any questions regarding Panels, please email us at panels@wiscon.net.
The time to WisCon 43 is approaching, so let’s get it started right!
Panel Programming wants to help you get the best WisCon panel programming experience, so after you register, we would like for you to do a couple of things.
1. Update your profile, especially your email address.
All you need to do is log in to your profile, click the “Edit” link on the right side of your name, then click on “Save” once you’re done.
2. Update your availability.
This is essential information for us. The more information you provide us, the better chance you have in getting your top choices of panels at your most desired times. To update your availability, please click on “Tell Us Your Schedule”. After you click on “Tell Us Your Schedule,” you will be brought to the following screen:
In this text, you will be asked for your arrival/departure information, your desired number of panels, as well as your preferred panel times. Once again, the more information you provide us, the better it will be for you. Given that it is early, you can start off with a ballpark estimate, but please update as we get closer to the availability deadline in 2019.
3. Submissions for Panel Programming are open! Please be sure to submit your proposal to the correct department.
If you log into your profile, you will see a list of different options where you can submit your program idea to the right department on the left-hand side of the screen. Please see the screenshot below for an example.
If you want to submit a panel idea, please click on the “Submit Ideas” option. If you want to submit a party, please click on the “Host a party” option. If you want to submit a paper proposal/academic proposal, please click on the “Submit Paper Proposal” option.
Panel Programming asks that you please use the correct option for submitting your program idea. If you submit an event to us that is not a panel, due to the volume of panel requests and the subsequent organization of the panel schedule, we cannot guarantee that your submission will be timely transferred to the correct department.
As we get closer to WisCon 43, Panel Programming will regularly update the community of its various deadlines. We are excited to kick off planning for WC43.
As usual, if you have any questions regarding Panels, please email us at panels@wiscon.net.
We love that so many people sign-up to be panelists every year!
What we need now is your availability so we can schedule panels at the best time for all the panelists.
You will need a WisCon account in order to view the availability form. If you don’t have an account, create one at the “Create Your Account” page. For those with an account already created, go to “Log in to My Account” page. You should see the link to the form once you have logged into your account.
Please let us know your availability by March 30th!
As always, questions/concerns/feedback can be sent to program@wiscon.net.
Jackie Gross, Lead Panel Programming
JP Fairfield, Panel Programming
Jennifer Cross, Panel Programming
WisCon 42