About

Idea
BlogWalk is a series of face-to-face meetings aimed to bring together social software researchers and practitioners for in-depth conversations about their work, possible trends, and visions. The format we strive for is an intellectual Salon where minds can meet and inspire each other in direct conversation.

Purpose
The intention is to complement conferences like BlogTalk with smaller scale opportunities to meet and to talk. The idea was a result of our experiences during the first BlogTalk conference in 2003. When one late evening Sebastian Fiedler came up with the great name BlogWalk the format fell into place and the rest, as they say, is history. The Walk part of a BlogWalk is meant literally. It means that meetings will include a walk exploring the vicinity of where the session takes place. Visiting local restaurants and pubs are part of the programme as well because everyone knows that, social interaction, drinks and good food fuel great conversations. We are taking the corridor atmosphere from the generic conferences, and turn them into the main event.

What BlogWalk is NOT
BlogWalk Salons are no mini-conferences. We don’t have keynote speakers, presentations, vendors, and so forth. There is no distinction between presenters and audience; we expect every participant to contribute to the conversation.

How to participate
Participation is by invitation only, though we strongly encourage people to get in contact if they think they should be part of a particular BlogWalk Salon. We are not trying to build an exclusive club here. BlogWalk participation will always depend on the topic. Participation in one Salon does not automatically entitle anyone to be invited to the next. The invitation process is meant to create a trusted conversational space to improve the quality and energy of the session itself.

Initiators
Lilia Efimova

Sebastian Fiedler

Ton Zijlstra