Who are volunteers?
Any participant of the conference can provide valuable help running the conference and therefore register to be a volunteer. The volunteer roles we are looking to fill are on-site at our conference facilities. Thank you for considering being a part of our volunteer team at deRSE24.
What do volunteers do?
Volunteers participate in a wide range of tasks which help us to hold a successful conference. While this list is not comprehensive, in the past volunteers at deRSE conferences have assisted with preconference set-up by
- putting up signs/posters throughout the venue,
- preparing the cloakroom,
- setting up the front desk with name badges and information for the conference attendees, and
- setting up rooms for the conference sessions, including workshops, and checking that the equipment is working.
During the conference volunteers have assisted by
- staffing the front desk,
- staffing the cloakroom,
- helping with catering,
- chairing sessions, and
- helping during sessions/workshops.
The front desk will be staffed throughout the conference and serve as a first point of contact for all conference attendees. Tasks for those tending the desk include
- registering conference attendees,
- handing-out name badges, and
- helping with general information and directions.
Conference attendees will be able to check their coats and bags to be stored in the cloakroom. It will be the volunteers’ task to staff the cloak room.
As chairpersons, volunteers will introduce each speaker, check the time, and moderate questions at the end. They are helped by additional volunteers that
- help speakers get acquainted with the rooms equipment,
- manage microphones by giving them to and receiving them from attendees in the audience,
- helping people in to and out of session,
- closing the doors, and
- seating late entrants afterwards.
Volunteers also assist in editing recordings of sessions and workshops for publication.
What skills, experience and attributes do I need?
Along with having great communication and interpersonal skills, we ask that you are
- friendly and enthusiastic about creating a warm and welcoming environment for a successful conference as well as
- willing to work as part of a team.
If you have specific technical skills and experience such as setting-up/using audio-visual equipment or anything else that you think might be particularly useful, please let us know when you apply. We will do our best to align you with a volunteer role that suits you.
Who will I be volunteering with?
You will be volunteering as part of the team making the event happen, working with other volunteers and the organizing committee to create a pleasant and smooth experience for participants.
How much time will I be expected to give?
Before the conference starts, we expect you to attend an hour-long online induction session with the volunteer chairs before the conference. This session will be held on a yet to be determined work-day in February 2024. The volunteer chairs will create a shift schedule with you ahead of the conference. You have to expect to be working during almost every shift, though we will try to accommodate your preferences by giving assigning you work in sessions that you want to attend.
The conference is taking place at the Lecture Hall of the Natural Sciences of the Julius-Maximilians-University Würzburg, from Tuesday the 5th to Thursday the 7th of March. Depending on your shifts, we expect some of you to arrive on March 5th a little ahead of the conference start time and some of you to stay till the end.
You are welcome to join the organizing committee for a meeting on Monday the 4th of March, when the committee will iron out the last details.
We will do our best to ensure that you have a positive experience while volunteering at deRSE24.
What benefits do I get from volunteering?
Outside of a great opportunity to meet people in the RSE network and gain valuable organization experience, you will
- have the opportunity to attend some of the sessions you are interested in,
- get a discounted conference fee, and
- get amazing t-shirts to represent the deRSE24 team!
You will be expected to arrange your own transport and accommodation, if needed, for the duration of the conference.
I am interested, what is my next step?
To become a volunteer, check the respective option during the registration process. We will inform you, if you get one of the fourteen volunteer spots. If you have any questions do not hesitate to contact us: derse24@listserv.dfn.de
