Call for Speakers
Building Collective Intelligence
Deadline has been extended to May 8
Taxonomies exist to describe, organize, and connect information. Creating a common structure not only helps people and systems work more effectively but also helps create collective intelligence: the body of knowledge that emerges from collaboration and knowledge-sharing. Being able to effectively link people, content and data is the foundation for organizational learning and innovation. The increasing focus on knowledge graphs and AI tools reflects a desire to harness the emergent knowledge of the organization, and taxonomy is a linchpin in this effort.
Taxonomy Boot Camp showcases taxonomies as key components of knowledge and data management systems that aim to build collective intelligence within or across organizations and help solve real world problems.
Did you start a new taxonomy project to answer the challenges of the virtual world of knowledge sharing? Did you supercharge your existing taxonomy solutions to handle the influx of demand? Did you create an exciting and innovative taxonomy-based application in your organization to solve new problems? We want to hear from you all.
We’re looking for speakers who can share their experience in creating successful taxonomy solutions and advise on both hard and soft skills to help our attendees accelerate their learning and success. Hope to see you in November!
About Taxonomy Boot Camp
The Taxonomy Boot Camp program is designed to provide something for everyone, from taxonomy newbies to seasoned experts (and everyone in between). Beginner sessions provide those new to the field with the nuts and bolts they need to get up-to-speed and give more experienced practitioners insight into how others have evolved their approaches. Also hear case studies, practical sessions on taxonomy tools and methods, and cutting-edge developments in the field.
Taxonomy Boot Camp is the only conference dedicated to exploring the successes, challenges, methodologies and products for taxonomies. Share your experiences, knowledge and work with taxonomies, ontologies, folksonomies, tagging mechanisms and other techniques for organizing information at this one-of-a-kind boutique learning and networking event.
Suggested Topics
Topics for Taxonomy Boot Camp include but are not limited to:
- Taxonomy/ontology modeling and development best practices
- Taxonomy governance, adoption and ROI
- Techniques for maintaining taxonomies (analytics, testing, etc.)
- Information architecture and user experience (navigation, content publishing, etc.)
- Metadata modeling and management (role of taxonomy)
- Text analytics and auto-classification
- Taxonomy management/development software selection and use
- User research and usability
- Search and taxonomy
- Implementation of taxonomies and metadata in specific content management applications (including DAM, CMS, etc.)
- Taxonomy in AI and machine learning
- Big data, master data, and business intelligence
- Linked data, semantic technology
- Managing multi-lingual vocabularies
Presentation Formats
Taxonomy Boot Camp will have the following formats:
- Short lectures (20 minutes) – big ideas in compact form
- Full lectures (45 minutes) – complex idea with many examples, practical methods
- Panel (45 minutes, 3-5 speakers) – moderated discussion or interlinked short presentations and Q&A
Overheard at Taxonomy Boot Camp
“Wonderfully run conference and I think Taxonomy Boot Camp especially has a welcoming feel which is great for first-timers or people attending on their own. Great selection of speakers and range of topics covered."
“Everyone at this event —the organizers, speakers, exhibitors, and attendees— were open, welcoming, friendly, intelligent, and sure of purpose. I loved it. "
Advice for Presenters
We’re always on the lookout for new, fresh presenters – so don’t hesitate to submit! Here are some helpful tips on how to get your presentation picked.
Be specific
Don’t try to cover all things taxonomy in the space of 45 minutes (let alone 20!!), it’s too much. Writing up a submission is one thing, delivering it is another. Broad topics often come across as rushed and confused. Try to whittle your concept down to a small, tight idea and then submit that.
Teach them something they can use
This year’s theme is “Building Collective Intelligence”, which means we’re looking for techniques, tools and innovative ideas that people can take home and apply to not only create a solid taxonomy but help support knowledge management. You might have some theoretical grounding you need to do for the talk to make sense, but keep the theory concise and make sure your takeaways are practical.
Give examples
We’re hot for case studies and visual examples of taxonomies in action. Be sure to mention what real-world examples you’ll be bringing to bear in your presentation.
Know your audience
Sharing insights about taxonomy is not about how clever you are, it’s about how clever you make your audience feel. Taxonomy Boot Camp caters to both novice and intermediate information management professionals, so make sure you tell us which group you’re targeting and match the tone and level of information.
To participate in Taxonomy Boot Camp 2022 as a possible speaker, please submit your proposal no later than the extended deadline of May 8, 2022, here.
Conference Organizer
Taxonomy Boot Camp 2022 is organized and produced by Information Today, Inc., a diversified digital media and print publisher and conference and events organizer and producer. Our mission is to deliver world-class content in a variety of formats and serve our audiences with the information they need to make informed and critical decisions for their organizations.
Program Director
Stephanie Lemieux, Dovecot Studio
Stephanie is the president of Dovecot Studio -- a boutique firm specializing in information architecture -- where she helps a wide variety of clients such as Nickelodeon and the United Nations find happiness and good user experience through taxonomy. Stephanie has been working in the information management industry for nearly a decade, helping create strategies and content structures to support faceted search, digital asset management and website navigation, to name a few. Prior to focusing her energies on Dovecot, she was a senior consultant and taxonomy practice lead with Earley & Associates. Most recently, Stephanie was Director of Search & Content at the Yellow Pages. Stephanie has a Masters degree in Library and Information Studies (MLIS) from McGill University with a specialization in knowledge management.
