Interview with Kevin Ryan
Window on the World
Issue 0
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An Interview with Kevin Ryan, the Local Arrangements Chair |
By Jon Cook
Q:Is this the first conference you've organized?
No, we had RE/99 (Requirements Engineering 1999) here last year and many of the same team worked on it.
Q: So what did you do right this time that you didn't before?
We got a team working earlier, did more risk analysis, had a better publicity drive, invested in really good design, got more industrial sponsorship, and had a good project plan. But we still underestimated the amount of work!
Q: What surprises did you have?
The level of interest in coming to Ireland – there were 335 papers submitted! We also have had great support from Irish industry sponsors – some even agreed when we first sent an email!
Q: Could you give us some facts about this ICSE (best estimate so far)?
We are expecting a total of 950 conference attendees: 700 for the main conference, 450 workshop attendees, 300 tutorial attendees, and we have 25 volunteer staff. There were over 40 individual events planned, using 25 different rooms or venues. All of our accommodations were fully booked 2 weeks in advance, and finally, we'll have 800 pints of Guinness to dispense on Wednesday!
Q: What one thing would you tell the next organizer to do?
They should attend the 'post mortem' meeting on Saturday 10th June 2000.
Q: What do you think will be the best thing about ICSE 2000?
The varied tracks – especially FoSE, PETT and SEAT. Q: Finally, what one thing in Limerick or close by should ICSE attendees not leave without seeing? eating? drinking? Only one? Go to the Hunt Museum in Limerick City, go for a walk along the Shannon or around the campus, drink a pint of Guinness, visit a seafood restaurant, see the Cliffs of Moher, hear a 'session' in an Irish pub, attend a hurling match, ... is that enough?
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and Webmistress
Caroline Kehoe