{"id":150,"date":"2024-11-02T10:10:27","date_gmt":"2024-11-02T10:10:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dis.acm.org\/2025\/?page_id=150"},"modified":"2025-05-21T11:21:55","modified_gmt":"2025-05-21T11:21:55","slug":"attending","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dis.acm.org\/2025\/attending\/","title":{"rendered":"Attending DIS2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Following its discovery in 1419, the uninhabited island of Madeira was named by the Portuguese after its most abundant resource \u2013 madeira, or wood in English. Its unique climate and position in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean fostered the plantation of sugarcane, wine and staples such as corn, bananas and potatoes. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

These conditions fostered the island\u2019s economy first as a mandatory port of call for European trade routes and later as a popular tourist destination. In an era of unprecedented change and global flows of people, goods and ideas, DIS takes advantage of Madeira\u2019s geographic and historical position as a starting point to think about designing a sustainable ocean, acknowledging our interconnectedness with the world\u2019s bodies of water, and rethinking boundaries between humans, non-humans, technology, and the vital aquatic world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why in-person-only conference?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Following the feedback received at last year\u2019s Town Hall meeting on this topic, we considered the in-person experience a crucial aspect of DIS. Discussing research and conversations about everything else are a crucial part of what makes DIS not just an academic conference but also a joyful meeting place for a growing community of curious, gregarious individuals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Furthermore, attendants pointed to the difficulties of hybrid or virtual conferences. Choosing a fully in-person format thus allows us to avoid such difficulties but also the very high costs and troublesome experiences associated with these conferences. Also, some attendants pointed to journals as a travel-free alternative for publishing high-quality research. That said, we believe the in-person format incentivizes deeper interactions and discussions about our interconnectedness with one another, as well as with our natural surroundings \u2013 both above and below sea level. We are nevertheless aware of the environmental impacts and costs associated with travelling from all over the world to an island territory of a European peripheral nation. As such we have devised several commitments that attempt to make up for the conference\u2019s impact on a local, regional and global level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are committed to prioritising sustainability throughout our planning, including in the design of the conference’s visual identity and spatial graphics. By emphasizing a minimal signage system with reusable elements, by drastically reducing merchandising (that means no DIS 2025 tote bag!) and by judiciously employing digital interfaces and other audiovisual resources we aim to organize an event with sustainability considerations at its core.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another commitment has to do with time. We invite you to make the most of your trip to DIS and stay a few extra days exploring Madeira\u2019s unique blend of natural beauty, rich history, and warm hospitality. Not just the historical center of Funchal, with its colorful buildings, vibrant markets and iconic 16th-century cathedral, but also the island\u2019s stunning levadas (irrigation canals) that offer breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. And, naturally, the Atlantic Ocean where you can swim, dive or sail around Madeira and neighboring Porto Santo island. We are preparing a showcase of local projects and nonprofits aimed at the conservation of marine environments, natural resources and regional crafts that you can discover and support during your, hopefully extended, stay in the archipelago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Certain locations have great potential to advance event planning by integrating more pressing sustainability practices. With this in mind, it is our aim to push local and national authorities in this field to seriously consider the impact of events at the scale of DIS. Our original and aspirational approaches aim therefore to advocate for higher standards regarding the impact of such events, and influence decision-makers to consider them regarding their promotion and organization. We, therefore, propose to create a report on the limitations we have faced in this regard and share it with these organisations and decision-makers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, as in DIS 2024 we have devised a fee system that is based on the country of departure. This allows for more equity in conference participation and attempts to compensate for travel and accommodation costs. We will also organize a town hall meeting to receive feedback and discuss improvements to future DIS conferences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Conference Chairs,
Valentina and Nuno<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Madeira?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The main venue for DIS will be in Funchal, the Capital of Madeira Island. Only 1h30m flight from mainland Portugal (from Lisbon or Porto airports) and well connected with the main capitals in Europe (London, Paris, Berlin, Vienna, Helsinki, etc.) and in the US, the city of Funchal provides a blend of cosmopolitan social activities in one of the most well-preserved natural heritages of Europe. As an Island and outermost region of Europe, it brings the conference well into the theme of designing for a healthy Ocean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Madeira is a unique blend of natural beauty, rich history, and warm hospitality. Explore the stunning Levadas (irrigation canals) that crisscross the island, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape and picturesque villages, or visit the historic town center of Funchal with its colorful buildings, vibrant markets, and iconic 16th-century church, S\u00e9 Cathedral. For more information about where to go and what to do, please visit the official page of Madeira and Porto Santo Islands<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While we will schedule some events in the city, we will strongly encourage participants to explore on their own, and we will provide the Student Volunteers with lists of good restaurants at different price ranges.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Travel and accommodation <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A flight to Madeira takes about 1h30 from mainland Portugal and just over 3h from the main European airports. Many airline companies, including \u2018low cost\u2019 companies, fly regularly to Madeira.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Madeira Airport<\/a> is located in Santa Cruz, 16km (10 miles) from Funchal. It takes approximately 20 minutes to get to Funchal by car. Information about public transportation options can be found on the Airport website<\/a>. Ride-hailing services are limited to certain authorized services (e.g., Bolt, Rumus); these services are often connected to taxi services. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regarding accommodations, there is a wide range of alternatives<\/a> to suit all preferences and budgets, including the conference venue. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conference Venue \u2013 Pestana Casino Park<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Pestana Casino Park<\/a> is a 5-star hotel in Funchal, Madeira, surrounded by 15,000 m\u00b2 of private gardens. The hotel was designed by world-renowned \u00d3scar Niemeyer<\/a>, a Brazilian architect and key figure in the development of Modern Architecture. The hotel is adjacent to Funchal\u2019s bay cruise port. Plus, it is only 5 minutes on foot from the city center and the epicenter of the city’s social and cultural life. Its privileged location on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean makes it one of the most famous hotels on the island of Madeira.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Pestana Casino Park<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Hosting Organization:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Interactive Technologies Institute<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

DIS will be organized by ITI, an HCI research lab of T\u00e9cnico<\/a> the Engineering School of the University of Lisbon<\/a>. The main hosting institution is IST – U. Lisbon, Portugal\u2019s premium engineering, science, and technology school, integrating competencies from all engineering and fundamental sciences fields, creating a unique multidisciplinary scientific environment. Its mission is to provide top-quality higher education and develop RD&I activities that meet the highest international standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Interactive Technologies Institute<\/a> (ITI) strives for research excellence through ethically mindful and just design of innovative interactive systems and services that harmonize the entanglements between humans, non-humans, and digital technologies. Through our research practice, we aim to foster a sustainable, inclusive, and aesthetically appealing future for all. ITI is coordinating the Bauhaus of the Seas, one of the six lighthouse projects of the New European Bauhaus, the EU\u2019s main policy towards building together a sustainable and inclusive future that is beautiful for our eyes, minds, and souls. Under the motto \u201cbeautiful | sustainable | together\u201d, the New European Bauhaus is a creative and interdisciplinary initiative that connects the European Green Deal to our living spaces and experiences.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Following its discovery in 1419, the uninhabited island of Madeira was named by the Portuguese after its most abundant resource \u2013 madeira, or wood in English. Its unique climate and position in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean fostered the plantation of sugarcane, wine and staples such as corn, bananas and potatoes. These conditions fostered […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-150","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dis.acm.org\/2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/150","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dis.acm.org\/2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dis.acm.org\/2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dis.acm.org\/2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dis.acm.org\/2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=150"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/dis.acm.org\/2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/150\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":427,"href":"https:\/\/dis.acm.org\/2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/150\/revisions\/427"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dis.acm.org\/2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=150"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}