First Scientific Conference in World of Warcraft This Weekend

This weekend will bring the Convergence of the Real and the Virtual (May 9-11), the first scientific conference to be held inside World of Warcraft. Appropriately, the conference will focus on research conducted around World of Warcraft and, more generally, in virtual worlds. Created by John Bohannon, who's behind the Gonzo Scientist feature for the AAAS journal Science and organized by William Sims Bainbridge, co-director of the NSF's Human-Centered Computing, the conference will feature "3 scientific sessions, followed by activities."

"This will not be your typical conference," explains Bohannon in his Gonzo Scientist column. "Sure, there will be sessions devoted to various research topics involving virtual worlds, panel discussions, social activities, and those conference goody bags that we've all come to love. But to attend this conference, you don't have to splurge on grant money or add to global warming by flying to another country. And in the goody bags, you won't find brochures, pens, or those quickly lost notebooks. 

"Instead, each conference participant will receive (while supplies last) 10 gold pieces, a red "Sciencemag" shirt, a colorful conference tabard emblazoned with an infinity symbol, two extra bags for swag, a telescope, and a pet creature."

The sessions, which sound like they're attempting to function as roundtable Q&As with questions posted on a wiki to jumpstart the conversation, will focus on "Research and World of Warcraft," "Relationships between WoW and the 'Real World,'"  and "The Future of Virtual Worlds."

I don't think World of Warcraft is going to fill a major gap when supplying the rising demand for virtual conference solutions, but, then again, more entrepreneurs and more researchers are interested in just how a game like World of Warcraft can help you be a better leader. Just remember, you have to be part of the Horde to attend the science conference.

Regardless, this might be the motivation I'd need to end a year-long break and hop back into WoW, at least for a few days.

[ via Metaxlr8]

Comments

[Sophrosyne Stenvaag]

Another bonus is, the Science guild is a 200+ group of scientists, educators, students and professionals.

It's an interesting, supportive, charming bunch, so if you're already in WoW but would like some mature company, the guild is a great opportunity.