How and Why?

Unsheffield follows the unconference principles of BarCamps that have been held with enormous success throughout the world, from San Francisco to Bombay, as well as a couple of times in Sheffield.

The agenda of an unconference is built up at the event by the participants attending.  Apart from presentations, unconferences host demonstrations, workshops, panels and seminars. The agenda is very much about knowledge-sharing and learning.

At their core, unconferences are:

• participatory: everyone attending gets involved, rather than spectating
• democratic: the attendees create the programme of sessions themselves
• open: anyone who wants to share and learn is welcome
• voluntary: people give their time and talent to be part of a unique melting pot of thinkers and doers

The intensely creative atmosphere is complemented with plenty of opportunity to informally network and exchange ideas. Contributors often make lasting connections with like-minded people.

Who Comes?

Participants at Unsheffield could be…

• developers
• designers
• creatives
• educationalists
• scientists
• technologists
• bloggers
• students
• entrepreneurs
• policy makers
• writers
• artists
• academics
• geeks
• marketeers
• investors
• public and third sector workers
• gamers

… the list goes on.

The likelihood is they’re just plain technologically curious. The beauty of the event is the diversity of those involved and the opportunity for crossover collaboration.