ESEAP Conference 2024/Report/Rachmat (WMID)
The ESEAP Conference 2024 is the third regional conference devoted to Wikimedians in the East Asia, Southeast Asia, and Pacific regions. It was convened in Kota Kinabalu from 10 to 12 May 2024.
Representatives
editWikimedia Indonesia was allocated two spots to attend the conference. The attendees of the ESEAP Conference 2024 from Wikimedia Indonesia were:
- User:Rachmat (WMID), Chair — myself
- User:Hillun Vilayl Napis (WMID), General Secretary
Things I contributed or participated in the conference
editBeing a member of the committee team
editAt this conference, I served several roles in different teams, including communication and logistics team members.
As a Communications team member, I contributed to creating a more inclusive experience for the Wikimedia communities in Indonesia. Acknowledging that language can be a significant barrier, I helped translate essential event information into Indonesian. This effort made it easier for Indonesian Wikimedians to independently navigate the event, access the schedule, plan their travel, and delve into other essential details about the conference.
Though my contributions to the logistics team prior to the event were limited, I actively stayed informed by keeping in touch with the members of Kota Kinabalu.
Sessions I attended
editDuring the conference, I balanced attending several sessions with supporting logistics for some of them. The sessions I attended are highlighted in blue for reference.
From the sessions I attended, there were some interesting takeaways that I learnt as a new experience for me:
- Editing Wikipedia to Understand Our Past: Enriching Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland’s Local History on Wikipedia: New Zealand's local culture offers a captivating blend of traditions. Thankfully, insightful contributions on Wikipedia by passionate university interns from New Zealand provide a perfect entry point. Their detailed articles illuminate indigenous culture and other local treasures, making them a valuable resource for anyone curious to read more.
- Free the Freedom of Panorama in ESEAP: My experience endorsing Freedom of Panorama (FoP) in copyright issues has been extensive. This recent session on the topic proved particularly insightful. It delved into the ongoing discussion surrounding the definition of a public space. Whether a space is truly public, partially restricted, or privately owned with public access has significant ramifications for street photographers. We need copyright laws that incentivise the original authors and allow photographers to capture the essence of public spaces.
- Awareness of Copyright Issues in South Korea: The session served as a wake-up call regarding the low level of copyright awareness in South Korea. This highlights the need for targeted educational campaigns to improve public understanding and respect for intellectual property rights. For instance, a popular online encyclopedia prioritises a vast content library over stricter copyright enforcement, similar to Wikipedia. However, concerns have been raised about the potential for copyright infringement and the overall accuracy of information presented on the platform.
Plans after the conference
editFollowing this conference, a couple of items that I would like to pursue are:
- Follow-up conversation with Irvin (PhilWiki) on cross-organisation education and community advancement activities.
- The ESEAP Hub Preparatory Council has been diligently working to establish a strong foundation for the Hub. Their efforts in creating essential documents, such as the ESEAP Hub Movement Charter, and fostering community engagement are crucial for its success. I will continue to monitor its progress and offer support as needed.
Comments/suggestions about the conference
editThe Core Organising Team (COT) has done its best to ensure the success of the ESEAP Conference 2024.
- This year's theme-based program structure significantly improved, offering diverse topics and speakers. However, I noticed a higher representation of presenters from Indonesia than from other ESEAP countries. While I acknowledge the impressive number of Indonesian scholarship recipients, for future conferences, I believe a more balanced selection of presenters across the ESEAP region would be beneficial. This could showcase the breadth of knowledge and initiatives within the wider ESEAP communities.
- The scholarship team deserve recognition for their astute selection of scholarship recipients who will serve as valuable knowledge disseminators within their communities.
- Similarly, the communication team's efficiency in producing timely Diff posts, visual materials, and informative emails ensured everyone remained well-informed.
- Drawing on my experience with the logistics team, I propose two improvements for the next ESEAP Conference, mainly if it offers hybrid participation.
- First, I recommend establishing a dedicated live-streaming team to ensure a flawless experience for the virtual audience. This team would handle technical aspects like equipment setup, internet connection management, and real-time troubleshooting. Their expertise would be invaluable in delivering a professional and engaging broadcast.
- Second, I suggest assigning dedicated teams to each room throughout the conference to optimise logistics within the venue. This approach offers several advantages. Team members would become familiar with their assigned room's specific layout and technical setup, allowing for faster setup and smoother troubleshooting during the event.
- My recent experience utilising Navan for flight ticket reservations proved highly efficient. The platform's intuitive interface facilitated a seamless process, from establishing my initial departure and return dates to effortlessly accommodating airline-initiated itinerary adjustments.
Related stuff
edit- I had the opportunity to take some photos. Please head to this category on Commons.