EuroPython Blog

We are pleased to announce the launch of our all new EuroPython 2016 website. Over the last few weeks, we have been busy talking to sponsors and getting the website prepared for the launch.

You may have heard about the recent direct observation of gravitational waves by the LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory). What you may not know is that Python helped in analyzing the data (archive.org), so we now have two things to celebrate:

1. Python’s use in this phenomenal direct proof of Einstein’s prediction and
2. the launch of our 2016 edition of the EuroPython conference.
   

So here it is:

https://ep2016.europython.eu/

Many thanks go to our launch sponsors who have signed up early to give us that extra boost in motivation to get the conference and it’s website set up.

Meet our Launch Sponsors

• Bilbao Ekintza
• Intel
  
• UPV/EHU
• Udemy
  
• Python Software Foundation
  
• Blue Yonder
• JetBrains
• Numberly
• Flying Circus
• Limejump
• RedHat
• Vzzual.com
• Django-CMS
• Riverbank

PS: We’d like to thank the EuroPython Web WG  for the web site improvements and our friends at Python Italia for making their code available.

With gravitational regards,
–
EuroPython 2016 Team

The EuroPython 2016 Team is pleased to account the dates for EuroPython 2016 in Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain:

Sunday, July 17 - Sunday, July 24 2016

Pre-launch Website

To keep you updated, we have put together a pre-launch website for the conference:

The URL to bookmark for the 2016 conference is http://ep2016.europython.eu/

Beginners’ Day

You may wonder why we’re having an extra day for the conference. Here’s the plan:

In 2015, we introduced Beginners’ Day as a new format to EuroPython providing special introductions and tutorials for Python beginners. The project was a great success.

For the 2016 edition, we are planning to dedicate Sunday before the main conference as Beginner’s Day, so we’ll have the following conference layout:

• Sunday, July 17: Beginners’ day & registration
• Monday, July 18 - Friday, July 22: Main conference & trainings
• Saturday, July 23 - Sunday, July 24: Sprints

Looking for Launch Sponsors

We will launch the conference website in December. If your company would like to sponsor EuroPython 2016 and get extra attention by being one of our launch sponsors, please check our sponsor page for details.

Enjoy,
–
EuroPython 2016 Team

Thanks to our Media Work Group (WG) and especially Anthon and Luis, the conference videos are now cut, edited and uploaded to our YouTube channel as well as our archive.org collection.

A total of 173 talk videos were processed, so there’s a lot of interesting content to watch. The talk videos are also embedded into the talk pages referenced in our session list for easy navigation.

Two short examples from the popular lightning talks sessions:

Storing acorns

The -ish library

These are some short links for easy access:

• europython.tv - for our YouTube channel
• ep2015.europython.tv - for the EuroPython 2015 playlist
  
• archive.europython.tv - for our archive.org collection
  

Enjoy,
–
EuroPython 2015 Team

EuroPython is now over and was a great success thanks to everyone who helped make it happen.

Unfortunately, we did not properly acknowledge all the volunteers who were working on the event during the closing session and we would like to apologize for this, so here’s the full list of all volunteers from the EuroPython 2015 Workgroups and the on-site volunteers:

EuroPython 2015 is almost over and so it’s time to ask around for what we can improve next year. If you attended EuroPython 2015, please take a few moments and fill out our feedback form:

EuroPython 2015 Feedback Form

We will leave the feedback form online for a few weeks and then use the information as basis for the work on EuroPython 2016 and also post a summary of the multiple choice questions (not the comments to protect your privacy) on our website. Many thanks in advance.

Helping with EuroPython 2016

If you would like to help with EuroPython 2016, we invite you to join the EuroPython Workgroups. To apply please send an email to board@europython.eu with your details and how you think you could help.

Enjoy,
–
EuroPython Society

We would like to ask all speakers at EuroPython to upload their talk slides to the EuroPython 2015 website. The attendees will love you for it :-)

For Speakers

Uploading is easy:

• Log in to the website
• Go to your talk page
• Click on “Edit“ button,
• Near the end of the edit dialog, there’s a “Slides” section where you can select the PDF to upload.
• Click “Save” and you’re done.

Thank you !

For Attendees

If you want to find the talk slides for a talk, please go to the talk page and find the “Download” button to access the slides.

Enjoy,
–
EuroPython 2015 Team

We would like to draw your attention to the following sessions by the EuroPython Society and the Python Software Foundation, two of our Python community organizations working for you.

EuroPython Society Sessions

The EuroPython Society (EPS) is organizing the EuroPython conference series and working with the EuroPython Workgroups and the on-site teams to run EuroPython conferences.

Each year, we are running our General Assembly at the conference, reporting on our activities and, probably more interesting for many of you, a session to introduce the organization concepts we’re using to run these conferences.

• EPS General Assembly - Barria 1, 15:15
  

• EuroPython 2016 - Help us build the next edition ! - Barria 1, 14:30
  

Both sessions are open to all EuroPython attendees.

If you’d like to join us with the organization, please attend the EuroPython 2016 session. You can also become a member of the EPS and then vote at the General Assembly.

Python Software Foundation Session

The Python Software Foundation (PSF) is the organization behind Python itself. It holds the IP rights, runs PyCon US and tries to help the Python community world-wide to run events, user groups, workshops or Python related programming projects by giving out grants.

This year, we’re again having a PSF Members meeting at EuroPython, where the PSF reports on its activities, new plans and organizational changes.

• PSF Members Meeting - Barria 1, 18:00
  

The meeting is open to everyone, so if you want to learn more about the PSF activities, please join in.

Enjoy,
–
EuroPython 2015 Team

Some more last-minute news and tips for attendees. Be sure to check our attendee tips page for more information.

Bilbao tram service on strike

Just like in Berlin last year, there will be some inconvenience due to strikes in Bilbao. The Bilbao tram service has been on strike since July 15th and it may well last until the end of Summer.

The tram services will stop from 11:55 - 14.00 and 17:55 - 20.00 CEST each day and only maintain minimum service at other times.

See “Paralizado el servicio de tranvía en Bilbao por huelga de sus trabajadores” for more details (in Spanish).

We had originally wanted to provide free public transport for attendees, but given the strikes during conference rush hours, we decided to drop this.

Note that buses and the metro will still operate as usual.

Great weather

You will not only benefit from excellent talks, but also receive lots of Vitamin D in Bilbao. The weather forecast for the week is excellent: lots of sunshine and between 28°-30° Celsius.

So while the tram is on strike, you can walk and get an ice cream instead of a tram ticket.

Speaker preparations

If you are a speaker, please read the nice guide written by Harry Percival:

• Tips for speakers

In particular, please check your talk time. The session chairs will have to make sure that all speakers only use the assigned talk time, so that the tracks don’t run out of sync.

There are also some important technical things to prepare your talk at the conference:

• test your notebook with the projector in the room where you will be holding your talk
• make sure you have the right VGA adapters with you
• make sure the projector resolution is supported by your notebook

It’s best to do all of the above a few hours or a day before your talk. In case of problems, you can then try to find alternative solutions, e.g. borrow someone’s notebook for the talk.

Enjoy,
–
EuroPython 2015 Team

We are pleased to announce the official guidebook for the EuroPython 2015 conference:

We will regularly issue updates to the guidebook when there are changes in schedule.

Available for all platforms

This is available in several flavors:

• for mobile phones as native apps for iOS and Android
• for browsers as web app

The native apps have the advantage of allowing to use the guidebook in offline mode. Once you have the Guidebook app installed, search for “EuroPython 2015” and download the guide.

Nice Features

• Maps of the venue
• Full schedule
• Create your personal schedule (My Schedule)
  
• Watch Twitter updates and tweet right in the guidebook
• Contact other attendees who have sign in to the guidebook
  
• Useful information (Contacts, CoC, FAQ, City Infos, etc.)
  
• Offline use (for the native apps)

More information and QR codes are available on our mobile schedule page.

Enjoy,
–
EuroPython 2015 Team

EuroPython is not the only attraction in Bilbao to attend in July. The city also hosts the famous Guggenheim Museum, featuring modern art in an amazing building designed by Frank O. Gehry.

See below for a special deal we have available for the Guggenheim.

You can also find the Fine Arts Museum in Bilbao, with exhibitions of Tucker and 50s fashion in France, in addition to other masterpieces. It is very close to the conference venue.

We have compiled more information about these two museums on these pages:

• Guggenheim Museum

• Fine Arts Museum

>>> Special Deal for EuroPython Attendees

If you want to avoid long queues at the Guggenheim Museum, you can benefit from getting a ticket at the conference desk.

We have acquired a block of 100 tickets and will give them away for free, if you donate at least EUR 10 to the EuroPython conference financial aid budget for next year.

That’s less than the regular ticket price and you get the additional warm fuzzy feeling of helping others as bonus :-)

Donations can be made in cash at the conference desk.

Enjoy,
–
EuroPython 2015 Team