The DACHFest Theme: Making a Difference
A tech conference that is not about programming
DACHFest is organized by the numerous Google Developer Groups and Women Techmakers communities of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland — and those communities differ more than you might think!
There is no one typical GDG or WTM chapter. There can be a dozen members, or there can be thousands. The number of events in a year can go anywhere from one to well over forty. Some chapters are focused on a particular language or stack, while others may meet up without any specific agenda.
And yet, despite being so different, all chapters share one common goal, which naturally became the theme for our first collaborative event: making a difference.
What exactly does it mean, and what kind of talks or activities would fit the theme? Here is a few broad topics that we would like to explore this year.
Emerging Technology
Things that make us think that we are already living in the future. Let’s take a look at technologies and concepts that may not be widely known just yet, but are bound to make a lasting impact on our lives in the years to come.
Transformation Through Tech
Tools that transform the way people work or live; projects that touch hearts and minds. Technology has a deep reach into our daily lives, and we want to explore this transformation and its consequences.
Creating Better Experiences
We create tools — and we want people to enjoy using them. How do we make sure that everyone has a great experience with things we build, no matter their skill level, background, or cultural context?
Teaching and Learning
Education makes a difference for billions of people, but the tech industry moves so fast that it’s sometimes hard for traditional education institutions to keep up. What are some unconventional ways to teach and effective strategies to learn?
People and Community
At the end of the day, it’s all about people. How can we make working in tech more welcoming, friendly, and inclusive? How to create and nurture communities that really make a difference?
This list is by no means complete, and doesn’t even reflect the full range of wonderful talk submissions we have gotten by now. There’s just too many things and ideas, big and small, that can make a difference — so even while you may have a pretty good idea of what to expect by now, prepare to be surprised!
We’ll see you in November. ❤️
P.S. Don’t forget that our call for papers is still open! If you have something amazing to tell everyone, we want you on stage. You don’t have to be an experienced speaker or have a “technical” background (whatever that even means), and you’ll get travel support and mentoring if you need it. Do you have a great story about making a difference? Tell us about it!
