1.      Is there a designated MIT IQ Industry Symposium hotel?

No, we do not have a designated hotel for the Symposium. However, check the nearby hotels listed at http://mitiq.mit.edu/IQIS/2008/. Important: Make your reservation ASAP because the price will be much higher, and hotels may not be available this summer.

Search the Internet early! For example, US$169/night at the Doubletree Guest Suites Boston (400 Soldiers Field Rd Boston, MA 02134) was quoted on September 25, 2007.

2.      Where is the location of the Symposium exactly, and when?

The Symposium will be held on E51, MIT East Campus. Please refer to http://whereis.mit.edu/map-jpg for campus map and directions to MIT.  Note that buildings at MIT are identified by number and symbol.  For example, E51-345 stands for East Campus, Building 51, Room 345. The tentative venues are as follows:

            July 16-17, 2008 at E51 (Tang Building)

E51-325, E51-335, E51-345 (to be finalized)

70 Memorial Drive, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA

3.      Can you tell me how to get to the Symposium site?

See http://mitiq.mit.edu/MITIQ/Directions_%20ParkingE51.htm.

4.      What’s the dress code?

Business casual.

5.      My family will be accompanying me, how can I find tourist information?

Important! See for example,

l       Tourist Information in Boston MA

l       MIT Virtual Tour

6.      What registration discounts are available?

The following discounts are available.

7.      Why Participate?

The Symposium will provide a forum to:

l       Address challenges faced by IQ practitioners

l       Enable data quality software vendors and solution providers to meet with practitioners to discuss new capabilities and offerings

l       Introduce new techniques and technologies

l       Demonstrate successful techniques for overcoming IQ issues

l       Discuss successful practices that lead to trusted information

l       Share project successes and lessons learned

l       Promote IQ Initiatives

l       Provide lessons learned in implementing IQ policies, strategies, standards, and assessments

8.      Who should participate?

l       CIOs, CTOs, IT Directors and Managers

l       Business Directors and Managers

l       Process Methodologists/Engineers

l       Information Quality Professionals

l       Data Analysts/Architects/Engineers

l       Project Managers/Consultants

l       Graduate students and scholars in the IQ field

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9.      Should I (presenter) bring my own laptop for projection or just a flash drive?

A flash drive will suffice. The MIT classrooms reserved for the Symposium are equipped with computer projectors and screens. The Symposium organizers will work with moderators and presenters to make sure there is a laptop computer for presentation in each of the parallel sessions. Vendors should bring their computers for their table, software demonstration, and product presentation.

10.  Is there a generic template that I can use for the Power Point that has the MITIQ logo and date?

Download the template at http://mitiq.mit.edu/mitiqis2007/iqistemplate.ppt

11.  Should I (presenter) submit my PowerPoint presentation, or are you expecting the actual paper?

An actual paper is not expected. You may wish to end your presentation with a few key messages, then engage in sharing experiences, success stories, and lessons learned with other practitioners at the Symposium, so that when they return they can use your results on the following Monday .

NOTE: Between now and no later than June 1, session moderators will work with their session presenters to create their presentation materials, which will be included in the Symposium CD proceedings. Tutorial and vendor materials, where appropriate, will also be included in the proceedings.

12.  How snazzy can I make my PowerPoint Presentation?

Not all projectors and screens render graphics and colors the same way.  Something that looks beautiful on your VISTA Dual Core or MacBook Pro may not run right on the laptops supplied for the Symposium. At a presentation of this nature, the content rather than the packaging is the important thing.

13.  If I plan to provide a handout, how many copies should I bring with me?

The Symposium expects 300 participants spreading across 3 parallel sessions. When in doubt, make 75 copies.

14.  Will copies of the presentations be made available?

We plan to produce a CD for the proceedings for the Symposium. The CD will be handed out as part of the Symposium registration package. Individual session speakers (regular, tutorial, and demonstration) will bring their own handouts as they see fit and distribute in their sessions.

15.  Who should receive the draft PowerPoint presentation before June 1^st?

To be included in the Symposium CD, the final Power Point presentation should be submitted to Rich Wang (rwang@mit.edu) by June 1st. Draft presentations should be circulated among the speakers of the same session under the guidance of the moderator. The intent is to create a lot of value and insight that “can be applied the following Monday” upon returning to office.

16.  Are there any restrictions for vendors during their presentation?

No restrictions as long as it’s consistent with the goals and objectives of the Symposium. Vendors present products and services from the perspective of their own companies.

17.  Do vendors have to sponsor the Symposium to exhibit banners, demonstrate products, hand out brochures and business cards, etc.?

To be determined. Questions related to vendor exhibits should be directed to the 2008 Vendor Chairs - smithha@us.ibm.com (Harald Smith) and  Lisa.Dodson@sas.com

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18.  Is there a wireless connection at the Symposium site?

Yes, you can register as a visitor to MIT, and access the Internet through MIT’s wireless facility. The procedure to register will be announced on site.

19.  Will an attendees list be published and available?

Yes, the Symposium registration package will include a participants list, with names and affiliations.

20.  How do I post a job opening, or submit a resume?

Use the experimental Symposium Placement Service (To be announced).

21.  How can my society or association get a discount?

E-mail Rich Wang, rwang@mit.edu.

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