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Faculty Call for Big Ideas

Faculty Call for Big Ideas 

The Center for Human-Computer Interaction (CHCI) invites faculty to submit a big idea for presentation at the Ninth Annual Workshop in our CHCI Workshop Series on the Future of HCI. Following the success of the 2023 and 2024 workshops, we have decided to continue the Big Ideas theme in 2025. This is a unique opportunity for faculty to propose work on complex challenges relevant to human-computer interaction and to engage with others in reflecting on and discussing big ideas. The one-day, in-person workshop will be held Friday, March 28, 2025 (8:30am - 5:00pm) in Gilbert Place 2124, 220 Gilbert Street, Blacksburg.

An ever-changing world of technology has brought about new societal, technical, and environmental challenges that require interdisciplinary approaches. The CHCI Big Ideas workshop is designed to provide a platform for researchers to initiate an intellectual discourse about their ideas with CHCI members and experts. Specifically, the workshop will provide opportunities for researchers to: 

  • Pitch big ideas that they want to work on in the near future

  • Learn about new big ideas that they may want to be part of 

  • Give and receive feedback about their big ideas

  • Participate in discussion with other presenters and attendees

  • Find collaborators to work on their ideas for future external funding 

  • Refine ideas that can be submitted to the CHCI Planning Grants for Large-Scale Research Efforts program (due Monday, April 7, 2025) shortly after the workshop.

  • Earn Professional Development Network (PDN) credits

VT faculty and students are welcome to attend the workshop whether or not they are presenting. 

Individual faculty or teams of faculty are invited to submit a one-page PDF abstract (1000 words max) describing new and thought-provoking HCI research ideas by Sunday, February 16. Submissions will be reviewed for relevance to the workshop objectives (see evaluation criteria below). Participating faculty members of the workshop will be encouraged to submit a CHCI Planning Grants for Large-Scale Research Efforts proposal, which can be used to prepare their ideas for externally funded research efforts. 

  • Who can apply? Faculty members from all departments are welcome to submit their ideas. CHCI membership is not required.

  • What can I submit? This workshop is to share your future research ideas, not to present your completed or in-progress work. If existing work is relevant to show your motivation behind the submission, you can include it as part of your idea proposal. Ideas should be relevant to the broad field of HCI.

  • How do I submit it? Please use the following Google Form: https://forms.gle/qEEhZAfH7PvkFJmF8. Please upload a one-page PDF that includes all figures, materials, and references. 

  • How many times can I submit? Each individual is limited to leading one submission for the workshop. However, individuals can contribute to multiple submissions as collaborators.

  • How will my submission be evaluated? Submissions will be reviewed by the workshop organizers for the following criteria: (1) potential for large-scale funding, (2) likelihood of increasing VT CHCI’s visibility and reputation, and (3) broader impacts to communities or societies.

  • How do I present at the workshop? Selected participants will present their ideas and engage in a discussion session facilitated by our workshop organizers (no more than 20 minutes for presentation and discussion). Other presenters may be given an opportunity to give shorter lightning talks.  

  • How does it benefit me? You can receive feedback, brainstorm with others, find collaborators, and potentially submit a planning grant proposal to CHCI (take a look at some previously funded projects here). 

Submission deadline: Sunday, February 16, 2025 by 11:59 PM EST

Submission link: https://forms.gle/qEEhZAfH7PvkFJmF8

If you have any questions, please contact Ryan P. McMahan (rpm@vt.edu).

Please share this information widely. We thank you for your submission and look forward to engaging with participants and their creative ideas this March.

Organizing Committee:

  • Ryan P. McMahan (Computer Science) - 2025 Workshop Chair
  • Abiola Akanmu (Construction Engineering and Management)
  • Doug A. Bowman (Computer Science)
  • Myounghoon "Philart" Jeon (Industrial and Systems Engineering)
  • Nathan Lau (Industrial and Systems Engineering)
  • Kurt Luther (Computer Science)
  • Anirban Mukhopadhyay (Computer Science)
  • Rachael Paine (Design)