We highly yearn to have the following content streams at WHY2025:

Note: Keep in mind that these streams are outlines. Your talk doesn’t need to fall neatly into exactly one category. It may overlap, it may go out of bounds. The WHY program is not a memorysafe system: so overflow that stack any way you want.

Wonderful creations

Have you created something cool? This is WHY’s show-and-tell. It can be about something you’ve built. A framework you’ve created. An in depth analysis of an interesting subject. The most fabulous explanation of difficult and misunderstood things. Or the art that you made.

Hacking

Did you break something? Did you fix it? Or did you fix it by breaking it, or was it the other way around? Hacking involves using something in a way it was not intended. This can include software, hardware, and humanware all the same

Yearn for a better future

Do you want to improve our society, yourself or influence others to self-improvement? In the Yearning stream we will have talks on ethics, privacy, politics, mental health, society and economics. Improve oneself or help uplift others.

The square hole

If your idea doesn’t fit in any of the categories above, but you think it will be cool to share at WHY, then remember that every shape fits into the square hole.

Entertainment

Together with Team:Entertainment, we are looking for musicians, artists, performers, and similar to help us put on a great show! Specifically, we would love to hear from the following acts: solo musicians, bands, disc jockeys, beautiful noisy machines, comedians, podcasts, cabaret and burlesque performers.

WHY2025 will also have two talk streams that overlap with some of the thematic streams, you can submit your proposal purely for these streams or you can double and present your talk twice, once in the regular streams or as a foundational or kids level:

Foundation

We want to grow the hacking community and welcome new people who might just be making their first steps into the scene, or are side stepping into new areas that they want to explore. Foundation is the place where we welcome and teach people with little prior knowledge but a lot of motivation.

Kids

Explain It Like I’m Five, but for real. Challenge yourself and present your talk to our youngest hackers in the family village. In a format, time domain and level that is appropriate for primary school children.

Cyber Circus

Due to change of plans we are not planning to do an in-the-round circus setup any more.

FAQ

What kind of participation are you looking for?

The things that you are enthusiastic about and want to share on a stage or on the field, and engage an audience with. Lectures, workshops, art installations - all those kinds of things. We only facilitate in-person participation.

What kind of an audience can I expect?

A motley crew of around 3500 hackers, freethinkers, philosophers, activists, geeks, scientists, artists, makers, creative minds, and others from all over the world will convene to share, discuss, criticise, look ahead, code, build, and reflect.

Are there proposals you wouldn’t like?

Yes. We’re generally not enthusiastic about panels, as this format can be challenging to execute effectively. We’re also not interested in proposals related to blockchains, unless they do not involve proof-of-work systems. While blockchains can be fascinating, they rarely offer practical solutions. Additionally, we have zero tolerance for content promoting flat-earth theories, anti-vaccination, climate denial, conspiracy theories, pseudoscience, or any form of hate. Finally, talks that are not aligned with the general spirit of the event or the Code of Conduct will be rejected.

Do I need to buy a ticket?

Yes, tickets will be available for purchase at the end of 2024.

Will my talk be recorded?

All presentations will be recorded, streamed, and released on VoD platforms. We strongly encourage speakers to participate in recording and streaming, as the event is made possible by volunteers who anticipate being able to watch the content afterward. Unless you provided a compelling reason in your submission for opting out of recording and/or streaming, your talk has been accepted with the understanding that it will be recorded. During the submission process, you likely agreed to have your talk recorded under the CC-BY license.

Can I do Q&A?

Time for Q&A is included within your time slot, if you need more time invite the audience to meet you somewhere off-stage.

I want to do something spectacular on-stage!

If you have special AV-related requirements, such as:
- Close-up camera on stage
- More than two speakers
- Live video conferencing
- Special audio/video devices
- High-current equipment on stage (anything above a few amps @ 230V)
- Live experiments or demos
Please let us know as soon as possible. Update your proposal in Pretalx by filling in the field for logistical support, and email us directly at content@why2025.org. We will do our best to accommodate your needs.

What formatting can I use in my description?

You can use a subset of Markdown. For details, visit this guide.

This Call for Papers closed on 2025-05-25 23:59 (Europe/Amsterdam).