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EuroPython 2007 Python Papers Article

See ["EuroPython2007"] for the attendee conference Wiki.

This work in progress is developed to gather and write an article, to be published for example in PythonPapers, to promote and advertise the EuroPython conference.

Context

The editor of [http://pythonpapers.org The Python Papers] wrote recently to the EuroPython mailing list (see [http://mail.python.org/pipermail/europython/2007-February/006226.html the archived message] for more details).

Comments and Reactions

DavidBoddie [http://mail.python.org/pipermail/europython/2007-March/006237.html answered] suggesting Flickr as a source of pictures, with the permission of photographers to be sought:

Other resources were pointed out:

HorstJens, author of several pictures on flickr about EuroPython2006 [http://mail.python.org/pipermail/europython/2007-March/006243.html answered positively about their use].

Article Draft

Now in its sixth year, EuroPython - known more formally as the European Python and Zope conference - moves on once again, upholding the EuroPython tradition of not only helping European Python users and others to learn more about Python and its uses, but also to become acquainted with different parts of the European continent, descending upon Vilnius, the capital city of Lithuania, and calling it home from Monday 9th July until Wednesday 11th July 2007. Although the programme for this year's conference has yet to be finalised, reports and materials from last year's highly successful event may be persuasive for those considering making EuroPython 2007 part of their schedule.

EuroPython 2006 was held at one of Europe's most significant scientific sites: CERN (the European laboratory for particle physics research) in Geneva, Switzerland. With superb facilities and a rich programme of highly informative, entertaining and inspiring talks, along with an unparalleled backdrop of seriously big (and historic) scientific hardware, the conference proved to be as memorable as those which preceded it. As anticipated, Python's benevolent dictator, Guido van Rossum, provided one of the conference keynotes, choosing to focus on Python 3000 and the road ahead for the language - not necessarily breaking news to many people already following such developments through the community's different communications channels - and perhaps it was deliberately left to the other keynote to provide fresh insights from a different perspective on computing, with the almost legendary figure of Alan Kay (personal computing and Smalltalk pioneer), unable to attend in person but projected alongside his materials through the application of videoconferencing on the big screen in CERN's main auditorium, presenting a selection of demonstrations and insights into the role of computing technology in the education of younger children, with the One Laptop Per Child project and its high Python content highlighted as an opportunity to introduce children to a more interactive and inquisitive form of learning than is often employed in many education systems around the world.

Many other informative talks and presentations were held, of course, demonstrating Python's suitability in a wide range of environments, from the almost obligatory Web programming theme through graphical user interface development, collaborative and personal information management applications (including Indico, the basis for EuroPython's conference management site), and on to more hardened technical themes such as version control, scientific computing and visualisation. Talks about Python and its implementations were not excluded, and the European Union-funded PyPy project (amongst other groups) maintained a presence after the official end of proceedings in order to encourage participation in the project through an activity known to practitioners as "sprinting": focused collaboration on a project involving experts and beginners alike with the aim of making improvements, raising levels of expertise, and providing hands-on experience to new recruits.

Of course, EuroPython is not just about talks and sprints. As is often noted by attendees at conferences like EuroPython, the social aspects of such a gathering can often provide unforeseen value in the conversations and discussions which take place between talks or at (or after) the planned social events of the conference. Spontaneous and seemingly inconsequential chat can reveal details of fellow participants' expertise or experiences that would not be exposed through the talk programme. Thus important contacts could be made or, at the very least, valuable knowledge might be exchanged just by being at the conference and not necessarily attending any of the talks - not that such an extreme approach is recommended in any way!

Registration for EuroPython 2007 should already be open by the time you read this, and for those not already convinced of a journey to Lithuania this July, a talk schedule should be available in the near future. With luck, you will be able to peruse the final list of talks for a few days and still be able to register early for the conference, earning yourself a discount on the registration fee. Find out more and start planning your trip on the EuroPython Web site: http://www.europython.org/

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