Conference Information

The Three-Country Conference on Communication Science (DACH 21) is organized and hosted by the Department of Communication and Media Research (IKMZ) at the University of Zurich.

Host Institution

The Department of Communication and Media Research (IKMZ) has a history of more than 100 years. It developed from a professorship for newspaper research that was established at the University of Zurich in 1903.
Today, around 80 people do research, teach and work at IKMZ, supported by visiting lecturers and student assistants. With 11 professorships and more than 1,100 students, IKMZ is Switzerland’s largest communication science department.
According to international rankings, it is one of the leading departments in Europe.

Conference Platform

DACH 21 will take place on the virtual platform „Let‘s Get Digital“.

The platform will open to all registered participants on April 1 at 10:00 a.m. From this point until the official opening of the conference, you can already explore the platform, watch pre-recorded video presentations and post your questions to the authors via chat.

You will get your personal access code to the platform via email. This email will be sent from noreply@eventinsight.io, check your spam folder if necessary.

Please read carefully the following technical information as it will help to avoid technical problems during the virtual event:

  • Please use a laptop or desktop computer, tablets are not supported.
  • Our virtual venue is best supported by Google Chrome – please use this browser if possible. Otherwise, please use Microsoft Edge Chromium. Make sure to use only current browser versions and run updates if necessary.
  • A fast computer and a high-speed internet connection will greatly enhance your participation in the event. Your internet connection can be improved if you connect via ethernet cable instead of WiFi.
  • It is highly recommended to use a headset. This way you avoid echoes (also for other participants) and make sure that you can be easily understood.
  • If possible, turn off unneeded applications and devices on the same network while visiting DACH 21.
  • Disable the power saving mode on your device and connect it to the mains.
  • Disable VPN connections if possible.
  • You can test your system compatibility in advance by clicking on the following link: https://live.eventinsight.io/check.html

On April 7 at 2 p.m., there will be a short technical introduction to the main functionalities of the conference platform.

 Conference App

The virtual DACH 21 venue comes with a complimentary smartphone app. You will find the app in Google Play Store or Apple App Store. The app name is “Let’s get digital”. Install the app and enter your registration code to open the DACH 21 interface. Please note that the live sessions cannot be accessed through the smartphone app.

Technical support

If you have any questions about the conference platform, please don’t hesitate to contact the technical support team:  

Email: dach21@con-gressa.de
Phone/WhatsApp: +49 176 55211413
Threema: KY2WYXSJ

Conference Concept

General:

DACH 21 offers all the elements you are used to from an annual conference: Scientific presentations, keynote, panel discussions, general assemblies, section metings, etc. Of course, there will also be social formats such as networking breaks, get together as well as conference dinner. Virtual rooms will be set up in the conference platform for these formats and the necessary technical functions are made available.

Sessions and Presentations:

  • The design of the presentations and the discussion are optimized with regard to the online format. The sessions are spread over three half-days (see program) and primarily serve the discussion of the presentations.
  • The actual presentations will be pre-recorded and will be made available for all conference participants one week prior to the opening of the conference (starting April 1, 2021). The videos will remain available on the conference platform until April 15, 2021.
  • Participants are asked to watch the videos they are interested in before the conference starts and to submit questions for the speakers, if there are any.
  • In the parallel sessions, the speakers will summarize the most important points of their presentation and, if necessary, respond to the questions submitted in advance (maximum 5 min); in the following 6 minutes, the discussion on the respective presentation will take place in the plenary session.
Information for Speakers and Chairs
  • Your pre-recorded presentations will be available to all participants from April 1 on. From this date onwards, participants can view your videos and post questions. In order to view the posted questions, click in the lobby on “Videos of Talks” and then on the panel title with your talk.
  • For the live sessions we ask you to prepare a short presentation, however, you are free to decide whether you will use slides or not. If you use slides, please ensure that they are in English.
  • If you plan to show slides during your live presentation, we recommend using a device with a large and/or additional screen. It’s possible to adjust the view using the browser zoom (Hotkey: “control” & “+”).
  • In order to optimize the view in the virtual room, you can close the list of participants on the left as well as the overview of slides and the toolbar (there is a sidebar).
  • All speakers and chairs are asked to provide good audio quality (microphone or headset).
  • Please find further information using the following links:

Technical briefing slides (English)
Video recording of the technical briefing (German)

Technical support

If you have any questions about the conference platform, please don’t hesitate to contact the technical support team:  

Email: dach21@con-gressa.de
Phone/WhatsApp: +49 176 55211413
Threema: KY2WYXSJ

Social Events

Get Together

7. April 2021| 19:45 – 21:00

The get together offers ample opportunity to talk with old acquaintances and meet new people. Let yourself be surprised and put a few drinks in the freezer.

Conference Dinner

8. April 2021| 18:00 – 21:00

The conference dinner is composed of culinary greetings from Germany, Austria and Switzerland, which will be sent to you in advance in the conference package. If you are attending the dinner, you should not miss out on the package and therefore register by the regular deadline (March 21, 2021). You will receive further instructions on how to conjure up a balanced meal from it in just a few simple steps before the conference or during the dinner itself.

Of course, a dinner lives from the social part and we will support this via the conference platform. However, you are invited to supplement the virtual table with people on site. The extent to which this is possible will depend on the official COVID19 recommendations and directives at the time and will likely vary from place to place. Simply set up your table according to your local needs and in a way you feel comfortable with. Infrastructure requirements are minimal. Even a gathering without a kitchen is possible (e.g., seminar room). However, a good internet connection is essential in any case.

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