[AISWorld] Workshop on Information Technology and Systems (WITS '21): Program, Hotel, and Registration

[Nachiketa Sahoo]

Dear Colleagues,

The program <https://witsconf.org/wits2021-program-schedule/> for WITS ‘21
<https://witsconf.org/wits2021-call-for-papers/> is now available. It
features academic and industry keynotes, editors’ panel, dedicated session
for dissertations, and a strong line up of 60 long papers and 19 short
papers organized around this year’s theme of Fair and Inclusive Information
Systems by Design. The workshop will be hosted in Austin, TX, USA from
*December
15-17, 2021* in a hybrid mode to allow in person and remote participation.
The deadline for registration at the regular rate is *December 1, 2021. *

*Health and Safety:* The team is carefully planning the in person event
following the health and safety protocols
<https://meetattexas.com/travel-with-confidence> designed in collaboration
with UT healthcare experts to minimize the risk of spread of Covid-19. The
venues for the workshop’s reception and dinner are chosen to have generous
outdoor space to allow for safe and pleasant socializing. Finally, we are
incorporating the best practices from hybrid teaching and learning
experiences over the last two years to provide a rich experience to those
who choose to participate remotely.

A block of rooms at the AT&T Hotel and Conference Center
<https://meetattexas.com/> (the site for WITS this year) are available
until *November 30, 2021* at a discounted rate for the workshop
participants. Please see the end of this letter for details.

*Theme:* The Workshop on Information Technology and Systems (WITS) is the
premier academic forum for the discussion of IT-driven solutions to complex
business problems as well as societal issues. The theme of WITS '21 is *Fair
and Inclusive Information Systems by Design*. Fairness and inclusiveness
are widely perceived as important values by societies worldwide. Because
information systems are integral to a broad array of activities -- from
finance, e-commerce, to health care, education, and one's social life -- it
is important to consider how these constructs can and should be integrated
in the design of systems, and what approaches can productively and
efficiently promote such socially desirable values. This edition of the
workshop seeks to promote research that considers different aspects of
fairness and inclusion issues in information systems.

*Keynotes:*

   -

   Industry: Dr. Rich Caruana
   <https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/people/rcaruana/>, Microsoft
   Research
   -

   Academic: Professor Ariel Procaccia <http://procaccia.info/>, Harvard
   University

*Editors’ Panel: *

   -

   Professor Martin Bichler <https://www.in.tum.de/en/dss/bichler/>,
   Technical University of Munich
   -

   Professor Balaji Padmanabhan
   <https://www.usf.edu/business/about/bios/padmanabhan-balaji.aspx>,
   University of South Florida
   -

   Professor Olivia R. Liu Sheng
   <https://faculty.utah.edu/u0358028-Olivia_Sheng/hm/index.hml>,
   University of Utah
   -

   Professor Param Vir Singh <http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~psidhu/>,
   Carnegie Mellon University
   -

   Moderated by Professor Maytal Saar-Tsechansky <http://maytals.com/>,
   University of Texas at Austin

*Important Dates:*

   -

   Hotel block: available until November 30, 2021


   -

   Workshop Registration: Regular rate until December 1, 2021
   -

   Conference Dates: December 15-17, 2021

*Registration and Hotel Reservation:*

We have reserved a limited number of rooms at the conference hotel. If you
are planning to attend the workshop, you can reserve a room at this room
reservation link <https://book.passkey.com/go/CONFWI1221>. Alternatively,
you can call 877-744-8822 or 512-404-3600 (local) to reserve your room.

You can also register for the workshop from the registration page
<https://witsconf.org/wits2021-registration/>. Discounted registration is
available to faculty and students from countries designated as "lower
income" and "lower middle income" by the World Bank
<https://datahelpdesk.worldbank.org/knowledgebase/articles/906519-world-bank-country-and-lending-groups>
.


Best Regards,

Junming Yin, University of Arizona

Kunpeng Zhang, University of Maryland

Wenjun Zhou, University of Tennessee

(Review Coordination Chairs)


Maria De-Arteaga, University of Texas at Austin

Yan Leng, University of Texas at Austin

(Local Arrangement Chairs)


Maytal Saar-Tsechansky, University of Texas at Austin

Nachiketa Sahoo, Boston University

(Conference Chairs)