The Helmholtz Metadata Collaboration (HMC) invites proposals for community-driven pre-conference workshops to be held on the morning of 28 April 2026, preceding the main HMC Conference 2026 in Heidelberg. Workshops offer space for hands-on sessions, focused discussions, and collaborative exchanges on topics related to metadata, FAIR data, and research infrastructures. They provide an excellent opportunity to connect communities, explore emerging ideas, and build bridges between technical and scientific perspectives.
We particularly encourage workshops that:
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Address one or more of the HMC Conference 2026 Track Topics
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Foster interaction between infrastructure providers, data stewards, and researchers
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Include hands-on or participatory elements (e.g. tool demonstrations, tutorials, hack sessions, or interactive discussions)
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Aim to build or strengthen communities around metadata-related challenges
Workshops should be designed for in-person participation (up to approx. 30 participants) and promote active engagement and exchange.
We welcome proposals for the following workshop formats:
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Short Workshop (~1.5 hours)
Ideal for focused sessions such as tool demonstrations, tutorials, or thematic discussions. -
Extended Workshop (2 × 1.5 hours with a short break)
Suitable for in-depth training, collaborative design activities, or larger-scale participatory formats.
Submission deadline: 23rd January 2026, 23:59 CEST
Submissions are accepted via this conference website only. All workshops will be held in person. On-site participation is required.
Workshop Submission Guidelines
General Requirements
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Workshop proposals must be written in English.
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Each workshop must specify its format (Short or Extended).
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Workshops are intended for on-site participation only (no virtual options).
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Organisers should plan for an audience of up to 30 participants.
Submission Process
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Proposals must be submitted via the HMC Conference 2026 submission portal
(login via DFN-AAI (Single Sign-On/Shibboleth) or via individual accounts). -
Deadline: 23rd January 2026, 23:59 CEST. Submissions by e-mail will not be accepted.
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The Scientific Programme Committee will review all workshop proposals
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Acceptance notifications will be sent out by mid February 2026.
The proposal should include:
- Title and goal – A concise title and main objective
- Main content and intended outcomes – Description of topics, structure, and expected results
- Connection to HMC Conference 2026 topics – How your workshop aligns with the conference themes
- Names and affiliations of organisers
- Selected format – Short (1.5h) or Extended (2 × 1.5h)
- Interaction format – e.g. tutorial, discussion, training, hack session, or other participatory type
- Target audience – Who you expect to participate (e.g. data stewards, researchers, developers)
- Maximum number of participants – Up to approximately 30
- Technical requirements (optional) – e.g. projector, whiteboard, software, or materials
All workshops will be held in person. Presenters and participants are expected to attend on-site in Heidelberg.
For questions regarding workshop submissions, please contact us at event@helmholtz-metadaten.de.
