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MIT Quantum Computing Conference, Toga Party

Posted by timothy on from the put-those-qbits-in-their-hypothetical-places dept.

An anonymous reader writes: "MIT is hosting a LARGE quantum computing conference on July 22-26, 2002. Should be a lot of fun. Most of the famous scientists in the field will be there. However, I and others are a bit horrified by the high (some might say elitist) entrance fee ($325) which practically precludes students from participating. Too bad there isn't an open-conference advocacy."

4 of 17 comments (clear)

  1. high entrance fee by OpenMind(tm) · · Score: 4, Informative

    I don't know, this seems in line or lower than many confs I've been to. Many of them, however, have provided substantial student discounts. My best advice is, if you are involved in the field actively, you can probably get your home department to underwrite the entrance fee, particularly if you're willing to road trip there.

    1. Re:high entrance fee by xyzzy · · Score: 4, Interesting

      In fact, it's dirt cheap. I'm attending two conferences over the next two weeks that are $600 and $500. But it's worth asking about a student discount. The fees may seem high, but the conference has to pay for things like the hotel meeting areas, services, food, etc -- it doesn't just pay for itself. The only way around that is to get a big corporation to sponsor the conference.

  2. Expensive??? by p7 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    A 5 day conference with breakfast and lunch at $325 is expensive??? If you really have any reason to be going, you should be able to find someone to sponsor your attendance.

  3. Don't you mean 250 dollars by bstrahm · · Score: 4, Insightful
    Before the late fee the cost was 250 dollars, for a five day conference that includes food for 50 bucks a day...

    I don't know what you think is a fair price but this is definately in the ball park. I really hate people that whine about "oh this conference is so expensive". Well there are a lot of expenses, getting speaker fees paid, renting the space, covering insurance, food, something nice for the volunteers... This stuff all takes money, why begrudge them the ability to break even...