Large test conferences such as Eurostar thrive on the quality and diversity of their presentations. Here, the program is not created by chance, but in an intensive selection process: over 500 submissions compete for around 50 places. This brings into focus the question of what makes a presentation valuable and how personal experience, meaningful abstracts and honest feedback lead to a strong line-up. AI-generated submissions usually stand out due to their weak content, while practical reports and clear topics are convincing. Experience shows: Those who dare to share their own insights actively shape the high-end discussion of the software testing community.
In this episode, I talk to Elmar Jürgens about conferences and how to create a strong program. He is the Program Chair of EuroSTAR in Oslo. We take a look under the hood: 527 submissions, 50 slots, acceptance rate under ten percent. Community reviewers, three reviews per entry and a mandatory video ensure quality. We talk about AI in abstracts and why real experience counts. The motto: Testing at its best. With keynotes by Wolfgang Platz and Michael Kutz.
"Please don't submit a completely AI-generated abstract. Because an excellent presentation is characterized by the fact that you talk about things that you have done yourself, about your own work experience, about your own failures, about your own successes, because you are the world's best expert on them and not only have a lot of material that you can prepare well, but can also answer questions authentically." - Elmar Jürgens
Dr. Elmar Jürgens did his doctorate on static code analysis and was awarded the Ernst Denert Foundation's Software Engineering Prize for his doctoral thesis. He is co-founder of CQSE GmbH and has been helping teams improve their quality assurance and test processes for ten years. Elmar regularly speaks at research and industry conferences and has received several awards for his presentations. In 2015, he was appointed Junior Fellow of the German Informatics Society.
Every year, software testers and quality fans from all over Europe meet at the Eurostar conference. But how is the conference program actually put together? What happens to the hundreds of submissions that are received each year? In the conversation between Richie and Elmar Jürgens, there are many answers that show how much work, thought and passion goes into each event.
The answer sounds simple: the program committee decides. But what does that mean? Elmar Jürgens was allowed to take on the role of Program Chair this year. This means that he is responsible for the entire conference program. Together with four colleagues from the committee, he selects the best presentations from all those proposed.
It all starts with the call for papers. Then the applications trickle in - and this time there were 527 complete submissions! Each one receives at least three evaluations, and only around 10 percent of them make it to the stage. Behind every selection are many intensive discussions, often only small nuances decide.
A varied program that covers different topics and perspectives - that's the goal. But how do you achieve this? It's not just technical depth that counts, but also a mix of methodology, experience, industries and new ideas. That's why the committee makes sure that not only speakers with years of conference experience are represented, but also practitioners who report from their day-to-day work.
For many, personal stories and real experiences are the most exciting contributions. It is precisely these reports from people who have learned from their own mistakes and successes that bring the conference to life.
Artificial intelligence is currently on everyone's lips - and yes, also in speaker applications. There are more and more abstracts that have been generated entirely by an AI. That sounds good at first, but the personal touch is often missing. The committee members quickly notice when a text sounds like it's straight out of a textbook, but it's not tangible. For Elmar Jürgens, one thing is clear: AI can help to smooth out wording, especially in a foreign language. But your own point of view, the story from real life, that has to come from a human being.
To make expertise and personality visible, the Eurostar conference requires a short video in addition to the abstract. The video helps the committee to see how the person presents and sets a small hurdle for generic submissions.
For the big opening speeches, the committee brings people on stage who really have something to say. Elmar Jürgens specifically chooses people whose careers and experiences offer rare insights. Whether start-up founders or someone who has been an observer and designer at the same company for decades: the stories are diverse, genuine and help the community move forward.
The balance is always important. Not the best salespeople, but the best storytellers should be in the keynotes. And that is why members of the program committee cannot appear as speakers themselves - a step that ensures fairness.
Many people hesitate to submit a proposal for the first time. The fear of failure or rejection is normal. Elmar Jürgens and Richie advise: Don't work at the last minute, get feedback from colleagues and show courage to write to the organizer in advance. The important thing is not to be perfect, but to tell your own story from your own experience in an understandable way.
Those who end up on stage have not only shared their expertise, but have also left their comfort zone - which is surprisingly often the best place to learn something new at a conference.
If you've been toying with the idea of appearing on stage for a long time, now is the best time to take the first step. The experience and the energy you'll get back will be worth it!