PODS and ICDT A Call to Roll-Back All Recent Changes Phokion G. Kolaitis University of California Santa Cruz & IBM Research - Almaden
Background � A few years ago, VLDB introduced changes in the submission process that led to the “journalification” of the VLDB proceedings. � This development blurred the distinction between conference proceedings and archival journals, and also put pressure on other conferences to follow suit. � “Journalification” makes no sense for theoretically- oriented conferences, such as PODS and ICDT. � Moreover, it stretches our small community too thin. 2
The Current State of Affairs – Part I � As of 2016, PODS has two submission cycles. � The first cycle allows for revisions and resubmissions; the second cycle does not. � A PC member of PODS 2017 has to serve on the committee for 8 ½ months. � ICDT 2016 had one submission cycle with rebuttals. � ICDT 2017 has two submission cycles with no rebuttals � A PC member of ICDT 2017 has to serve on the committee for 8 ½ months. 3
The Current State of Affairs – Part II � As of 2015, PODS has three categories of papers: � “Deep theoretical explorations" � “New formal frameworks" � “Validation of theoretical approaches“. � “Deep theoretical explorations” is ill-defined and pompous (if not “ridiculous”). � “New theoretical frameworks” is very ill-defined. “Validation of theoretical approaches” may transform � PODS to a second-rate systems conference (fortunately, it has attracted very few papers so far). 4
What is to be done? � Roll-back all recent changes of PODS and ICDT. � Single submission cycle. � No rebuttals. � No revisions. � Shorter service on PCs, but also fewer sub-reviewers. � Publish full versions in archival journals. � More people available to review journal submissions. � Drop the three categories of PODS papers. � Instead, encourage submissions of both technical and conceptual papers. � Personal wish: Hold ICDT every other year (in January). 5
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