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Computer Software category, for which
we were able to find available data in
the DBLP dataset, the well-known on-line reference for computer science
bibliographic information. The choice
of CORE as ranking system is based on
its widespread use.
We have analyzed the conferences using a seven-year window (that is, an author is considered new to a conference if
he or she has not published in that conference in the last seven years). We only count
full papers in the main research track
(since getting short papers, posters,
demos, and so forth is typically easier
but it barely counts toward promotion).
Results show that newcomers’ pa-
pers are indeed scarce. Most confer-
However, many researchers believe
publishing in a top conference is
something reserved for the established
members of the conference commu-
nity. For newcomers, this is a tough
nut to crack. Indeed, when talking with
fellow researchers the assumed unspo-
ken truth is always the same: If you are
not one of “them,” you have no chance
to get “in” on your own.
If this were true, it would imply that
senior researchers wishing to change
fields during their research career may
have a difficult time doing so. And the
impact would be even more dramatic
for junior researchers: they could only
access top venues by going together with
their supervisor, limiting their options
to make a name for themselves—exactly
the opposite of what evaluation committees typically require from candidates.
Indeed, candidates are supposed to
show their ability to propose and develop valid research lines independently
of their supervisor, even better if it is in
a slightly different research field and
hence in a different community.
But is it true that conferences are
closed communities? Or is it just a
myth spread by those that tried and
failed? And if so, how do we change
this situation (and do we really need to
change it)? Our goal in this Viewpoint
is to shed some light on these issues.
Looking at the Data
To assess whether it is actually true
that newcomers have a difficult time
getting their papers accepted, we have
evaluated the number of newcomer
papers (research papers where all authors are new to the conference, that is,
none of the authors has ever published
a paper of any kind in that same conference) in 65 conferences. The list of
selected conferences corresponds to
the list of international CS conferences
in the CORE ranking,a 2015 edition,
a https://bit.ly/2MnAncz
Viewpoint
Are CS Conferences (Too)
Closed Communities?
Assessing whether newcomers have a more difficult time
achieving paper acceptance at established conferences.
DOI: 10.1145/3209580
