Call for Proposals

UPDATE: The CFP for 2023 is now CLOSED

BSides CambridgeMA 2023 will be a structured conference, with a variety of presentation and discussion formats throughout the day. Please consider submitting a proposal for one or more of the following formats:

  • 10 minute Lightning Talk (max 1 speaker)
  • 30-60 minute Presentation + Q&A (up to 2 speakers)
  • 30-60 minute Panel Discussion (max 3 panelists + 1 moderator)
  • 30-60 minute small-group Facilitated Discussion

Submission deadline was June 12, 2023

We will consider proposals on any subject relevant to the fields of information security and hacking.

That said, the theme for BSides CambridgeMA 2023 is Cyber Defense in the Digital Panopticon

As such, we would like to encourage (but again, do not require) proposals on any of the following subjects:

  • privacy & data protection
  • free and open source software (FOSS)
  • opting out of surveillance capitalism, such as through alternative platforms or self-hosting
  • darknets
  • peer-to-peer applications & networks
  • operational security (opsec)
  • open source intelligence gathering (OSINT)
  • swatting & doxxing 
  • cryptography
  • cryptocurrency
  • threat modeling
  • cybercrime & law
  • countervailing needs of financial security, privacy, and transparency
  • hacktivism, leaks, and counter-surveillance
  • data persistence and integrity in adversarial environments
  • information security and reproductive health in the post-Roe era

We are especially interested in soliciting proposals relevant to individuals, activists, community organizations, cooperatives, and not-for-profits. (That is to say, anything except for-profit corporations.) 

Women, NBs, persons of color, and all others are encouraged to submit a proposal.

Please be as detailed as possible, including an outline if available. Proposals will be reviewed as anonymously as possible, so please do not include any identifying information in your proposal abstract. Proposals will be reviewed by a diverse panel of individuals from the infosec and hacking community.

Proposals will be evaluated on the following criteria:

  • Thought and detail conveyed in the abstract
  • Relevance to theme
  • Originality
  • Timeliness
  • Accessibility (highly technical proposals are welcome, but should be approached in a way that offers value to a broader audience)
  • Relevance to local infosec community

To submit your proposal: 

  • Send an email to bsidescambridgeMA[@]proton[.]me
  • Use the subject line: SESSION PROPOSAL 2023
  • Please include the following information in your email body:
    • contact information (this will be masked for the Review Board)
      • how you’d like to be called (i.e., name or pseudonym) + pronouns 
      • Mastodon / Fediverse handle
      • email address
    • proposal information
      • Session Title
      • Session Abstract / Synopsis <– THE MOST IMPORTANT PART