A new report describes the dire state of Earth's snow and ice, suggesting several major tipping points are likelier than scientists once thought.

Phil Wilson is a Web Software Developer for the University of Bath where he develops n-tier J2EE web applications, and has been doing this for various companies for five years. Phil's interests include web standards, Web usability, collaborative Web tools, Firefox hacking and the Semantic Web. Phil facilitated a workshop sessions on "The Eternal Beta - Can it Work in an Institution?".

Scott Wilson works for CETIS. He was initially responsible for turning the CETIS site into THE portal for learning technology standards. Scott is an Assistant Director of CETIS, and has a special interest in standards for infrastructure and enterprise integration. Scott facilitated a workshop session on "XCRI: Syndicating the Online Prospectus" with Ben Ryan.

Adrian Stevenson works for the Learning Technology Services Team which is part of Internet Services at the University of Manchester. He is responsible for investigating and assessing emerging Web and elearning technologies and is the organiser of the University's eLearning Technologies Group. His experience is in Web-based systems design and development using HTML, XML and Web Service technologies. Adrian has also worked for MIMAS, a national data centre based at the University of Manchester, on the JISC-funded JORUM project (2002-2005). Prior to this he was a Web Developer for Multimedia Services at Leeds Metropolitan University (2001-2002) and the Web Editor at King's College London (2000-2001). Adrian first studied Economics and later Continental Philosophy at the University of Warwick. Following this he became a professional guitarist in a number of bands based in London, as well as a Sound Engineer for a number of independent artists including My Bloody Valentine. Adrian facilitated a workshop session on "Know Me Knowing YouTube".

Jeremy Speller has been involved with the UCL Web presence since 1995 and is now Head of Web Services. He is currently working on the migration of UCL's central materials to a Zope/Silva-based CMS and is taking forward development of an enterprise portal. Jeremy is also involved with development of services to provide the student experience of the future and has particular interest in the use of handheld and mobile devices. Prior to becoming a full-time Web "operative", Jeremy's background was in planning and statistics at UCL and previously at the University of Birmingham. Way back when he ran the Overseas Research Students Awards Scheme at what was then CVCP. Jeremy chaired the second morning session on Tuesday 17 July: Getting Technical.

Stuart Smith is currently investigating the use of mobile technologies as part of his work for MIMAS, a national data centre based at the University of Manchester. MIMAS hosts large and varied data sets including repositories of learning materials. Stuart is involved in giving usability advice to colleagues delivering learning materials in both the Higher and Further Education sectors and views mobile technologies as highly significant in the future of learning. Stuart has 10 years experience in Web development and has published papers on Accessibility. As well as working in the academic sector he has experience in information management and public relations for a national charity and has worked in the mobile phone sector. Stuart facilitated a workshop session on "Portable Devices for Learning: A Whistlestop Tour".

Dan Smith has been the lead CMS developer for the University of Southampton for four years, initially leading the University's CMS pilot and procurement projects. For the last three years, Dan has lead the implementation of the University's strategic CMS, Interwoven TeamSite. Prior to joining the University of Southampton, Dan was a CMS developer at Ordnance Survey. Dan facilitated a workshop session on "Implementing a Content Management System: Can you Avoid the Pain?".

David Sloan is project lead of the Digital Media Access Group (DMAG), a research and consultancy unit based in the University of Dundee's School of Computing, and specialising in inclusive design and accessible ICT. David is involved in a number of academic research projects focusing on accessibility and user-centred design, completing a PhD in the area of Web accessibility in 2006; he has also advised many commercial clients and currently co-ordinates the university's Web Accessibility Service, providing practical and strategic advice to staff on web accessibility issues. David facilitated a workshop session on "Contextual Accessibility in Institutional Web Accessibility Policies" with Simon Ball.

Andrew Savory has been developing web applications commercially for the last decade and is Managing Director of Sourcesense UK, the leading open source software solutions provider. He's a committer on the Apache Cocoon project. Andrew facilitated a workshop session on "Sustainable Services: Solidity based on Openness?" with Ross Gardler.

Helen Sargan works for the University Computing Service and has been looking after the Web in Cambridge since 1994. Helen facilitated a workshop session on "Just say No to Powerpoint: Web Alternatives for Slides and Presentations" and chaired the first morning session on Tuesday 17 July: Getting Technical.

Sebastian Rahtz is Information Manager at Oxford University Computing Services, where he continues to evangelize for XML content on the web using a decent schema. Given that he is heavily involved in the Text Encoding Initiative, it is no surprise that he produces Web pages written in TEI XML. Until recently he was director of OSS Watch, JISC's Open Source Advisory Service, and remains an open source evangelist. Sebastian facilitated a workshop session on "Geolinked Institutional Web Content" with Patrick Lauke and Nigel Bradley.

Debbie Nicholson has worked at the University of Essex for 13 years. Having previously worked in the Timetable Office and Systems Administration, she now works in the Web Support Unit (WSU) and has been there for 5 years. She is part of a team of 6 people who are responsible for the maintenance and development of the University corporate pages, the University Web site design service, Web support across the University and Web related training for staff. Debbie facilitated a workshop session on "So, What Would You Do With 45 Sixteen Year Olds?".

William (Bill) Mackintosh is Web Manager at the University of York. A Web CMS selection process is underway before the introduction of an Institutional Portal. William facilitated a workshop session on "Web Usage Statistics in the University Environment" with Paul Kelly.

Claire Gibbons is the Web Officer for the University of Bradford, working within the department of Marketing and Communications. Claire is responsible for the external face of the University's web presence and works closely with departments and Schools to ensure consistency of University brand and message as well as compliance with standards and legislation, such as SENDA. Claire is also studying for the Chartered Management Institute Diploma in Management - which has sparked her current (and slightly obsessive) interest in organisational culture. Claire is also working on the new University visual identity roll-out for the University of Bradford and the Content Management System Project. Claire facilitated a workshop session on "People, Processes and Projects - How the Culture of an Organisation can Impact on Technical System Implementation" with Russell Allen.

Ross Gardler works for the Open Source Software Advisory Service. In recent years Ross has been active in Computer Science research (UK and West Indies), has lectured in Computer Science and Management (West Indies) and has been a freelance contractor across the UK. He is active in a number of open source projects and is a member of the Apache Software Foundation. Ross is particularly interested in the development of a healthy community for open source projects. Ross facilitated a workshop session on "Sustainable Services: Solidity based on Openness?" with Andrew Savory.

Stephen Emmott is the Head of Web Services at the London School of Economics & Political Science (LSE) where he leads a team of 10 delivering the LSE's Web site, portal ("LSE for You") and document management services. Prior to this he was the Editor of Web Services at King's College London (1997 to 2000) and has worked a total of 9 years in higher education and 3 years in industry. His background is in cognitive science and he is currently leading an initiative to adopt PRINCE2 at LSE. Stephen chaired the morning session on Wednesday 18 July: Conclusions.

Stuart Church is a user experience consultant based in Bristol, UK. He runs his own business, Pure Usability, and has worked on a variety of usability, accessibility and information architecture projects for clients such as JISC, The University of Bristol, Microsoft, BOC, Bayer, Lexus, The University of Cambridge, The Tribal Group, Process Management International, the Office for Fair Access, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, Futurelab and Becta. In 2005, he helped to set up and organise the Cambridge Usability Group, before relocating to Bristol. In addition to his consultancy work, Stuart teaches user-centred design on the Diploma in Web Design and Development course at Birkbeck College, University of London. He is also a member of the Usability Professionals Association. In his previous life, Stuart was a lecturer and research fellow in Animal Behaviour, Visual Ecology and Biostatistics at the Universities of Bristol and Southampton. He has a degree in Zoology from the University of Oxford and a PhD in Animal Behaviour from the University of Southampton. Stuart facilitated a workshop session on "Your Web site: a Better User Experience" with Peter Walker.

Simon Ball is a Senior Advisor at Techdis. Simon now leads the work of TechDis in Higher Education, in addition to leading on E-Assessment across the sectors. Over the coming months Simon will be developing and putting into operation a new operating plan for the TechDis Higher Education work, including directing specific messages to senior managers, exploring the area of inclusion funding, and further developing the TechDis range of staff development and instructional materials to raise the base level of inclusion provision across HE. Simon facilitated a workshop session on "Contextual Accessibility in Institutional Web Accessibility Policies" with David Sloan.

Russell Allen is the Project Manager for the University of Bradford's Portal and CMS projects. Russell has spent the last fifteen years as a project manager delivering non-succession funded IT innovation and development projects in both public and private sector organisations. Projects have included implementing the University of Sheffield's career management skills web site, on-line remote training for under-employed graduates in recruitment agencies, setting up community IT resources via the government's UK Online programme and developing community engagement projects via the e-citizen and e-government programs. Funders have included HEFC, DFES, ESF, SRB and lottery funding. His current job at the University of Bradford is to deliver a CMS and Portal as part of the University's e-strategy. Russell facilitated a workshop session on "People, Processes and Projects - How the Culture of an Organisation can Impact on Technical System Implementation" with Claire Gibbons.

The "Call for speakers and workshop facilitators" page has been created. [21 Jan 2008]

The "Call for speakers and workshop facilitators" was sent to the web-support JISCMail list. [22 Jan 2008]

The "Call for speakers and workshop facilitators" was sent to the website-info-mgt JISCMail list. [22 Jan 2008]

A reminder of the "Call for speakers and workshop facilitators" was sent to the web-support JISCMail list. [21 Feb 2008]

A reminder of the "Call for speakers and workshop facilitators" was sent to the website-info-mgt JISCMail list. [21 Feb 2008]

The "Call for speakers and workshop facilitators" was sent to the lis-link JISCMail list. [21 Feb 2008]

Details of the parallel sessions available for delegates to attend are now available from the Web site. [05 May 2008]

Details of the plenary talks to be given at the workshop are now available from the Web site. [07 May 2008]

You can now book to attend the Workshop. You will be required to select your parallel sessions when registering so please read up in advance. Messages sent to web-support and website-info-mgt. [12 May 2008]

The Ning social networking service has been used to create a social network for use by participants and other interested parties at IWMW 2008. [11 June 2008]

Bookings for IWMW 2008 are now closed. If you wish to be added to the waiting list please contact the events team. [13 June 2008]

Access to RSS feeds for the IWMW 2008 event is now available on Netvibes. [22 June 2008]

The first Seesmic video microblog post has been published. [27 June 2008]

A page has been setup on the IWMW 2008 Web site which provides access to Seesmic video blog posts. [30 June 2008]

The Scribblelive live blog service will be used to provide a commentary on the plenary talks at the IWMW 2008 event. A test Scribblelive blog page has been set up to allow users to familirise themselves with the service. [4 July 2008]

The University of Aberdeen Sport and Recreation department are able to offer all delegates preferential rates for using the Sports facilities for the duration of the conference. [11 July 2008]

A number of new blog posts including a 'Welcome to Aberdeen' message have been added to the video blog page. [16 July 2008]

Following changes to the terms and conditions of the Ning social networking service a copy of the IWMW 2008 Ning social network has been taken. [16 August 2008]

Danny Sullivan, independent consultant, gave a talk entitled "Getting Your Web Site Listed".

, University of Cambridge, gave a talk entitled "Indexing Your Web Server(s)".

James Currall, University of Glasgow, gave a talk entitled "Experiences with XML: Beyond The Hype".

Stephen Emmott, King's College London, gave a talk entitled "Content Management Systems".

ian Roddis, Open University, (together with David Christmas) gave a talk entitled "Beyond Brochureware - Building Functional University Websites".

David Christmas, Open University, (together with Ian Roddis) gave a talk entitled "Beyond Brochureware - Building Functional University Websites".

Michael Wilson, CLRC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, gave a talk entitled "SMIL: Multimedia on the Web".

Joe Passmore, University of Ulster gave a talk entitled "Building Relationships Online: ... the road ahead or the road less travelled by?".

John Slater, University of Kent at Canterbury, gave a talk entitled "Who will rid me of this troublesome beast".

Stephen Tanner is Head of IT Services at Colchester Institute in North Essex, a large mainly FE college but with some HE provision. Previously involved in integrated systems initiatives in the NHS, since 1998 he's been pursuing a standardised and integrated IT & MIS strategy college wide with particular emphasis on Web based applications, through partnerships with commercial suppliers. He likes to think he might eventually be getting somewhere.... The title of Stephen's talk is "The Lecturer's MIS Menu: Why Silver Service Is Off And Drive- Thru's In".

Mark Simpson has been working as the User Issues researcher on the De Montfort University, MLE project, since October 2001. Previously, he has worked on the following: aircrew operational issues of flying in icing weather, funded by the CAA and European Community; training and human factors issues for real-time, full motion simulators; the design of photocopier manuals and control panel information; and the design of process plant control rooms. He has a BSc in Ergonomics, a Postgraduate diploma in Computing and a MA in Industrial Design. The title of Mark's talk is "Designing For Usability".

Lawrie Phipps is an environmental science graduate turned learning technologist. He worked on the development of Web-based resources, computer simulations and 'virtual' fieldwork for several years before running the JISC-funded TechDis Service, which looks at all aspects of Technology and Disabilities in the further and higher education sectors. Lawrie maintains a research interest in virtual lab and fieldwork in the sciences. The title of Lawrie's talk is "Legislation, Disabilities and Educational Web Sites".