By Soobin Cho, HCDE PhD student
HCDE Conference Report
CSCW 2025, Bergen, Norway
Oct. 27, 2025
Last week, I attended my first in-person conference in Bergen, Norway for CSCW 2025. Over the weekend, I first joined a workshop, then spent three days attending paper sessions, and on the final day, I presented my own paper.
The workshop, titled “Gen AI for Groupwork,” was a perfect fit for me, as my research focuses on using generative AI to study collaboration among Wikipedia editors. It was such an honor and a valuable experience to meet other researchers who are exploring similar topics. During the workshop, we divided into groups based on different domains of groupwork, identified key problems, brainstormed solutions leveraging generative AI, and ideated potential product concepts based on those solutions. I also had the chance to meet a professor there, and we continued our conversation after the workshop, discussing our research domains further and even talking about the PhD journey, from which I received some truly valuable advice.
I also gained a lot from various paper sessions throughout the conference. In particular, I attended another session on moderating online communities, aside from my own presentation session. It was fascinating to hear about moderation challenges and innovative solutions in communities beyond Wikipedia. After the session, I spoke with one of the authors, who approached the topic quantitatively in contrast to my qualitative approach, and we had a great discussion about their background and methods. I also had the chance to have lunch with another author and learn more about the background and future directions of their work.
In another session, one not directly related to my research but interesting, I happened to meet a professor who had supported me during my master’s program. It was wonderful to reconnect, talk about my PhD work, and receive encouraging feedback.
On the day of my own presentation, I was quite nervous since it was my first time presenting in person at a conference, but it turned out to be an amazing experience. After my talk, several fellow Wikipedia researchers approached me, and we had deep conversations about research directions, methods, and practical tips. Through those discussions, I also discovered several useful papers to reference. My advisor, David, was there as well, and together we had a meaningful conversation with one of those researchers about ongoing and future Wikipedia research.
Outside the conference itself, I also had many memorable moments. I had time with David that felt half academic, half trip, where we freely discussed ideas at the boundary between work and leisure. I was also deeply honored to have dinner with Professor Amy Bruckman at David’s invitation, which was an invaluable and inspiring experience. During other meals, I met and talked with various PhD students and professors, which made the whole conference an incredibly enriching experience.
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The Mary B. Coney Endowed Fund, named in honor of Emeritus Professor Mary Coney, supports HCDE students by funding costs associated with travel to conferences and international workshops. Your support of this fund enriches the HCDE student experience and enhances HCDE's influence in the field.