Participating in MICRO 2021

Before the Symposium Starts

  • Register for the Conference
  • View Day-by-Day Lightning Talks
    (available starting October 4 through the Whova app or the web app interface)
  • Watch Presentation Videos
    (available starting October 4 on Whova)
  • Read Papers of Interest
    (available starting October 16 in the conference program and on Whova)
  • Post Questions for the Authors
    (available starting October 4 on Whova, using the Q&A section for each paper)

During the Symposium

  • Watch Live Keynotes and Technical Sessions
    (on Whova; see the program for the schedule)
  • Ask Written Questions During Sessions
    (using the Zoom Q&A for each talk)
  • Socialize with Other Attendees
    (using the GatherTown platform; link available on Whova)

Download the Whova App Open the Whova Web Interface

Program Structure

Architecting the technical program and schedule of a global online event with large attendance from around the world is a very challenging task. As the experience from several symposia recently held virtually revealed, different optimization targets can be selected.

We decided to give priority to the following aspects:

  • Giving the feeling of an in-person symposium in terms of timing
    Based on feedback and on prior virtual conference formats, we have decided to use the conventional two-track session format for regular papers this year. This is the same format that we were planning to use had MICRO been held in person. While this year's MICRO has more regular papers than any prior MICRO conference (94 papers), we believe that a two-track format will allow attendees to switch between parallel rooms while trying to reduce the likelihood that an attendee will want to attend concurrently-presented papers. We believe that this format will maximize live participation of the attendees in the daily program of MICRO 2021.
  • Reducing the time span of the daily program
    All three days of the symposium have the same duration of only 6 hours (workshops and tutorial days consist of two three-hour slots each day). This tight time span allows attendees from all different time zones to devote a relatively short (and consistent across the three days) period of their day to attend all sessions of the day — this is impossible with a longer time span.
    We understand that the 6-hour period of the three days may cause some inconveniences to participants in some time zones: (a) attendees from North and South America will have to devote a significant portion of their mornings and afternoons (or start the day earlier than usually), (b) attendees from Europe and Africa will have to devote their full afternoon/evening, (c) attendees from Asia and Oceania will have to stay up late in the evening and after midnight. But, still for all these cases, the "sacrifice" has the same short duration of 6 hours and it stays in the same easy-to-remember slot each day.
  • Maximizing session attendance
    The dense format and short time span we selected aim to maximize session attendance. It has been observed in several virtual events that a more extended timeline with an all-day duration leads to limited attendance in most sessions. We hope that the MICRO 2021 program format will allow attendees to join most of the live sessions and will also allow the speakers to spread the word of their research to as many attendees as possible.

Attendee Conduct Guidelines

As a flagship IEEE and ACM co-sponsored technical meeting, MICRO complies with and supports the IEEE and ACM statements for events conduct and openness. The symposium organizers expect that all attendees will read and abide by the full MICRO code of conduct.

MICRO will follow the ACM Policy Against Harassment at ACM Activities as well as related procedures. Please familiarize yourself with the policy and the guide to Reporting Unacceptable Behavior at ACM Activities. SIGARCH and SIGMICRO have also formed a joint committee called CARES, which can provide guidance to those who experience harassment or discrimination at ACM events.