KDD 2018 Weekly Summary – Aug 16, 2018

KDD 2018 starts this weekend and we suspect that many of you are already on your way. This newsletter provides a few of the frequently asked questions that we’re hearing. We hope this will help you plan for an exciting KDD 2018. We’ll see you in London!

Frequently Asked Questions

Local Information

“Sir, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.” Samuel Johnson’s words still ring true. Travellers marvel at the incredible sights and landmarks in this thriving capital city. Keep Calm and Enjoy!

1. To travel from the airport, the Whova APP will be live soon and you can use the “Airport Ride Sharing” under the “Community” section to arrange your carpool. For people travelling from Europe, London City Airport (LCY) is the closest. From outside the EU, most people arrive at Heathrow or Gatwick.

From Heathrow Airport (21 miles):

• a. By Tube/DLR: Piccadilly line to Green Park, Jubilee line to Canning Town, DLR to Prince Regent; £7-11; 1 h 36 min
• b. By taxi: £41-53 Uber; £80-£110 Cab; 1 h 30 min

From Gatwick Airport (30 miles):

• a. By train: Thameslink to London Bridge, Jubilee line to Canning Town, DLR to Prince Regent; £13-24; 1 h 33 min
• b. By taxi: £59-77 Uber; £120-170 Cab; 1 h 38 min

2. The London Underground is the oldest underground railway network in the world. You will need a Visitor Oyster Card, which you can buy at any station for £5. You can top up with the amount you need and travel all around the London transport network which includes buses, underground and overground. Thanks to our local transportation sponsor, KDD 2018 will provide 2000 Oyster Cards with £10 credit to our attendees, which can be collected during registration.

3. Things to do and see in and around London.

London has four World Heritage Sites:

• the Tower of London;
• the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew;
• Maritime Greenwich, including the Royal Observatory, which defines the Prime Meridian, 0° longitude, and GMT
• the site comprising the Palace of Westminster, Westminster Abbey and St Margaret’s Church.

Other landmarks include Buckingham Palace, the London Eye, Piccadilly Circus, St Paul’s Cathedral, Tower Bridge, Trafalgar Square and The Shard.

London is home to numerous museums, galleries, libraries, sporting events and other cultural institutions, including the British Museum, the National Gallery, the Natural History Museum and the Science Museum, the Tate Modern, the British Library and many West End theatres. Remember that many of the world’s greatest museums and art galleries have free entry.

4. The official multi-language visitor guide (https://www.visitlondon.com/) provides details on:

• Transportation
• Tours – both in London and Day Trips from London which can be booked directly from the website
• Restaurants/Bars
• Free attractions and things to do
• Theatre tickets – bookable from the website

5. Other useful links:

• Transport around London: https://tfl.gov.uk/
• Weather: https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather
• Things to do: https://www.timeout.com/london
• Restaurants booking: https://www.opentable.com/

6. Useful Mobile App:

• Visit London (free to download and free to use – it works offline so no roaming charges). The App also includes sample itineraries, an ‘around me’ feature to show what’s around and restaurants and theatres available to be booked via the App.
• Google Map, great for navigating through the city.

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KDD Venue Information

1. How do I find a hotel room near the ExCeL?

As we have more than 3100 registered attendees this year, all the KDD special rate hotels are now fully occupied. If you haven’t booked your accommodation, you may use roommate-finding service “conferenceshare.co” (look for KDD 2018) to connect with other attendees. You may also call the conference hotels listed on the KDD website and book a room at their best rate available.

2. What’s the meal arrangement for the conference?

• 19 Aug: coffee breaks at 9:30am and 2:30pm
• 20 Aug: coffee breaks at 9:30am and 2:30pm, lunch at noon, appetizers/finger food during the poster reception at 7:00pm;
• 21 Aug: coffee breaks at 9:30am and 3:30pm, lunch at noon, appetizers/finger food during the poster reception at 7:00pm;
• 22 Aug: coffee breaks at 9:30am and 3:30pm, lunch/women’s lunch (ticket required) at noon, KDD banquet dinner (ticket required) at 7:00pm;
• 23 Aug, coffee break at 9:30am, lunch at noon.

3. How to access free Wi-Fi at the conference venue?

Simply sign in to ‘ExCeL free Wi-Fi’ and follow the instructions.

4. What type of power outlet adapter should I bring?

Please bring UK Outlet converters for the chargers, plugs etc. ALL power outlets in the venue are UK version.

5. What if a medical emergency arises during the conference?

Call 111 when you need urgent medical help. In an emergency please call the Emergency Services on 999.

6. What if my phone is on low battery?

ChargeBox mobile phone charging points for all major brands are located at the east and west information desks at ExCeL (fee applies).

7. Is child care provided during KDD?

We do not provide child care during the conference but there are many attractions around London suitable for young children as well as parks and walks. Be sure to visit the fascinating attractions in London with your family!

The map of ExCeL reported below shows where all medical facilities, nursing rooms, elevators, restrooms etc. are located.

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KDD Program

8. May I register for one day’s program only?

You may register for Workshop / Tutorial Only at a special rate, which applies to Deep Learning Day or Health Day. Discount for registration of the last day program is also available.

9. If I did not register for a workshop/tutorial, can I still attend the session?

Of course. Given the maximum room capacity for each session, we will operate on a ‘first come first served’ basis.

10. What is the Networking with Expert session and how can I participate?

The Networking with Expert session is an invaluable opportunity for graduate students and early-career researchers to discuss their research progress and career development plans with each other and with leading researchers in Data Mining. To attend please check out this link: http://www.kdd.org/kdd2018/networking-with-experts.

11. What is the Projects Showcase track?

The Projects Showcase track brings together the global research community that work on and fund collaborative projects - identifying best practices, and showcasing across borders how regional, national, international, and corporate funding is having a positive impact on scientific knowledge and dissemination.

PDFs of Project Showcase papers can be downloaded from: http://www.kdd.org/kdd2018/project-showcase.