Bellairs Workshop on Computer Animation

Description

The Bellairs Workshop on Computer Animation provides an opportunity for participants to make progress on open problems in computer animation and related areas, with the goal of developing work suitable for submission to top-tier venues such as SIGGRAPH, Eurographics, and the Symposium on Computer Animation. Each participant is invited to prepare and present an open problem to the group. Selected problems are then worked on in subgroups throughout the week with regular progress reports and discussion at scheduled plenary meetings. The format is informal and may also include presentations, extended discussions, and demos.

Publications

Across many years, the Bellairs Workshop on Computer Animation has brought together researchers from around the world for focused, collaborative work on open problems in computer animation. Please see the Bellairs computer animation publications page to see what work was conceived or advanced at previous workshops.

Venue

The Bellairs facilities are simple and inexpensive (more like a cottage than a hotel) with double or triple occupancy, mostly shared bathrooms, and communal kitchens. On-site capacity is limited to approximately 20 participants. All reservations are made through the workshop organizer, and participation is by invitation only. Off-site accommodation is possible, although discouraged (a Bellairs Institute fee will still apply). On-site rooms are assigned with priority given to participants who respond early to invitations, share rooms, and stay for the full week; room-sharing arrangements will be confirmed once the participant list is finalized.

Photos

select photos by Sylvain Paris

Agenda

Friday, February 19 — Arrivals
	Morning grocery shopping with volunteer team
	Arrivals — see spreadsheet for taxi pickup groups
6:30 pm	Dinner on site (except late arrivals, e.g., British Airways, see arrivals spreadsheet)
Saturday, February 20
7:00 am	Coffee and self-serve breakfast in communal kitchen (on site)
9:00 am	Welcome / introductions
9:30 am	Project pitches (title, motivation / opportunity)
Noon	Lunch (on site)
2:00 pm	Dot voting or similar filtering process (table thresholds to be flexible)
2:30 pm	Parallel sessions, 20-minute discussions, repeats / cross-pollination / prioritization
5:50 pm	Apéro on beach — sunset 6:06 pm
6:30 pm	Dinner (on site)
7:30 pm	Bus plates to kitchen; Reports, feasibility discussion, selection and tabling of projects
Sunday, February 21
7:00 am	Coffee and self-serve breakfast in communal kitchen (on site)
9:00 am	Morning plenary to coordinate work, then break into group work and discussions
Noon	Lunch (on site)
3:00 pm	Afternoon plenary, progress / regress, then break into group work and discussions
5:50 pm	Apéro on beach — sunset 6:06 pm
6:30 pm	Dinner (on site)
7:30 pm	Bus plates to kitchen; evening plenary coordination of work, or continued discussions, or break
Monday, February 22
7:00 am	Coffee and self-serve breakfast in communal kitchen (on site)
9:00 am	Morning plenary to coordinate work, then break into group work and discussions
Noon	Lunch (food trucks / on your own)
3:00 pm	Afternoon plenary, progress / regress, then break into group work and discussions
5:50 pm	Apéro on beach — sunset 6:06 pm
6:30 pm	Dinner (on site)
7:30 pm	Bus plates to kitchen; evening plenary coordination of work, or continued discussions, or break
Tuesday, February 23
7:00 am	Coffee and self-serve breakfast in communal kitchen (on site)
9:00 am	Morning plenary to coordinate work, then break into group work and discussions
Noon	Lunch (food trucks / on your own)
3:00 pm	Afternoon plenary, progress / regress, then break into group work and discussions
5:50 pm	Apéro on beach — sunset 6:06 pm
6:30 pm	Dinner (on site)
7:30 pm	Bus plates to kitchen; evening plenary coordination of work, or continued discussions, or break
Wednesday, February 24
7:00 am	Coffee and self-serve breakfast in communal kitchen (on site)
9:00 am	Morning plenary to coordinate work, then break into group work and discussions
Noon	Lunch (food trucks / on your own)
3:00 pm	Afternoon plenary, progress / regress, then break into group work and discussions
5:50 pm	Apéro on beach — sunset 6:06 pm
6:30 pm	Dinner (on site)
7:30 pm	Bus plates to kitchen; evening plenary presentations on progress, plans for next steps
Thursday, February 25
7:00 am	Coffee and self-serve breakfast in communal kitchen (on site)
	Group photo and island tourism
5:50 pm	Apéro on beach — sunset 6:06 pm
6:30 pm	Dinner off site at Sea Cat, review of week, social interaction
Friday, February 26 — Departures
7:00 am	Coffee and self-serve breakfast in communal kitchen (on site)
	Packing and departures — see flight spreadsheet for taxi pickup times

Information

Getting to Bellairs

Airport. On your customs form you must provide your purpose (conference) and destination address in Barbados (Bellairs Research Institute, Holetown, St. James Parish). You may wish to complete the online Customs and Immigration Form before you leave while you have internet access, and save the QR code it generates. Otherwise, there are convenient electronic kiosks at customs.

Taxis. Groups will be organized to get to Bellairs from the airport. Cash payment is expected, and price per person will vary based on the size of the group. Expect to pay between 20 and 70 USD.

Other Transport. Bus fare is 3.50 BBD, with regular service in front of Bellairs. Car rental is not recommended, though there is parking at Bellairs.

On Site

Check-in. Please go to the main office on arrival or Monday morning if closed. Access to Bellairs is via the passage to the right of the main building, using the gate code you received by email. Room keys are at the main office, the after-hours key box, or with the security guard. Keep all gates (front and rear) closed at all times.

Rooms. Brace rooms are above the main building, access via stairs when through the gate. Heading away from the main building, East block is on the left, followed by West block. Seabourn house is next to the water and accessed by passing through the picnic table area. Men's and women's bathrooms can be found on the east side of the East block. Accommodation costs vary depending on room type and occupancy; check room rates prior to arrival (subject to change).

Payment. Payments for rooms and Bellairs catered meals are made by credit card directly to Bellairs (off-site participants will also pay a participation fee in the Bellairs main office). There is a separate workshop registration fee to cover breakfasts, coffee, and refreshments.

Volunteering. All participants are expected to help with running different aspects of the workshop (morning coffee preparation, chairing sessions, sunset apero organization, etc.). The positions and schedule will be organized in an online spreadsheet.

Food

Breakfasts. The Seabourn house kitchen is communal, and will be stocked with a variety of breakfast food options (cereal, toast, eggs, cheese, etc.), along with coffee and juices for morning and breaks. Please wash up immediately after eating, and keep the kitchen and work areas clean in general.

Lunches.Weekend lunches will be at Bellairs, while participants are on their own for weekday lunches. There are many restaurants in the area, including food stands a short walk down the street, and in the Folkestone Park area. There are excellent vegetarian options at the food trucks. Groceries can be found at Limegrove, and a Massey's supermarket downtown Holetown (~20 min walk away).

Dinners. All dinners except the final night will be at Bellairs. The final night will be at Sea Cat, a short walk from Bellairs. All catered meals at Bellairs are paid for by the participant to Bellairs along with their room payment.

Practical Information

Weather and Clothing. The weather in February is warm (30 C daytime high, 23 C nighttime low); casual attire is the daily norm, though long pants are expected at nicer restaurants for dinner.

Money. Prices are in Barbados Dollars (BBD); US dollars are typically accepted at a fixed 2:1 rate. Credit cards are accepted fairly widely. You may wish to carry USD or BBD cash for everyday purchases and buses. The closest ATM is at the RBC branch ~15–20 min walk from Bellairs (dispenses BBD). Canadian cash is not accepted.

Water. Tap water is safe to drink and excellent. There are two refrigerated water fountains available on campus.

Power. North American plugs (Type A/B), 115 V, 50 Hz. Most North American devices work fine.

Internet. WiFi is available everywhere on-site and fairly reliable. SSID and password will be provided to participants by email with pre-arrival information.

Beach, Activities & Safety

Swimming. Bellairs is on one of Barbados's best beaches. Bring a bathing suit and reef-safe sunscreen. You may wish to bring a snorkel and mask. Be careful of waves, as they can push you into rocks and coral. You do not want to touch the fire coral. Do not shelter under manchineel trees during rain. Portuguese man-of-war are occasionally present. Check beach flags before entering the water.

Sand. Rinse sand off your feet at the outdoor taps before entering rooms (find showers at Folkestone Park, and just inside the Bellairs beach gate). Room towels are not for beach use; bring a separate beach towel should you want one.

Mosquitoes. Dengue, Zika, and Chikungunya are present in Barbados. Use repellent with ≥20% DEET. The primary vector (Aedes aegypti) bites at dawn and dusk.

Wildlife. Wild monkeys occasionally visit campus. Do not feed or approach them.

Security. Keep all gates locked at all times. Lock your room when unattended. Use the in-room safe or the main-office safe for valuables.