Expensive Conferences

I like to pretend that I am interested in compiler construction techniques. I was therefore quite interested in attending the New Horizons in Compilers (mirror) workshop that will be held as a part of HiPC 2006 right here in IISc Bangalore. Unfortunately, it turns out that you have to register for the entire conference to be able to attend this workshop. The really awful part is that I would have to part with 22,500 rupees ($500) to be able to do that. There is no way that I am ever going to shell out that kind of money for something like this.

Apparently this is supposed to be the "reduced rate" for Indian participants who are not from academia, government organisations or three-four letter organisations. Even for ACM/IEEE/IFIP members, it is still 16,900 rupees ($375) and that is still a lot of money in this part of the world for this kind of an event. It is as if they are making an active attempt to keep everyone else out. I did ask the "registration chair" and the workshop organisers for a better option but apparently there is none.

What a shame!

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