DSET 2021 – Going Hybrid

Now in its sixth year, the DSET Conference and Workshop will be held 24-26 May, both online and live in Bristol, UK. MS&T Special Correspondent Andy Fawkes spoke to organiser Tess Butler about what to expect at DSET 2021.

The DSET (Defence Simulation, Education and Training) Conference and Workshop in early March 2020 was perhaps the last live S&T event held prior to the pandemic. Although safety measures were taken, it is likely that few attendees anticipated the massive disruption that was to come. Almost as a precursor, some speakers took part remotely.

Now, over a year later, DSET will return with a full live experience but also bringing in online participation to accommodate those who cannot attend in person. Billed as a hybrid event, it will be “wholly in both the virtual and real worlds,” Butler told MS&T, and with its online platform will “provide an interactive environment for our community throughout the year.”

MilSim Agenda

Like previous years, the DSET programme has a military-driven agenda with an emphasis on “honest debate and discussions” amongst the military, industry and academia. The event kicks off with the DSET Workshop on 24 May followed by the main conference running over two days. A “Virtual Networking and Industry Showcase” on 27 May has also been added. The workshop is designed to be a good entry point for newcomers to the military simulation and training community and includes S&T technology and procurement basics and briefings on SISO simulation standards developments and NATO NMSG activity.

Day One promises a strong opening with the attendance of Karen D.H. Saunders as keynote speaker. Saunders is the US Army Program Executive Officer for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation (PEO STRI) and no doubt many in the audience will be excited to hear of the latest American developments and her thoughts on the future. Later in the day there will be sessions on requirements and innovation with the final session on “AI & Machine Learning/Robotics/UAS” looking like a new direction for DSET.

The sessions on Day Two include “All Things Procurement, Commercial & Contracts Delivered”, which is likely to be closely scrutinised by industry attendees, and “Academia, Internships & Experimentation in M&S”, aimed at building and maintaining expertise in the MS&T community. The final session on “Gamification & eSports” will no doubt provide a strong ending to the conference as this area continues to influence military S&T.

Diverse, Inclusive, International

DSET can be applauded for its proactive efforts to increase the diversity of speakers and attendees at such S&T events. Other female speakers will be Marie-Claire Isaaman, CEO of Women in Games, and Lt Cdr Grace Fanning, an Irish Naval Service warship captain. The free attendance for academia, together with DSET’s online accessibility, will no doubt bring in many younger participants. Also impressive is the anticipated international audience with over 20 different nationalities registered.

As in previous years, the event will be held at Bristol's Ashton Gate Stadium. However, Butler told us for this year, due to safety protocols, “we've spread it out over three spaces and table space will be doubled for social-distancing reasons and to make people feel calmer as it is everybody's first time.” Butler explained that safety “and making it feel inclusive had been central to the organization of the event.”

To accommodate the online audience there will be multiple cameras. “When we go live the screen will appear as if you are live in person at Ashton Gate, and then there will be one (camera) looking at the podium and there'll be a panel view,” Butler explained.

DSET 2021 promises to deliver on its themes of innovation, disruption and diversity. Perhaps the best demonstration of this was the early decision to run a hybrid event. Many in the community will be both extremely interested in how it delivers as compared to a live or a virtual-only event, and also will be wishing the organisers great success in what has been a tough period for conference organisers.

The DSET programme and registration details, plus a list of sponsors and exhibitors, can be found through the DSET website. There is no charge to attend for representatives of the military, government and academia.

Halldale’s MS&T is the Lead Media Partner for DSET 2021 and will publish a show report following the event.