Message from the Special Event Chairs

For the first time, ACSOS organized a series of Special Events to keep the community of researchers and practitioners in autonomic and self-organizing systems engaged even when the conference is still distant in time, fostering collaboration and cross-fertilization throughout the year. We wanted these events to be hybrid, with the double goal of promoting in-person activities, expecting lecturers and people working in the proximity of the event to travel and meet; and wanting people that cannot travel to be able to follow and participate from a distance. We organized two events: the first in Cesena (Italy) and the second in Lancaster (UK). Other events in continents other than Europe are still under active construction: we designed the special events to be activities that continue beyond this edition of the conference, intending to build a stronger, larger, and more mutually beneficial community in the long term. This new idea came from the fertile mind of Organizing co-chairs Sven Tomforde and Kirstie Bellman, and I was honored to be appointed as chair for this activity. The program of the Special Events was by the local organizers with great flexibility and could include tutorials, public lectures, keynotes and other dissemination activities. The Special Events section collects contributions that could not be classified into the pre-existing categories of the ACSOS Companion proceedings. My final words are to thank Barry Porter, who organized the Lancaster Special Event, and all those who contributed and participated in this new initiative.