About GeoBeer

GeoBeer is a roughly quarterly meetup of people interested in geography, GIS, cartography and the latest technologies. We want to promote ideas and communication.

GeoBeer is independent of any companies and organisations. GeoBeer events can take place all over Switzerland. Attendance is free of charge. Depending on the location, we usually welcome between 30 and 100 people from different backgrounds. See our manifesto for more information.

Who is behind GeoBeer?

GeoBeer was originally founded in 2013 by Stephan Heuel and Ralph Straumann.

GeoBeer is currently run by:

How can we get involved?

Would you like to sponsor and host a GeoBeer at some point? – If you agree with our manifesto, all you need is an event venue and funding to sponsor an apéro riche.

If you’re interested to host us, please send us an e-mail or approach one of the GeoBeer team members.

Frequently asked questions

Is the event in German / French / …?

Our common language is English. Parts of the communication around GeoBeer can also be in, for example, German and French. The person giving the welcome note on behalf of the host and the lightning talk speakers can chose between any of the following languages:

  • standard German (’Hochdeutsch‘)
  • French
  • Italian
  • Rumansh (yes, we had Rumansh), or
  • English

We aim for a ‘Swiss rules’ meeting where everybody feels free to speak the language they are most fluent in (preferably one of the ones listed above 😉) and everybody else answers in their own preferred language.

I think I’m not receiving your communication …?

Please make sure your spam filter is not blocking our e-mails:

  • The GeoBeer newsletter is sent through Mailchimp from the address info@geobeer.ch.
  • If you register for an event, all communication around your ticket is sent from support@tito.io.

What is the GeoBeer fund?

If you would love to attend the next GeoBeer, but would choose not to come because of your financial situation, the GeoBeer fund is happy to help. The GeoBeer fund can cover your train ticket, can pay the cost for a careperson for your child or can help with any other expenses that would stop you from being able to attend.

Our manifesto states: “Networking is inclusive: Everybody adds value.” and “We love all of Switzerland in its diversity: Nobody and nowhere is shut out.” Thus, if the GeoBeer fund can help, please register to the next GeoBeer using the standard process and briefly write to funding@geobeer.ch – in full confidentiality, of course.

Can I host a GeoBeer in remote location X?

Sure. GeoBeer is wherever you want to host it, roughly within the boundaries of Switzerland.

Our venue can only accomodate 20 people…

You mean like some of our past events? 🙂 A GeoBeer with 20 people can be fantastic! Let’s talk.

What makes a good GeoBeer host?

Take your time to read the GeoBeer manifesto. This is truly the heart of GeoBeer! All manifesto articles are important to us and for a successful GeoBeer event that meets the participants’ expectations.

We would love to host, but we don’t know if we can find interesting lightning talks.

No worries. The host can organize (some of) the lightning talks, but can also choose not to. Just let us know and we will look for speakers.

Can you please tell us who already registered? … who came to the event?

No, sorry. We will not disclose any personal details (names, e-mail addresses, affiliations etc.) of the participants to hosts. The collection of participants’ details is done solely for ticketing purposes. If you wish to have a record of who participated, we suggest offering a guest book at the event.

What makes for a good GeoBeer lightning talk topic?

Glad you asked! First, please note especially §4 of our manifesto that mandates that the welcome note from the host as well as the lightning talks should not be sales pitches for a company, a software, services, goods or other commercial ventures. This strict non-commerciality is one aspect that makes GeoBeer events special and is by now definitely expected by the audience.

Ideally, a GeoBeer talk can only be held at a GeoBeer event, i.e. it is not a run-off-the-mill ‘normal’ talk that could be given at any event. A talk can also involve a demo (e.g. of a VR prototype you’ve been working on? … or a geocaching website? … or a drone you’ve built?).

Can GeoBeer lightning talks really only be 5 minutes long…?

Yes. This is by now definitely expected by the audience. The talks should end when they have piqued the audience’s interest. They are meant as conversation starters for the apéro afterwards.

But there is going to be a Q&A session, right?

Sorry, no. We don’t do questions-and-answers regarding the talks. Again: Pick up the talk topics during the apéro if you’d like to learn more.