XML Summer School, Oxford University (UK), 22-27 July 2007

This year, as in previous years, I will be speaking at the CSW XML Summer School. The XML Summer School isn't a conference, but a collection of some of the best XML people in the world who come together each year to introduce attendees to XML and/or to particular XML technologies. Speakers include Norm Walsh, Dan Connolly, Jeni Tennison, Lauren Wood, Bob DuCharme, Mike Kay, Paul Prescod, Marc Hadley, Priscilla Walmsley, Eve Maler, and Jeff Barr (which is a celebrity cast, as a quick visit to Google will attest). The Summer School only has a relatively small number of attendees (limited to keep the class sizes down), and there are many opportunities to talk to the speakers freely throughout the week, so it's a great chance to meet some of the best minds in the business.

I will be speaking in the "Building XML Applications" track on "XML and Information Modelling". This talk gives a brief introduction to UML for XML users, discusses how XML Schema models are physical data models, and shows how XML Schema models fit into a complete "stack" of modelling layers, including logical and conceptual models. The talk gives XML Schema developers a bigger picture of data modelling than just the Schemas, and a better picture of how their work relates (and should relate) to that of other data modelling groups, e.g. database modellers or application modellers. Check out the full curriculum to see the full range of topics that will be covered during the course of the Summer School.

The CSW XML Summer School is a great place to come and learn about XML and the many technologies around it, and it's a great place to send your staff to learn. I hope to see some of you there; come say hello if you have the chance to attend.