Why are proceedings so important in computer science?

Author: Saskia Hoving

Editor-in-Chief

Understanding how conference proceedings are selected and published offers helpful context for anyone working in computer science research, publishing or library services. Ronan Nugent is the Editorial Director for Computer Science Proceedings at Springer Nature, where he oversees one of the most active proceedings programs in the field. His team publishes around 1000 volumes each year, including the well-known Lecture Notes in Computer Science (LNCS) series. Ronan collaborates closely with conference organizers, editorial boards, and partner societies to ensure each volume meets high standards of quality, visibility and impact. He also contributes to broader publishing strategies that support the evolving needs of the global computer science community.

Editor’s note: Originally published in March 2020, this foundational piece remains one of our most-read articles as we continue to explore the evolving role of scholarly content in computer science. We’ve refreshed it slightly and added new perspectives from Ronan Nugent, Springer Nature’s Editorial Director for Computer Science Proceedings. Ronan succeeds Aliaksandr Birukou, who previously led the program and is now Vice-President Journals at Springer Nature.

In this post, we explore why conference proceedings are increasingly important in disciplines such as computer science, and how they continue to play a critical role in supporting researchers and advancing the field.

What are conference proceedings exactly?

Conference proceedings play a central role in computer science publishing. They typically include original research papers, either full or short, that have been peer reviewed by the conference’s program committee. Most use single- or double-blind review, though some communities are beginning to explore open or transparent peer review, which is still relatively new.

Proceedings are valued for their speed and visibility. They allow researchers to share their findings quickly, which is especially important in fast-moving areas like AI and cybersecurity. In fact, in many subfields, top-tier proceedings are considered just as prestigious and just as citable as journals.

Most conferences aim to publish their proceedings before the event, so the research is available and citable right away. Others may publish afterward, giving authors a chance to revise their work based on feedback from the conference itself.

"In some areas of computer science, top conference proceedings carry more prestige than journals." - Ronan Nugent, Editorial Director for Computer Science Proceedings at Springer Nature

Springer Nature’s dedicated publishing editors work closely with conference scientific committees and trusted partner societies to select conferences for publication. We look at the conference’s scope, the people involved, its history and the quality of its peer review process.

Why are proceedings so important in computer science?

In a field where innovation moves quickly, conference proceedings help researchers keep pace. They provide a platform for sharing new ideas early, often ahead of journal publication timelines. This makes them especially valuable for fast-evolving areas like machine learning, cybersecurity, and data science.

Proceedings also offer something journals often don’t: immediate peer feedback and community exposure. Presenting at a conference gives researchers the chance to refine their work through discussion and collaboration.

And importantly, proceedings are indexed and widely cited, making them a lasting and visible part of the scholarly record. For many computer scientists, proceedings are a preferred and respected destination for publishing impactful research.

How do proceedings compare to journals? To better understand their role, here’s a quick comparison of proceedings and journals in the context of computer science:

This comparison highlights why proceedings are so central to the discipline, they combine speed, rigor and visibility, making them a powerful tool for researchers and institutions alike.

"Conference proceedings are where the pulse of computer science is most visible. They capture the energy of live discussion, the speed of innovation and the depth of peer-reviewed research, all in one place." - Ronan Nugent, Editorial Director for Computer Science Proceedings at Springer Nature

In which disciplines do researchers publish in conference proceedings?

Conference proceedings play a major role in several research fields, especially those where timely dissemination and community feedback are essential. To understand where proceedings are most widely used, we can look at data from two sources: Scopus and Springer Nature’s own platform, Springer Nature Link.

Scopus provides extensive coverage of conference literature, including proceedings published within journals or edited volumes. The following figures show how many conference papers were indexed across key disciplines in 2024:

• Computer Science: 341,020
• Engineering: 275,806
• Physics and Astronomy: 136,179
• Mathematics: 155,171
• Materials Science: 55,964

Note: Scopus often assigns a single paper to multiple subject areas. For example, many computer science papers are also categorized under engineering or mathematics.

Here’s the distribution of proceedings research papers published in 2025 in Springer Nature Link according to eBook package:

• Computer Science: 28,440
• Intelligent Technologies, 18,167
• Engineering: 17,627
• Mechanical Engineering, 4,261
• Artificial Intelligence 2,698
• Earth and Environmental Science: 2,186
• Mathematics and Statistics: 2,114

Across both datasets, computer science and engineering consistently lead in conference proceedings volume, with mathematics, physics and emerging fields like intelligent technologies and artificial intelligence also making significant contributions. This reinforces the idea that proceedings are especially important in fields where research moves quickly, and where conferences serve as key venues for sharing new ideas.

Why do conference proceedings matter so much in computer science?

Unlike many other fields where journals are the primary outlet, computer science researchers often prefer conferences because they allow for faster dissemination and more immediate engagement with the global research community. An analysis of Scopus data from 2012 to 2016 showed that 63% of original research in computer science was published in conference proceedings, while only 37% appeared in journals.

This tradition has historical roots. As Lance Fortnow noted in a Communications of the ACM article, computer science developed as a new discipline in the 1950s, and its publishing practices evolved independently. Conferences quickly became the main venue for presenting new work, offering fast peer review and opportunities for in-person discussion. Over time, publishers and societies began formally publishing these proceedings, recognizing their value. For example, the ACM Distinguished Service Award in 2013 honored the founding editors of the Lecture Notes in Computer Science (LNCS) series for their contributions to this model.

Participating in conferences, whether by presenting, reviewing, or serving on committees, can also support career development. In recognition of the importance of proceedings, Crossref and DataCite launched a Working Group in 2018 to improve how conference outputs are tracked and cited, including the use of Persistent Conference IDs and CrossMark.

Here are some notable conference series in computer science, covering areas such as medical imaging, cryptology, data mining, and computer vision:

• MICCAI (Medical Image Computing)
• ECCV (Computer Vision)
• CRYPTO, Eurocrypt, Asiacrypt (Cryptology)
• CAiSE, DASFAA, BPM (Information Systems & Business Process Management)
• ECML-PKDD, PAKDD (Data Mining & Machine Learning)
• ACCV, PRCV , ICPR (Pattern Recognition & Computer Vision)

What does this mean for librarians?

For librarians working with computer science communities, conference proceedings represent a valuable and strategic resource. Their role in scholarly communication continues to grow, offering unique benefits that complement traditional journal literature.

• Including proceedings in computer science collections ensures researchers have access to timely, peer-reviewed work from leading conferences where the most current ideas are first presented.
• Usage and citation data can help demonstrate the impact of proceedings, supporting informed decisions around acquisition and collection development.
• With a clear understanding of how proceedings function, especially their speed, visibility, and prestige, librarians are well-positioned to guide researchers and students in discovering relevant content and choosing appropriate publication venues.

As research workflows evolve, librarians play a key role in ensuring that proceedings remain accessible, discoverable and aligned with the needs of their academic communities.

"Proceedings are where computer science research often begins. For librarians, recognizing their value means ensuring researchers have access to the ideas shaping the field in real time." - Ronan Nugent, Editorial Director for Computer Science Proceedings at Springer Nature

Proceedings are a cornerstone of Springer Nature’s Computer Science eBook Collection, offering fast, high-quality access to the latest research from leading conferences around the world. They play a vital role in how researchers stay current, particularly in fast-moving fields, and are especially valuable for early-career researchers looking to build visibility and connections. As open access continues to evolve in computer science, proceedings also offer flexible publishing options that support broader dissemination.

You can learn more about how researchers use conference content, the evolving role of open access in the field, and how we support early-career researchers. Visit the eBook Collections page for more information about the different subject collections.

About Ronan Nugent

Ronan Nugent is the Editorial Director for Computer Science Proceedings at Springer Nature. Based in Heidelberg, he leads the development and management of the key conference series Lecture Notes in Computer Science (LNCS) and plays a central role in the rapid dissemination of research across the computer science community.

Ronan works closely with conference organizers, editors and researchers to uphold high editorial standards and ensure timely publication. His efforts support the visibility and impact of conference-based research in areas such as AI, data science, cybersecurity, and software engineering. He also contributes to initiatives to develop integrity processes suitable for the paradigm.

Related content

• How eTextbooks empower modern learning: Insights for librarians
• Eight proven steps to improve eBook collection development in libraries
• Exploring the future of AI: Insights from Springer Nature's AI eBook Collection 
• Fostering inclusivity and gender equity in engineering education
• Engineering a more inclusive future for women in STEM
• Navigating research integrity in the age of AI
• The value of short books in academic publishing