Call for Session Proposals
NCER looks to the science and restoration community to assist with developing a conference agenda that shares practices, successful methods, and solutions to challenges facing restoration throughout the U.S. and beyond.
We invite those actively working in ecosystem restoration to propose a session you think is a timely topic that would be beneficial and of keen interest to your fellow restoration researchers and practitioners.
We have provided a list of general Presentation Topics, but don’t feel limited to these areas. NCER seeks to capture all emerging issues and new ideas.
Proposal Evaluation Criteria
When developing your session theme and identifying colleagues to present about their work in your session, keep these factors in mind:
- Proposals will be evaluated for content and relevance.
- Preference will be given to sessions that are integrative, cross-system, and/or promote the transfer of regional-based knowledge to a broad audience.
- A prime criterion is the potential for generating useful dialogue among attendees, and the expected level of interest.
Session Format Options
All presentations will be live and in-person. This will not be a hybrid conference.
NCER 2024 features two types of session formats to promote diverse presentation styles and to allow more attendees to present and share valuable insights, lessons learned and best practices. All sessions are 90-minutes long. Indicate your format preference when uploading your proposal.
Standard Format
This format consists of a 5-minute session introduction and overview by the moderator, followed by four consecutive 20-minute talks (17 minutes per talk plus 3 minutes Q&A), with speakers using PowerPoint slides to display graphics emphasizing key elements, supporting details and in-depth information.
Panel Session
Panel sessions provide an opportunity for experts to present their views on a specific topic and then to discuss these views among themselves and with the audience. Typically, a panel session begins with a brief introduction of the panel topic and the participants, followed by short presentations by the panelists expressing their views. The 90-minute session must allow sufficient opportunity for an interactive question and answer period involving both the panelists and the audience. Panels are limited to four participants, plus the moderator, to allow sufficient time for audience questions. Use of PowerPoint should be limited to no more than a few key slides to help the audience visualize the panel concept. NOTE: Having a skilled facilitator, securing DEEP panelists (diverse, experienced, eloquent, and prepared), and dedicating sufficient time for planning and communication with panelists is essential for success.
Steps to Develop a Session Proposal
- Define the purpose, focus and overarching message of the proposed session.
- Outline key takeaways for attendees. Why will they be interested in your session?
- Confirm four speakers or panelists that will attend NCER if the session is approved. Ideally, they should be varied in affiliation, perspective and expertise, as well as diverse with respect to age, race and gender.
- Use this Session Proposal Template (.docx) to create a session proposal.
- Submit your proposal online by May 19, 2023, via the conference web site.
- Proposal submitters will be notified on May 30, 2023 if their proposal was approved.
Due to space limitations, individuals are limited to organizing one session only.
When confirming speakers/panelists, make sure they:
- Plan to attend the conference and are confident in obtaining permission to travel.
- Are aware there is a limit of one talk per person. If approached by more than one session organizer, they can only choose to speak in one session. (Speakers may also present a poster if they wish.)
- Understand they must submit an abstract by September 1, 2023 and there is a $25 fee per abstract submitted. (The fee is non-refundable.)
- Understand they are required to register and pay to attend the conference. (There are NO ONE-DAY FEES. Depending on levels of sponsorship, we estimate early-bird registration will be approximately $650 for government and non-profit attendees; $695 for industry representatives and $450 for students and retirees.)
Session Organizers Are Expected to:
- Be the primary contact for the session. We communicate with one official representative per session.
- Adhere to all published deadlines and proactively remind their speakers of key dates.
- Communicate these details to their speakers/panelists by Friday, June 30 well in advance of the abstract due date:
- Ensure their session speakers submit abstracts by Friday, September 1, 2023.
- Moderate the session. The introduction period is not a talk. Do not submit an abstract for it.
- Attend a one-hour Panel Moderator Briefing with the conference organizers conducted via Zoom.
- Use the template provided to prepare a session agenda grid by Friday, September, 15 (two weeks after the abstract submission closes.) After we verify all your speakers uploaded their files, we will send you a session grid template for you to fill in the title and speaker names/talk titles in presentation order.
- Confirm all your speakers register by Friday, November 17, 2023.
We reserve the right to cancel a session if an organizer is not able to adhere to the prescribed deadlines.
Should Acts of God or natural or public health emergencies prevent this event from being held in-person, conference sessions will be held virtually via Zoom.
Questions?
Contact Beth Miller-Tipton by email at: bmt@ufl.edu
