We invite you to contribute to our 60th Annual Meeting in Kigali by submitting proposals for sessions!
ATBC2024, under the theme "Achieving Inclusive Science for Effective Conservation, Adaptation, and Resilience in the Tropics" seeks to highlight innovative research, foster interdisciplinary collaborations, and address pressing challenges in tropical biology and conservation.
Extended Deadline for Submissions: March 6th, 2024
Types of Sessions:
Symposia are focused around themes critical to the conservation and understanding of tropical ecosystems. Each symposium comprises 6-12 comprehensive talks delivered by experts from various fields, fostering a rich and diverse dialogue. Regular symposia typically span approximately 2 hours in length. In the case of extended symposia, the format includes 2 sessions. Each session necessitates a minimum of 4 talks, thoughtfully curated to encourage profound and interactive discussions.
Open Format Sessions represent diverse and creative ways to engage with participants around a given topic. They encourage innovative and interactive formats like roundtables, panel discussions, debates, and other creative session structures. The duration for Open Format Sessions is typically 2 hours, unless a well-justified exception is granted, and depending on the program's availability.
Workshops are interactive sessions designed to impart specific skills or knowledge to participants. These sessions are typically hands-on, encouraging active participation and engagement. The format often includes a combination of presentations, practical exercises, and group discussions. Workshop organizers are responsible for preparing the content, materials, and structure of the session, ensuring that participants leave with tangible skills or knowledge. The reccommended duration for workshops is 2 hours, but this can vary depending on the proposal and program's availability.
Short Courses are condensed sessions that provide intensive instruction on a particular topic. Short courses are ideal for delving deeply into topics like approaches, methods, policies, or emerging technologies in tropical ecosystem research. Organizers of short courses are expected to have substantial expertise in the topic and be able to provide a comprehensive experience. The reccommended duration for short courses is also 2 hours, but this can vary depending on the proposal and program's availability.
We kindly request that all proposals for ATBC2024 be submitted exclusively through our designated online submission system. Proposals sent through any other channels or means will not be eligible for consideration.
Each session proposal should include:
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Title (max. 15 words)
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Description (300-400 words): This should clearly summarize the background, scope, goals, and objectives of the session, as well as its importance and potential interest to ATBC attendees. The description should avoid overly specialized language; anyone attending the meeting should be able to understand it.
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Justification (100-150 words): The justification should focus on how the review criteria outlined by the call for proposals are met. It should not simply repeat the description.
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One sentence summary (max 50 words): A short version of the symposium description that will appear in the final program.
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List of potential speakers/participants: Name, institutional affiliation, address, email, and tentative talk titles. For symposia sessions, a minimum of 4 speakers is required.
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Visual material: Provide, at least, one relevant photography, illustration, graph, or diagram that represents the theme of your session. This material could be used in promotional materials to visually communicate the essence of your session.
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Additional Comments (optional): Please let us know if you have special requirements.
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All proposals will be evaluated and scored by the ATBC2024 Scientific Committee.
Proposals will be assessed using the following criteria:
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Merit: Proposals should aim for significant advances in tropical biology and conservation, showcasing innovative, interdisciplinary approaches and potential for new conceptual insights.
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Broader Impacts: The session must link scientific research to conservation action, influencing policy, aiding practitioners, and contributing to ecological sustainability.
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Audience Appeal: Sessions should interest a wide range of ATBC2024 attendees, fostering interdisciplinary engagement.
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Structure and Organization: The sessions should provide a rich tapestry of insights and viewpoints. They are expected to foster deep, analytical syntheses and present a spectrum of perspectives.
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Relevance: The proposal must align with ATBC2024's theme and resonate with the attendees' academic interests.
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Speaker Lineup: A balanced and diverse group of speakers is critical. This should include a mix of established and emerging scientists, particularly those offering innovative perspectives. Proposals should prioritize speaker confirmation and gender balance.
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Communication of Acceptance and Requirements: Upon acceptance of a session, organizers must promptly communicate with their speakers/participants. This includes confirming their registration status, detailing abstract submission requirements (for symposia) and deadlines, providing information on session scheduling, and clarifying expectations for conference participation.
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Scheduling Information: Organizers should inform speakers that the session could be scheduled on any day of the meeting. This ensures speakers are prepared for any scheduling contingencies.
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Abstract Submission (for symposia) and Compliance: It is the organizer's responsibility to ensure that speakers/participants submit their abstracts on time. Organizers should make it clear that failure to submit an abstract by the deadline will result in removal from the session.
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Conference Registration Requirement: Organizers must communicate to all speakers/participants that they are required to register for the conference.
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To ensure a diverse range of voices and ideas, ATBC enforces the 'one presentation' rule for all speakers. This rule stipulates that each presenter is limited to only one presentation during the conference. This rule limited to oral sessions, posters, and symposia. This policy is designed to maximize the variety of perspectives and topics covered, and to give a wider array of delegates the opportunity to showcase their work.
It is disruptive for the meeting program to have accepted sessions cancelled. Accordingly, please submit a session proposal only if you are certain to attend the meeting and are willing to fulfil your responsibility as a session organizer.
In cases of unavoidable circumstances, the principal session organizer may be replaced by one of the co-organizers. If a presentation must be cancelled, the speaker should immediately notify the session organizer, whose duty it is to identify a replacement. The replacement would ideally be someone who is already a co-author, but the symposium session organizer may identify another suitable person.
ATBC does not provide special financial assistance, stipends or free registration to individual speakers/participants of the conference. Session organizers should notify potential speakers/participants of this policy when they are invited to participate. If needed, individual symposium organizers are responsible for identifying funding sources for the speakers in their sessions.
For all questions regarding symposia please send an e-mail to info@atbc2022.org
For any questions regarding session proposals, please write us to atbc2024@tropicalbiology.org
