FAQ

A: Kakao OpenChat. We will post real-time updates on the conference, unofficial networking events (Thu, Fri, Sat). You can also ask questions, introduce yourselves, and coordinate meetups. Join here.

A: Check your e-mail. For the nights of Wed, Thu, and Fri (8/2~8/5), if you received a message stating you are staying at the Westin, you are at the Westin. If you have not received this communication, you are staying at the Hyatt Regency DFW. If you made your own reservation for Saturday night at the Hyatt Regency DFW (8/5~8/6), that reservation will be honored.

A: All programs, including FIRE, will be held at Hyatt Regency DFW (NOT to be confused with Grand Hyatt / Hyatt Place).

A: SHUTTLE SCHEDULE

08/02/2023 Wed 8:30 pm  -10:30 pm 

08/03/2023 Thurs 7:00 am - 9:30 am / 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm 

08/04/2023 Fri 7:00 am - 9:30 am / 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm 

08/05/2023 Sat 7:00 am - 9:30 am

The ride between the two hotels is ~10 minutes. Therefore, you must be at Hyatt Regency to participate in the Programs. To avoid long waiting lines for the shuttle, Westin will have a sign-up sheet at the front desk upon check in.

A: For arriving from the airport, and also in case you miss the time windows for the dedicated shuttle to reach the conference at Hyatt Regency, the regular airport shuttle logistics are listed below.

DFW Airport <-> Westin DFW Shuttle

As an airport hotel, there is a 24/7 shuttle. When you arrive at the airport, once you have picked up your luggage, call 972-929-4500, press 1, and tell them your location to be picked up. This is the same phone number listed in Google Maps. You must request the shuttle by phone; you cannot just wait without calling. The shuttle from Westin DFW back to the airport runs at the top of every hour, 24/7.

DFW Airport <-> Hyatt Regency DFW

The Hyatt Regency DFW is located just off Terminal C. To move between terminals at the airport, you can take the train. To go from Terminal C to the conference hotel, call 972-453-1234 and press 0 to request a shuttle to pick you up. To go from the conference hotel to Terminal C, the shuttle runs every 20 minutes from the lobby front door. You can also walk between Terminal C and the Hyatt Regency DFW using these directions. 

A: If you are driving, there will be complimentary parking at both the Hyatt Regency DFW and Westin DFW for the duration of the conference. For the Hyatt Regency DFW, ALL guests, including those with a TOLLTAG: Enter DFW Airport Toll Plaza through lanes marked “TICKET OR QR CODE” ONLY. Pull a ticket and get it validated by the hotel front desk before leaving the Hyatt Regency. You will otherwise have to pay a toll upon exiting the airport area. DO NOT ENTER through lanes marked TollTag. Otherwise, your TollTag will be charged and you will be responsible for the daily parking rate. Once inside the airport, all exits are on the LEFT. Exit Terminal C / Hyatt Regency DFW Hotel. Follow signs for Terminal C, and Hyatt Regency DFW will be on your right.

A: There will be 3 coach buses that leave from the Hyatt Regency, stopping at the Westin, and then onto Carrollton, starting at 8:30PM. If you are at the Hyatt, please be ready to leave from the lobby at 8:30PM. If you are at the Westin, please be ready to leave from the lobby at 9PM. Bus tickets will be available at on-site registration for $10. 

A: You must attend all FIRE sessions (Thu 4-6PM, Fri 4-7PM, Sat 9:30-10AM) to receive reimbursement. Any missed sessions will result in reimbursement deduction. There will be an electronic form sent to you after the conference, and a check will be mailed to your address thereafter.

A: Check-in is at 3PM and Check-out is at 12PM for both hotels. We recommend you check out of your room at the Westin and bring your belongings to the Awards Ceremony at 9:30AM at the Hyatt Regency on Saturday 8/5. Reminder for non-presenters rooming with a presenter, presenters rooming alone, and presenters rooming with a non-UKC participant (ex. family member) to pay 50% of their room upon check-out.

A: Please consider wearing Business Casual or Business Professional throughout the official Conference Programs.

A: The forecasted weather during the UKC conference is mostly sunny, with an expected temperature range of 106F High and 85F Low. Humidity is expected to be 60% or higher on all days. Please dress appropriately for this weather.

A: If you feel that you are not yet prepared to present on a professional development lesson learned, there are other options.

1. To be a presenter, talk about your goals (short term: ex. I want to get a summer REU/internship, or longer term: I want to become a surgeon, etc.) and why these are important to you. What is your true motivation? You can also describe your current struggles (should I switch my major? how can I improve my time management, I procrastinate a lot) and your plan to wade through it. These are important and valid presentations that undergraduate seniors, graduate students, postdocs, and working professionals would like to hear, and may be able to give valuable advice on.

2. You may apply to FIRE as a non-presenter, without travel/lodging/meal support and an increased registration fee.

A: Yes. However, you must apply to the Technical Group Symposium (TGS) through the UKC website. You cannot apply to both, and your one application must be to the UKC Technical Group Symposium. Since the UKC poster session does not overlap with the FIRE session times, you may present your technical poster on Friday evening, and attend FIRE sessions on Thurs/Fri afternoon and Saturday morning instead of TGS sessions. You cannot switch between TGS and FIRE after applying. You may only apply to be a FIRE poster presenter with professional development topics (non-technical), and you must attend all FIRE sessions. Click here for an example of a career poster.

A: We recommend arriving Wednesday evening, as the UKC program starts at 8AM on Thursday morning. There is an optional reception for all UKC participants on Wednesday night, 9-11PM. The official program concludes at noon on Saturday after the UKC closing session, after which you are free to leave. However, there will be an AfterFIRE unofficial networking event Saturday night which you are welcome to attend, should you wish to explore Dallas for the remainder of the weekend. Keep in mind that presenter lodging support is for Wed, Thurs, and Fri nights, so Saturday night lodging would be at your own expense. If you wish to stay at the hotel, the conference rate applies ($136.36/night/room inc. tax), and you can make your own roommate arrangements if desired.

A: The hotel is located directly off Terminal C of the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. There is a free hotel shuttle 24/7. Visit the UKC website and the Hyatt Regency DFW website for more details.

A: 1. The FIRE registration fee table has the FIRE attendees listed first on the table as it is the most relevant for FIRE attendees. The UKC registration fee table has the technical group symposium attendees listed first instead.

2. The FIRE table includes values for presenters who receive a $100 registration fee discount. The UKC table does not, and has fees that are $100 higher in every cell. The UKC website has the $100 registration fee discount for presenters separately stated on the Financial Support page.

3. The FIRE table uses the description "Professional/Faculty" instead of the term "Regular" in the UKC table for increased clarity.

A: Please direct all correspondence to fire@ksea.org