speaker line-up

Drop-out speakers

💡click the button for options that deal with drop-out speakers at any stage of the planning process

12 months before conference

Start speaker line-up

Whole-day symposia typically have 11 speaker slots of 30 minutes each. But you may opt to hold a panel or round-table event in one or more of the speaker slots.

You will likely need to recruit speakers to complete your symposium line-up.

We also recommend that you recruit back-up speakers by inviting presenters to complementary sessions to your symposium and inquiring if they are willing to be a stand-by symposium speaker.

Quick reminder: all complementary presenters are eligible to submit a manuscript as part of the ICB symposium issue for your symposium.

SICB is committed to equity and inclusion and encourages symposium organizers to consider multiple axes of diversity (such as race and ethnicity, gender, career stage, geographic location, type of institution, ability, to list but a few).

The SICB program officer and ICB editors are happy to help recruit additional speakers.

10 months before conference

draft speaker line-up

Share with the SICB program officer (ProgramOfficer@sicb.org):

A final symposium description that follows these rules: Eleven total speakers. 30 minute presentations. Set a time for each speaker starting at 8 a.m. Set a 30 minute coffee break beginning at 9:30 or 10 a.m. Lunch is from noon to 1:30 p.m. The symposium concludes no later than 3:30 p.m. before the poster session. Deviations from any of these rules require approval of the SICB Program Officer. Link to examples.

An estimate of attendance (e.g., 75, 125, or 225), such that an appropriate room size can be assigned. If the room looks empty, it can detract from the actual success of the symposium.

A description of any additional events that you wish to schedule to accompany your symposium. This might include socials, a roundtable discussion, etc. Note that if you want food or drinks, you must budget for that.

A list (or copy of submission) of where you applied for external funding and, if you were successful, the amount of funding you received.

Information on a complementary session, if desired. If you are aware of colleagues/trainees who would like to submit presentations for a complementary oral or poster session for your symposium, alert them to the option 'complementary session [title of your symposium] on the abstract submission form. Complementary poster sessions will occur on the same day as the SICB symposium, while complementary oral sessions will occur the day before or after.

9 months before conference

complete speaker line-up

Share with ICB managing editor: final speaker line up of symposium and complementary sessions (talks and posters), including contact details of speakers (emails) and preliminary titles of presentations

1 to 2 months before conference

confirm speaker line-up

Check in with your speakers regularly to ensure that they are still able to present at the symposium.

If you have last-minute drop-outs, there are many options to address this problem.

example symposium descriptions

Links to examples of symposium descriptions can be found on the websites of past SICB meetings.

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