Society of Wetland Scientists 2004

25 Years of Achievement

Charting the Future: A Quarter Century of Lessons Learned

 

 

Call for Symposia, Special Sessions and Workshops

The Society of Wetland Scientists will hold their 25th annual international meeting at the University of Washington (Seattle, WA) in July 2004.  The theme for this meeting is “25 Years of Achievement.”  At this time, the planning committee is soliciting proposals from those wishing to organize Symposia, Special Sessions and Workshops around the conference theme.

CONFERENCE THEMES

The program planning committee has identified themes representing pressing wetland issues for our society and profession:

  • wetland assessment techniques
  • use of indicators
  • coastal/inland fisheries 
  • insects and wetlands
  • wetland education
  • use of wetland resources by other cultures
  • the necessity of political engagement
  • careers in wetland science

TIMELINE

10 August 2003                     Call for Symposia, Special Sessions and Workshops 

October 2003                        First Call for Contributed Papers

15 November 2003               DEADLINE: Proposals for Symposia, Special Sessions, and Workshops

January 2004                         Second Call for Contributed Papers

10 April 2004                         DEADLINE: Abstracts for Contributed Papers & Invited Papers

1 June 2004                           Draft papers for peer-reviewed Invited papers Symposia and Special Sessions are due.

Definitions & Guidelines:

One way to track progress and see change within a discipline, such as Wetland Science, is through the scientific literature. The PNW Chapter would like to create the opportunity to publish some of the presentations from our 2004 conference.  We are establishing guidelines for organized symposia and special sessions so that a record of our 25th Annual Meeting is placed within the scientific literature.  Organizing and peer-reviewing papers for publication is a significant effort.  Several groups have already stepped forward with offers to organize special sessions.  However, the conference planning committee felt that the opportunity to organize symposia, special sessions and workshops should be extended to the entire SWS membership.

 Please review the specific guidelines below.

 

There are a limited number of time slots available and the conference planning committee will make every attempt to accommodate all proposals.  Symposia and Special Sessions should consist of oral presentations that are each 20 min in length and arranged in one half and full day blocks (Note: it is possible to arrange two 20 min slots together if speakers need more time). Workshops can be 2 hours, one-half, or one full day in length. Please use the following information when preparing your proposal.

Symposium: A symposium is, “A meeting or conference for discussion of a topic, especially one in which the participants form an audience and make presentations.”  Papers within a symposium should be organized by the symposium chair(s) to address a current topic in wetland science.  Symposia papers should be narrowly focused. Ideally, a symposium should bring together persons well known in their discipline.  Peer-reviewed publication of invited papers  is expected. Proposals can be for half (8) or full day (16) slots.  The symposium proposer(s) should have 100% of the slots filled; however, the technical program committee reserves the right to alter the final schedule. 

To propose a symposium, chair(s) should submit a short paragraph describing the relevance of the symposium to wetland science and to the conference theme.  In addition, chair(s) should provide a list of speakers who have agreed to present their work at the conference, AND who have agreed to submit a paper for peer-review and publication (pay particular attention to the timeline).  Although the chair(s) is/are not required to make preparations for publication, proposals will be strengthened by providing a description of where the symposium papers are to be published.

Special Session:  Like a symposium, a special session is a group of invited papers that deal with a specific topic in wetland science.  We urge Special Session organizers to include student presentations wherever possible. Publication of the invited papers in a Special Session is desirable.  As in the case of symposia, Special Sessions should be arranged in one half or full day blocks of time.  Typically, the chair(s) of a Special Session fill 80% of the slots and the planning committee may place relevant submitted papers in with the invited papers.  The technical program committee reserves the right to alter the final schedule.

To propose a Special Session, chair(s) should submit a short paragraph describing the relevance of the session to wetland science and to the conference theme.  In addition, chair(s) should provide a list of speakers who have agreed to present their work at the conference.  Chair(s) should also indicate whether the papers will be published and where.

Workshop: A workshops is, “An educational seminar emphasizing interaction and exchange of information among a usually small number of participants.”  Workshops do not necessarily need to match the themes identified by the planning committee, but should pertain to some aspect of wetland science.

To propose a Workshop, presenter(s) should submit a short paragraph describing the relevance of the workshop to wetland science and, if applicable, to the conference theme.  See the description given below on preparing a workshop proposal for a list of information to include in your proposal.

PREPARING A PROPOSAL

Your proposal for a symposium, special session, or workshop should be sent to Program Co-Chairs, Ralph Garono (rgarono@earthdesign.com, 541.757.7896) or Jim Hansen (jimbob@yarl.ars.usda.gov, 509) 454-6573).  Proposals for workshops should be sent to the Workshop Co-chairs, Diane Brewster (dbrewster@landauinc.com) or Tina Miller (Tina.Miller@METROKC.GOV).  If you wish to discuss a topic prior to writing a proposal,  contact one of the Program Co-Chairs. 

For symposium and special session proposals, please restrict your submission to the pertinent information.  Make sure to include: (1) name of proposer(s) and contact information, (2) title of symposium or special session, (3) a brief description of theme, concept, and content, and how these related to the overall conference theme, and (4) identified participants.  If you propose a symposium or special session you should be prepared to act as the session chair and/or entrain others to help with organizing the session. Proposals will be considered at a late summer meeting of the Program Committee. 

The technical program committee reserves the right to alter the final schedule.

For workshop proposals, please include:

    1. name of presenter(s) and contact information,
    2. title of workshop, 
    3. a brief description of workshop content,
    4. who the target audience is,
    5. the maximum number of participants that can be accommodated in the workshop,
    6. whether the workshop will be 2 hrs, one-half day, or one full day in length,
    7. for full day workshops, indicate whether the workshop will be held in the classroom all day, or in the classroom during the morning and out in the field during the afternoon,
    8. for workshops that include a field element, indicate the location of the field trip,
    9. what equipment/facilities (blackboard, pc projector, dissecting scopes, etc.) are necessary, and
    10. whether a fee would be charged to participants

The workshop committee reserves the right to accept or reject workshop proposals.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

Information will be posted on the SWS meeting web site and in the PNW SWS Newsletter

Note: a call for contributed abstracts will follow in October 2003  (see timeline above).