Rocky ocean with foam at sunset

Session proposals

Submit a session or tutorial talk

We invite proposals for sessions and tutorial talks that span the ocean sciences and the larger ocean-connected ecosystem. For Ocean Sciences Meeting 2020, we particularly encourage ideas with strong interdisciplinary themes that address new and emerging areas of research.

With 2021 launching the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, we welcome sessions on the related Sustainable Development Goals.

Submit a proposal

We invite session and tutorial talk proposals for the Ocean Sciences Meeting. The deadline for submissions is 22 May.

Submit
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Propose an Ocean Sciences Meeting session

We invite session proposals for the Ocean Sciences Meeting 2020.

Deadline for submissions: 22 May

Submit
Blue waters of bay beach cliff

Preparing a Session Proposal

We strongly encourage you to review all session and tutorial proposal guidelines to improve the quality of your submission. We would like to especially call out items of particular value.

Before submitting your proposal, please take the time to carefully examine the list of session proposals already submitted to the meeting to ensure your proposed session does not significantly overlap with other sessions.

Please review the list of session formats as well. In addition to the traditional oral and poster formats, session chairs will also have the option to request panel sessions or the new eLightning session format. See the "Session formats" section for more information.

 

Download a copy of the guidelines

Please review the information below or download the call for sessions and tutorials PDF to aid in your submission process.

Download PDF

Session proposal guidelines

Follow the guidelines outlined in the categories to the right. Your proposal will be reviewed by the Program Committee based on these standards.

Session proposals must include an informative title (20-180 characters), accompanied by a concise definition of the scientific topic and a description of why the topic is relevant and timely (limit 200 words).

Sessions should be designed to have a broad, interdisciplinary appeal and to engage international audiences. The Program Committee will not approve sessions that are too narrowly focused.

Each proposal must identify a primary chair to serve as the point of contact, and at least one additional co-chair. Proposals are limited to four total chairs. All chairs listed on session proposals must consent to being named as part of the proposal at the time of submission. Individuals may serve as a primary chair on only one session proposal. In addition, primary chairs can only be listed as a co-chair on two additional session proposals.

Session chairs must select a primary topic area, and up to two other topic areas relevant to the submission. Topic areas organize session proposal submissions for the Program Committee and help attendees plan their meeting.

Session chairs should select descriptive keywords that best describe the session from a pre-defined list of index terms. These terms help authors search for relevant sessions during the abstract submission process. They are equally helpful to attendees when the online program is published.
 

 

During the session proposal submission process, chairs should indicate their preference for poster, oral, panel, or the new eLightning hybrid session format.

We strongly encourage poster-only sessions proposals as much as possible, due to the large number of abstract submissions expected. 

Sessions that are celebratory or honorary will not be considered. Sessions cannot be in tribute of a specific person or contain the name of a scientist in the session title or description. Proposals deemed to be primarily advertisements of commercial products and services or that contain the name of a specific experiment in the title or description will not be considered.

Session proposals will be publicly available throughout the submission period. Potential chairs should carefully examine the list of submitted session proposals to ensure their proposed session does not significantly overlap with other sessions.

Session chairs should incorporate diverse ethnic and gender voices among their cadre of co-chairs and session presenters whenever possible. Additionally, to foster and strengthen the next generation of scientists, we encourage session chairs to include early-career scientists among their co-chairs and session moderators.

Underneath ocean with colorful corals and fish

Session formats

There will be four session formats at Ocean Sciences Meeting 2020: poster, oral, panel, and a new hybrid format called eLightning.

We strongly encourage poster-only sessions proposals as much as possible, due to the large number of abstract submissions expected. 

Under blue ocean with floor rocks
  • Poster sessions will be scheduled for a two-hour time slot, but will be displayed for the duration of the meeting to maximize viewing opportunities. Poster presenters are also encouraged to submit an electronic version of their poster.
  • Oral sessions receive two-hour time slots. Session chairs may select the length of time each presenter receives.
  • Panel sessions receive two-hour time slots like traditional oral sessions but consist of up to eight individuals who respond to questions from a moderator and the audience. Panels can be scheduled to include a five-minute introductory talk from each panelist and/or allow for the opportunity for extended Q&A alongside attendees.
  • eLightning sessions are lively three-minute oral presentations in the poster hall paired with digital, interactive poster presentations. 
Under water colorful fish and coral

Introducing eLightning sessions

eLightning presentations create an engaging experience for both presenters and attendees as they offer both oral and interactive poster components. These sessions can include video and audio recordings and show complex data sets. Each presenter delivers a brief oral presentation followed by a poster presentation on a touchscreen. Session chairs will decide the length of the eLightning presentations based on the number of abstracts per session. While the sessions are scheduled for a two-hour time slot, the touchscreen poster presentations will be viewable for the duration of the meeting.

A man explains a poster on a touchscreen to two women

Selection process

The Program Committee will merge sessions if there are multiples submitted on similar topics. In addition, the Program Committee may request edits to the title or description of the session or move it to a more appropriate topic area than the one to which it was submitted. The Program Committee will work with session chairs throughout the merging process once all proposals have been submitted.

The Program Committee will try to honor oral and poster requests while taking into account space and other requirements. The Committee has the final responsibility to allocate session types across the program.

Session chairs should not promise oral presentations to any potential authors. Once sessions are finalized by the Program Committee, chairs will assign poster and oral (if any) presentations.
Dark blue water with wave currents

Important dates

11 September 2019: Abstract submissions close. In late September through early October, we may need to get in touch with session chairs about scheduling. We ask that at least one session chair be available.

18 September 2019: Deadline to submit a town hall, workshop, committee meeting or social event, and the deadline to submit a travel grant application

Early November 2019: Abstract acceptance letters are sent and the final scientific program is available online.

8 January 2020: Early registration deadline.

24 January 2020:  Housing deadline.

Aurora borealis over the lake in the evening

Session chair responsibilities

There will be no invited oral presentations. In order to encourage poster presentations, session chairs may designate one invited poster presentation per session and invite the author to submit via the online invitation tool. Invited authors are permitted to submit a contributed abstract (if they so wish) in addition to the invited abstract, in accordance with the First Author Policy.

Session chairs must agree to be responsible for coordinating the evaluation of all student presentations (oral and poster) in their session. One session co-chair must be identified during the scheduling process to serve as the point of contact and must coordinate the evaluation process. Additional information will be distributed as the meeting approaches.

Chairs have access to the online invitation management system. After logging into the invitation management session, chairs can click on "My Account," then on the name of their session to access the Session Proposal Control Panel. Open the panel, conveners should click the Invited Author Management button to access the invitation tool. Conveners can enter the names of up to two individuals they wish to invite to submit an invited poster presentation to their session.

Ocean with sunrays on water

Post-submission process for session chairs

Submission Review Process

The Program Committee will review all session proposals during May and June 2019. The evaluation process will include decisions to merge proposals to avoid duplicate or similar subjects within or across topic areas. The Program Committee will notify session chairs when sessions need to be merged and/or descriptions revised. Session chairs will receive an email with the final status of their proposal in early July 2019.

Abstract Submissions

During the abstract submission period, 10 July – 11 September 2019, session chairs should promote their session to potential authors and use the online tool to monitor the abstracts submitted to their session. Session chairs should alert AGU staff if there are abstracts in a session that are not topically relevant. After the scheduling phase in early October, abstracts will no longer be available to view until the program is finalized by the Program Committee in early November.

Scheduling Abstracts

In late September, the Program Committee will inform session chairs of their session type. Session chairs will have approximately one week, 24 September 2019 to 2 October 2019, to review and schedule the abstracts within the sessions they have been allocated. Detailed instructions will be provided. 

Calm rocky beach cliffs
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Propose a Tutorial Talk for Ocean Sciences Meeting

We invite tutorial talk proposals for Ocean Sciences Meeting 2020.

Deadline for submissions: 22 May

Submit

About tutorial talks

Tutorial talks are meant to provide a review and synthesis of multiple results across a field of study, and not be primarily a presentation of the proposer’s own work. These talks should be designed to have a broad appeal to participants seeking an overview of a given topic.
A presenter of the tutorial talk must submit the proposal and may include one additional co-author when submitting a tutorial talk.

Tutorial talks must include an informative title (20-180 characters) and brief description of the session topic (limit 200 words).

Tutorial talks consist of a 25-minute presentation with time for questions and changeover of speakers. The Program Committee will group tutorial talks into 30-minute concurrent sessions.

Acceptance notifications for tutorial talks are distributed in early July 2019. Tutorial talks do not count against the one-abstract limit for presenters. There is no submission fee for tutorial talks, however, presenters must still register for the meeting and pay the registration fee.

Ocean Sciences Meeting Program Committee

Marjy Friedrichs, VIMS
AGU Co-Chair

Alessandra Conversi, Consiglio Nazionale delle Richerche
ASLO Co-Chair

Kristen Buck, University of South Florida
TOS Co-Chair

Allison Penko, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory
AGU Vice Chair

Bob Chen, University of Massachusetts Boston
ASLO Vice Chair

Grace Chang, Integral Consulting, Inc.
TOS Vice Chair

Christopher Hayes, University of Southern Mississippi
AGU Early Career Rep

Nichole Price, Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences
ASLO Early Career Rep

Alice Marzocchi, National Oceanography Centre
TOS Early Career Rep

Hadley McIntosh, University of Maryland
AGU Student Rep

Ngozi Oguguah, Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research
ASLO Student Rep

Camille Pagniello, University of California, San Diego
TOS Student Rep

Jim Edson
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Ruoying He
North Carolina State University

Kristen Buck
University of South Florida

Chris Hayes
University of Southern Mississippi

Allison Penko
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory

Grace Chang
Integral Consulting

Nina Stark
Virginia Tech

Hadley McIntosh
University of Maryland

Bob Chen
University of Massachusetts

Ngozi Oguguah
Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research

Camille Pagniello
University of California San Diego

Ngozi Oguguah
Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research

Alice Marzocchi
National Oceanography Centre

Hadley McIntosh
University of Maryland

Jim Edson
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Bob Chen
University of Massachusetts

Grace Chang
Integral Consulting

Camille Pagniello
University of California San Diego

Nicole Price
Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences

Camille Pagniello
University of California San Diego

Colleen Mouw
University of Rhode Island

Nina Stark
Virginia Tech

Allison Penko
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory

Ann Bucklin
University of Connecticut

Kay Bidle
Rutgers University

Kristen Buck
University of South Florida

Nichole Price
Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences

Colleen Mouw
University of Rhode Island

Ann Bucklin
University of Connecticut

Kristen Buck
University of South Florida

Marjy Friedrichs
Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences

Marjy Friedrichs
Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences

Chris Hayes
University of Southern Mississippi

Dick Crout
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory

Nina Stark
Virginia Tech

Ruoying He
North Carolina State University

Allison Penko
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory

Chris Hayes
University of Southern Mississippi

Alessandra Conversi
Consiglio Nazionale delle Richerche Istituto di Scienze Marine

Alice Marzocchi
National Oceanography Centre

Kay Bidle
Rutgers University

Marjy Friedrichs
Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences

Mete Uz
National Science Foundation

Dick Crout
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory

Dick Crout
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory

Mete Uz
National Science Foundation

Alessandra Conversi
Consiglio Nazionale delle Richerche Istituto di Scienze Marine

Ngozi Oguguah
Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research

Resources to promote your session

As a chair, please promote your session to your colleagues. We created some social graphics below for you to use to promote abstract submissions. Please use the title of your session in the body of your post with the hashtag #OSM20. To  download the full-size version, click each graphic and then right click to save the image. 

 

Twitter shareable:

Image with the Ocean Sciences logo that reads "Submit your abstract"

 

 

Instagram shareable:

Image with the Ocean Sciences logo that reads "Submit your abstract"