The Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is the most important general science venue for a growing segment of scientists and engineers who are interested in the latest advances as well as multidisciplinary topics and the influence of science and technology on how we live today. Thousands of leading scientists, engineers, educators, and policy-makers interact with one another and with hundreds of members from national and international media. In fact, the growing number of international attendees attests to the growing international nature of this gathering. More than 150 sessions spread across about a dozen tracks are usually presented at the Annual Meeting.

Symposium proposals for the 2011 meeting, which will be held 17-21 February in Washington, D.C. at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Renaissance Washington, D.C. Hotel, and Grand Hyatt Washington, are now being solicited. The deadline for submission is Tuesday, 27 April 2010, 11:59 p.m. PT. Decisions will be announced in July.

2011 Theme

The increasing complexity of problems facing our nation as well as our planet offers immense challenges for coordinated, innovative problem-solving. So many important decisions on national security, education, health, sustainability of the planet, and the exploration of the universe depend on new-found knowledge gained by scientists and engineers. Expectations that science and technology will rise to these challenges are widely expected.

Many of these problems require an approach across several disciplines and areas of technical expertise. A diverse work force will also be necessary so that maximal talent and different approaches can be utilized. To train such a work force successfully presents the challenge of attracting talent from a range of backgrounds and transmitting content while maintaining relevance.

Science Without Borders - integrates the practice of science, both in research and teaching, that utilizes multidisciplinary approaches. It also takes into consideration the diversity of investigators and students. Science and teaching that cross conventional borders, or break out from silos, will be highlighted at the 2011 Annual Meeting. Sessions are encouraged that have strong scientific content, particularly at the interface of different disciplines, or exemplify a multidisciplinary approach to problem solving.

The AAAS Annual Meeting Scientific Program Committee is particularly interested in proposals that highlight the theme but also include ground-breaking areas of research, new and exciting developments, and cross-cutting activities in support of science, technology, and education. The following are a few examples of some of the topics that could be explored:

• National security policy and problems: how to approach and solve them
• Sociology of emerging science achievements in developing countries and their competitiveness
• Planetary science and what it tells us about our own planet
• The economics of health delivery and reform
• The science of learning and problem solving
• Strategies to produce sufficient numbers of scientists and engineers for a technological society
• Stem cell policies around the world and the latest in stem cell research
• The impact of climate change on human health and economies
• Adaptation or intervention to a changing climate
• Methods for effectively evaluating S&T policies and programs
• Colonization of planets by humans
• Engineering technologies that offer the best energy alternatives to fossil fuel
• Identification and promotion of established scientific truths
• Research that raises ethical concerns
• Quality teaching and effective curricula in the United States and other countries

Symposium proposal organizers are encouraged to be creative and to focus on the uniqueness and interdisciplinary nature of the Annual Meeting. Successful proposals are characterized by interesting, topical subjects that are thoughtfully developed and include capable and articulate presenters from a broad range of institutions who are representative of the diversity of science and society. Authors are also asked to carefully follow the instructions for submitting their proposals, which will be scored for completeness and clarity during the review process.

About AAAS

AAAS is the world’s largest general scientific society, and publisher of the journal, Science as well as Science Translational Medicine and Science Signaling. AAAS was founded in 1848, and includes some 262 affiliated societies and academies of science, serving 10 million individuals. Science has the largest paid circulation of any peer-reviewed general science journal in the world, with an estimated total readership of 1 million. The non-profit AAAS is open to all and fulfills its mission to "advance science and serve society" through initiatives in science policy; international programs; science education; and more.

The deadline for proposal submission is Tuesday, 27 April 2010, 11:59 p.m. PT. Proposals will not be accepted after the deadline. All proposals will be peer-reviewed. Decisions will be announced in July.

You must follow these instructions carefully. The information you provide will be the primary source of information used by the reviewers to evaluate your proposal. Incomplete proposals will be eliminated from consideration.

To receive notifications, please ensure that the following e-mail addresses will not be blocked: meetings@aaas.org, cjones@aaas.org, nmaylett@aaas.org, and brice@aaas.org.

For additional guidance, the Program Committee underscores the fact that a successful symposium proposal is characterized by interesting and timely topics that are thoughtfully developed and include capable and articulate presenters who are representative of the diversity of science and society, including disciplinary field, gender, ethnicity, and geographic location.

SCHEDULING NOTE: When selecting speakers, please ensure that they are available to participate at any time from Friday, 18 February through the morning of Monday, 21 February 2011. Once the schedule for sessions is announced in the fall of 2010, it will be considered final.

LANGUAGE AND STYLE: For language choice, use American English spelling and translations. Meeting attendees come from more than 50 countries. For style, use The Chicago Manual of Style. For example, use a comma before "and" in a series of three or more, and spell out all abbreviations and acronyms. Do not use "ALL CAPS" or "Sentence case" for the title of a symposium or the title of a speaker presentation (for example, Rethinking the Science, Biology, and Importance of Stem Cells in Regenerative Medicine).

AAAS reserves the right to edit all submissions for publication.

TRAVEL SUPPORT: Organizers, speakers, and others participate in the program at their own expense or use funding secured by an organizer that has been vetted by AAAS Meetings to avoid conflicts of interest. As a nonprofit organization, AAAS does not have the financial resources to fund travel expenses for the more than 1,000 program participants at each year’s meeting. However, one of the 24 disciplinary sections of AAAS may choose to authorize travel support for speakers from their modest budgets. Funding is limited and typically provides only nominal travel support.

1. Set up Proposal

TITLE OF PROPOSED SYMPOSIUM
Title must include no more than 85 characters, including spaces. When preparing a proposal and the title of the symposium, organizers are encouraged to be creative and to focus on the interdisciplinary nature of the AAAS Annual Meeting. Please avoid jargon.

SUBMITTER E-MAIL ADDRESS
Please enter a valid e-mail address where messages can be received and accessed year long. The submitter will immediately receive an e-mail confirming the initiation of a special session proposal.

SESSION DURATION
Select a duration for the session. A 90-minute session is limited to no more or less than three (3) speakers. An 180-minute symposium is limited to a minimum or four (4) and a maximum of six (6) speakers.

Keep in mind that speakers may travel far and have busy schedules; allow them enough time to make substantive presentations and to take questions from the audience. The final 15 to 30 minutes of your symposium should be reserved for discussion with the audience.

Proposals for 180-minute symposia must present compelling reasons as to why the additional time is needed (1,000 characters, including spaces). The Program Committee reserves the right to accept a proposal contingent on altering the time requested.

CATEGORY SELECTIONS
Please select the Primary Subject Category that best describes the overall nature of the symposium. This information is used by the Program Committee to help generate broader symposium tracks or sub-themes. Please select Secondary Subject Categories within which the symposium falls. This information is used to develop the cross-cutting General Subject Index contained in the Program Book.

SECTION MEMBER AFFILIATION
If applicable, indicate the primary section affiliation of the session organizer.

DISCIPLINARY SECTIONS CONSULTED? (optional)
Indicate if your proposal has been discussed with an AAAS Section. Prior discussion is not a requirement.

SYNOPSIS
Provide a clear, succinct synopsis of your proposed symposium (up to 1,500 characters, including spaces) as it would appear in the Program Book. Avoid the use of report or book references, abbreviations, or technical jargon. Do not repeat the meeting’s theme title in a symposium title or synopsis. Annual Meeting programs are archived at www.aaas.org/meetings and can be a useful source of information.

Describe the subject, highlighting the scientific issues, innovations, or research to be addressed. Do not name or reference speakers or the titles of their presentations in the synopsis. Speakers are listed separately along with their presentation titles and description (see Step 2).

RELEVANCE TO THEME OR SPECIAL RELEVANCE TO THE AUDIENCE
Describe how the proposed symposium relates to the theme. Almost any topic in science and technology can be related to the theme, and submitters are encouraged to extend their reach by thinking internationally. However, the Committee will consider proposals that are not directly related to the theme if they involve ground-breaking areas of research, new and exciting developments, or cross-cutting activities in support of science, technology, and education. (up to500 characters, including spaces)

2. Add/Edit People

EXPLANATION OF ROLES
Please note: If the organizer or co-organizer will also be participating in the session, each separate role must be entered into the system (e.g., organizer and moderator).

Symposium Organizer
A symposium may only have one organizer. The organizer serves as the primary contact for all communications with AAAS Meetings. It is the responsibility of the organizer to submit the proposal to AAAS and ensure that participants, including the co-organizer(s), receive all information relevant to their inclusion in the proposal and in the Meeting if the proposal is accepted.

Symposium Co-Organizer (optional)
Co-organizers assist the organizer with lining up speakers and ensuring that deadlines are met by symposium participants. There is a maximum of two (2) co-organizers.

Moderator (optional)
A maximum of one (1). Provides a brief overview, introduces each speaker, and facilitates a general discussion by the audience and presenters through a Q&A session. This role is typically filled by the symposium organizer or co-organizer.

Speakers (Presenters)
A 90-minute session is limited to no more or less than three (3) speakers. An 180-minute symposium is limited to a minimum or four (4) and a maximum of six (6) speakers. If your symposium addresses a subject for which there are differing scientific opinions, include speakers with different perspectives.

Discussant (optional):
A maximum of one (1) discussant for a 90-minute session and two (2) for a 180-minute session. Provides a brief review of, or counterpoint to, the main topics or issues covered by the panel. Discussants do not make presentations, submit abstracts, or have a formal speaking role.

PARTICIPANT INFORMATION
You will be required to enter the following information for each individual:

• Name (confirm correct spelling)
• Affiliation (primary institution; confirm correct spelling)
• E-mail address (confirm address where messages can be received year long)
• City
• State or Province
• Country
• Status (Confirmed or Invited)
• Complete mailing address
• Fax number
• Telephone number

Without correct contact information, AAAS will be unable to:

• Confirm participation.
• Communicate with speakers who apply for travel assistance.
• Send information to speakers about Newsroom Operations, including invitations to participate in news briefings and interviews.

For each speaker include a firm presentation title (up to 85 characters, including spaces); for example, Domains of Learning and Memory that Are Enhanced with Sleep in Adults.

Also, describe the proposed content or perspective of the presentation in a few sentences. This is crucial to the reviewers’ understanding of why you are proposing a particular speaker. Please do not submit CVs, provide biographical information, or submit abstracts. A request to submit an abstract will be made AFTER the Program Committee has made its program selections. (up to 500 characters, including spaces)

While recognizing that some changes will occur, the Program Committee reserves the right to reconsider symposia if speaker substitutions at a later date cause a shift in the symposium’s focus that differs substantially from the original proposal.

3. Enter Keywords

Select up to five (5) keywords that best describe your proposal.

4. Confirmation

Once you have entered all the required information for the people in your session (including a presentation description for each speaker), proceed to the Confirmation step.

Review all the information you have submitted. If you need to make corrections to any information, just click on the appropriate step link in the left frame. Otherwise, click the "Submit" button at the bottom of the page. To log out, simply close your browser window. If you run into any problems, please e-mail your questions or comments using the hyperlink to Technical Support that appears in the Symposium Control Panel.

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