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Information and Application

Thank you for your interest in submitting a conference proposal. The Keystone Symposia is a not-for-profit organization managed and directed by the scientific community. Keystone Symposia develops and administers international symposia of the highest quality on topics of interest to researchers in biology, medical science and agriculture with the goal of facilitating interdisciplinary information exchange for the benefit of society.

We are currently accepting conference proposals for the year 2014. The application deadline will be May 10, 2012 to be prepared for review by our Scientific Advisory Board (SAB). After reading these instructions, use the login below to build your meeting.

Overview of Application and Review Process

The Keystone Symposia Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) identifies meeting topics two years in advance at its January meeting (e.g., our topics for winter 2013 were identified during our January 2011 meeting). The SAB is composed of 70+ scientists separated into specific review committees. The SAB identifies potential meeting organizers, i.e., scientists recognized as experts on the selected topics. In addition to the solicited proposals, we receive several organizer-initiated proposals on topics that are usually different from meeting topics selected by the Scientific Advisory Board.

All applications are reviewed by the SAB, virtually in May and during its annual June meeting. The committee evaluates the scientific merit of each application, ensures programmatic balance of the entire year, and selects approximately 50±5 meetings.

Evaluation Criteria

1. Have the organizers effectively focused the specific morning and evening sessions on the general topic of the meeting? Does the program accomplish goals identified in the meeting's executive summary?
2. Is the program cohesive and logically ordered in regards to how the sessions are put together?
3. Have the organizers selected speakers who will effectively address the session topics? The primary responsibility of each organizer is to ensure the highest scientific quality of the symposia.
4. Is there bias (scientific, commercial, or personal) in the program?
5. If the meeting is a topic that has recently been supported by Keystone Symposia, there should be no more than 30% of the same speakers on the proposed program(maximum 8-9 speakers).
A team of new co-organizers, who were not co-organizers of the past meeting, is viewed favorably by the SAB.
6. Do the speakers have a good balance of the following:
   • Gender
   • Geography vs. citizenship
   • Stage of career
   • Variety of institutions
   • Fair representation of industry involvement
7. Are the speakers likely to present new, unpublished data?

Program Format

Points to consider when selecting co-organizers and speakers for your program:

• Keystone Symposia strongly encourages diversity with respect to scientific perspectives, stage of career, gender, ethnic origin, geography and affiliation.
• It is preferred that organizers and co-organizers speak.
• There is a maximum of 21 or 28 speakers for a 3 or 4 day meeting respectively: 7 speakers per day; 4 speakers in morning sessions, 3 speakers in evening sessions. A keynote speaker may be added.
• It is not necessary to identify chairs at this time. If you do, designate speakers already on the program to serve as chairs.
• Keystone Symposia attendees expect speakers to present new data. We ask you leave 3-5 slots open throughout the program for late breaking developments.
• You may also indicate "Short Talk(s) to be Chosen from Abstracts" within plenary sessions and/or optional afternoon workshops.
• Avoid proposing more than 25-30% (maximum 8-9 speakers) repeating speakers who may have spoken on a recent Keystone Symposia program of this topic.

Online Proposal Application

When you are ready to submit your proposal, log in below and follow the instructions.

Thank you for your interest in Keystone Symposia.

 For questions regarding the scientific content of your program, please contact:

   James W. Aiken, Ph.D.
   Chief Executive Officer, Keystone Symposia
   Phone: (970) 262-1230, ext. 131
   FAX: (970) 262-0311
   E-mail: jima@keystonesymposia.org


 For administrative questions, please contact:

   Jeannie Dalrymple
   Program Development & Implementation Senior Director
   Keystone Symposia
   PO Box 1630
   160 U. S. Highway 6, Suite 200
   Silverthorne, CO 80498
   Phone: (970) 262-1230, ext. 122
   FAX: (970) 262-0311
   E-mail: jeannied@keystonesymposia.org

 

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