Call for sessions proposals

call for proposals

(Version française ici)

The call for session proposals for Science&You 2021 is now closed.

Science&You aims at mixing research and practice in science communication, popularization and engagement, and is the place to share innovative and ground-breaking topics, exchange best practices and lessons learned, and why not invent new ideas and create new partnerships!

This is why, for all formats listed below, proposals from all perspectives are welcome. Whether you are a researcher in science communication, a researcher or professional of any field willing to share your experience in popularization and public engagement, a professional in a museum or a science center, a volunteer in an association running science workshops for children, a journalist writing about science subjects, a communications officer in a research laboratory... You are welcome to the conversation!

The call for proposals is open until February 19th, midnight (GMT +1). Submitted proposals will then be evaluated by Science&You's Scientific Committee, which is composed of international experts in science communication, science engagement and science/society stakes and issues.

Note: In anticipation of the evolution of the health situation, we are working on a virtual solution for the Conference. Virtual or face-to-face, the event will still be on in November 2021. More info to come in the springtime.

THE THEMES :

The theme of the Conference is "Science communication: take a step back to move forward", and is declined in 3 subthemes:

  1. Continued and emerging issues of science and technology developments

Papers will present conceptual notes and empirical research for debates and communication of energy sourcing, Artificial Intelligence, global warming and envionmental pollution, genetic enhancement an its social and individual issues, novel foods and nutrition, issues of health in emergency situations. These and more topics are continuously developing and relevant for this conference.

  1. ‘Collapsology’ concepts and looking beyond

Recent research in science communication focusses very much on communication in a trajectory of collapse:  fake-news, pseudo-science, misinformation, conspiratorial mentality, confirmatory bias, filter bubbles, echo chambering, rumour mongering, fiction rather than facts, replication crisis, or judgements based on biases and heuristics. All these concepts highlight trends and dynamics, which in the changing context of social media technology, risk to close down the societal conversation rather than opening it up. We welcome papers analysing any of these dynamics on current controversies of science and technology.

  1. The need for a reflexive practice of science communication

The conference overall seeks to take a step back and ask the question: are these problems naming the real issues? Are we calling upon ‘false devils’ (le Graoully de Metz, see picture)? The ‘truth’ is commonly known to be the first casualty of warfare, and it appears that science communication is increasingly caught up in a low-intensity theatre of ‘Wild West’ warfare. The conference seeks to examine wider common ground that enables cross-boundary dialogue rather than propaganda, and to strengthen the structures that allow this to happen. Science communication needs to face up to the tensions between seeking to be effective and creating a common understanding and care about what sustains both purposes, also in global emergency situations such as the Corona Virus of 2020. 


SCIENCE&YOU'S FORMATS:

  • Simple proposal: a paper on one of the themes defined in the call for proposals, for a solo intervention or with a colleague/partner. The Scientific Committee will link 3 to 4 simple papers to form a symposium and fill a session slot, and the Programme Committee will designate a convenor* (duration 15 minutes),
     
  • Symposium: a session grouping linked 3 to 4 papers on one of the themes defined in the call for proposals, with several speakers, each of them having to create their account. Proposals for a symposium format must include a convenor* (duration 75 minutes),
     
  • Poster presentation: a room will be reserved for poster sessions where researchers accompany a poster illustrating their methods and outcomes. A time slot will be reserved in the scientific programme, during which poster presentators will be invited to answer questions from the attendance (duration 75 minutes).
     
  • Discussion panel: discussion panels will gather up to 4 speakers on a specific subject. A single abstract will sum up the topic to be discussed during the panel. Unlike the symposium, discussion panels are not a collection of papers on a topic: speakers are not expected to submit an abstract each. The discussion is intended to be interactive with the audience, as everyone is invited to take part in the conversation and to bring his.her ideas, good practices and opinions. Proposals for a discussion panel format must include a convenor* (duration 75 minutes).

* The convenor prepares the symposium topic with all the speakers, and makes sure that their presentations are coherent and concurrent. He.she is in charge of filling in the symposium’s or discussion panel’s abstract, of filling in information about the speakers of his.her discussion panel or symposium, so that they can create their own personal account and deposit their abstracts (in case of a symposium). The convenor also leads the conversation during the symposium or the discussion panel, and ensures the interaction with the audience.

CALL FOR PROPOSALS GUIDELINES:

1. Create a personal account on the website.

2. Abstract submission:

Select:

  • a main theme, (mandatory, 1 choice only)
  • an issue (mandatory, 3 choices max),
  • a field of practice (mandatory, 3 choices max),
  • a dynamic (optional, 3 choices max),
  • and a country concerned by the subject developed in your proposal (optional, 3 choices max)

3. Choose a format between "simple proposal", "symposium", "poster presentation" and “discussion panel”.

4. Fill in the convenor, poster presentator and/or speakers of your session proposal

5. Fill in the title, the abstract and the keywords of your session proposal

6. Attach additional documents if needed (jpg, pdf, word)

Et voilà !

 

SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE'S CRITERIA:

Proposals must:

  • be linked to the Conference theme,
  • deal with topical issues,
  • present pertinent, rigorous and wellfound arguments,
  • include a convenor (for a symposium or a discussion panel format),
  • include a complete list of confirmed speakers, meaning that you have found all the speakers of your symposium proposal and that they all have created a personal account (for a symposium or a discussion panel format),
  • include no more than 4 speakers (for a symposium or a discussion panel format).

Your proposal for a symposium or a discussion panel format have higher chances of being accepted if it:

  • includes speakers of different countries,
  • ensures a gender balance amongst its speakers,
  • mixes perpectives from research and professional practice fields.

PLANNING:

End of the call for proposals: Feb. 19th, 2021
Notification of acceptance, refusal or need for improvement: March 16th, 201
Deadline for proposals improvement: March 30th, 2021
Notification of acceptance or refusal for the reviewed proposals: April 12th, 2021
Conference: Nov. 16th-19th, 2021

FAQ:

Who can submit a proposal?

Science&You is an international science communication Conference aiming at mixing research, reflections on current state of practice, feedbacks, and exchanges of best practices. Attendees of all fields interested in science/society stakes are welcome to the conversation!

What is the language of the Conference?

The official languages of the Conference will be English and French: you can submit your proposal, and speak during your session, either in French or in English.
Visual presentations (i.e. PowerPoint) might be written in a different language than the language spoken, in order to facilitate the understanding of all congressists. For example, if you make your presentation in English, your slides might be in French. 

I am not sure of the theme / issue / field of practice / dynamic in which my proposal could fit.

The choice of the categories in which your proposal fits is yours. There is no "bad" or eliminatory choice! However, the scientific committee could decide, after further reading of your abstract, that your proposal would fit better in another category, and reclassify it accordingly.

When will I know if my proposal is accepted or rejected?
A first round of answers will be given on March 16. At this time you will know if your proposal is accepted, rejected, or needs improvement. If the Scientific Committee decides that your proposal needs adjustments, you will have until March 30 to improve your paper and submit it for a second review. You will then be notified if your proposal is accepted or rejected on April 12.

How long are the parallel sessions slots?
Session slots are 75 minutes long. Symposiums, discussion panels and poster presentations are meant to fill one slot; simple papers will be linked to others by the Programme Committee.

How many proposals can I submit?
No more than 3 proposals (all formats included) can be submitted by a person.

How many speakers can there be in a symposium or a discussion panel?
A symposium or a discussion panel can include no more than 4 speakers (+ 1 convenor).

Will there be proceedings of Science&You Conference?
Science&You will publish proceedings in PDF format, which will be released on www.science-and-you.com at the end of the Conference. Proceedings will consist in a collection of the abstracts of all parallel sessions.

When will my participation in Science&You's scientific programme be confirmed?
Your proposal being accepted is a big step, but only the first one. To confirm your presence in Science&You's scientific programme, it is mandatory that you and every speaker of your symposium or discussion panel have created a personal account on the platform, and pay the Conference fees.

Do speakers of a session, poster presentators and convenors pay the Conference fees?
Yes, Conference fees are due by all speakers of the panel sessions.

Why can't I add a speaker to my session proposal?
Speakers have to be registered to be added to a session proposal. Please invite them to create their own account. Please note that there can't be more than 4 speakers per session proposal.

Why can't I submit another proposal?
The number of proposals one person can submit is limited to 3.

Can I delete a proposal?
To delete a proposal, please send an email to scienceandyou2021@insight-outside.fr 

I didn't find my question in the FAQ :(
Please email scienceandyou2021@insight-outside.fr and we will happily answer your question!