FAQ

Registration

How do I join the conference?
I keep getting an error message that access is denied, how can I join?
Is registration only free for students?
How do I get an invitation letter so that I can apply for a visa?
What virtual conference software is ICSD using?
Registration is closed. Can I still attend?

The Program

Will there be virtual side events or opportunities to network with other participants?
At what time and time zone will ICSD convene?
Will there be certificates?
Will all the sessions be recorded?

Presenters

Are there guidelines on how I should prepare my full paper / poster / presentation?
How will I present my paper / poster?
Will I be able to practice presenting before the event?
Am I required to have a PowerPoint presentation as a presenter?
Do I need to submit my poster presentation before the conference?
Can more than one person present with me?
I was selected for a poster presentation, can I be upgraded to an oral presentation?
What happens to my paper? Will you publish it?

How do I join the conference?

Registration is currently open!

Please note this is a hybrid event. ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST FIRST REGISTER FOR A VIRTUAL TICKET. Virtual participation is free and will give access to the full set of conference activities. Participants interested in attending the high-level day (September 20th) in-person at Alfred Lerner Hall on the Columbia University Campus in New York City will have an option to add an in-person ticket to their virtual ticket.

Please note you must register for access to video conferencing links. Once you have registered, each session on the program will have a button that says “Join this session”. Click on these to join the sessions. They will be open at the time of the session.

I keep getting an error message that access is denied, how do I join?

This means you have not yet registered and are only viewing the public program. Registration is open throughout the entire conference. Please register to access the program.

Is registration only free for students?

Virtual registration is free for all participants. In-person registration is free for students able to present a valid student ID. There is a $150 fee for in-person participation for non-students.

How do I get an invitation letter so that I can apply for a visa?

Given the long wait times at US consulates and the option for virtual participation, we are not offering invitation letters this year.

What virtual conference software is ICSD using?

We are using Oxford Abstracts to host our program and Zoom Webinar for the live sessions. There will be a poster gallery, chat features, and live networking including both text and video chat.

Registration is closed. Can I still attend?

Our virtual software has limited capacity so we will not be able to accommodate. However, we will live stream our plenary sessions on the SDSN YouTube page.

Will there be virtual side events or opportunities to network with other participants?

Yes! Side events will be posted to the program as they are confirmed. Our online software will allow for direct chatting with other participants and there will be a chat for all attendees within the virtual event space. We are also excited to offer participants video chatting this year! Participants can video call one another through this function. This is only a call, no participant is required to answer a video call. Participants will also be able to comment on posters, sessions, and abstracts to facilitate conversations around specific presentations.

At what time and time zone will ICSD convene?

This year we are hosting 10 different sessions across 24 hours. We have strived to make our program inclusive to an international audience. The program will be able to be viewed online in August. You can select your local time zone at the top of the program. Details about the plenary sessions will be added as they are confirmed.

Will there be certificates?

We will only have certificates of presentation available this year. Information on how to obtain those will be sent out following the event.

Will all the sessions be recorded?

Only the sessions on September 20th will be recorded.

Are there guidelines on how I should prepare my full paper / poster / presentation?

Yes, you can view them on our website.

How will I present my paper / poster?

Oral Presenters

Each abstract will have only one presenter. The presenter will be indicated on the abstract in the program. If the wrong person is listed as the presenter, please write to us at info@ic-sd.org with your submission ID number and we will update it. Each session will be conducted on its own Zoom webinar. The presenter will receive an email from Zoom in early September inviting them as a panelists to their session webinar. They will use this link to join the webinar. We will let you know when this email goes out. Oral presenters will be given 10 minutes to present their work and an additional 5 minutes for Q&A, for a total of 15 minutes. Presenters will be able to share their screens for a presentation, but they are not required. Presentations will be done on Zoom Webinar. Almost all presentation software is compatible with Zoom, however videos are not recommended as the quality will be poor and there may be technical difficulties with sound. You will have to share your own screen and advance your own slides. Staff will be on hand to help with technical difficulties. You can find excellent resources in Zoom’s Help Center including videos on how to share your screen.

Poster Presenters

This year’s posters will be displayed in our online virtual event poster gallery within Oxford Abstracts. Participants will have a chance to comment on posters and abstracts and chat directly with authors through the chat feature. We are also happy to offer the opportunity for video chat this year! Participants can request a call with you directly for a one-on-one presentation of your poster. This is simply a call, you are not required to answer any video requests. Once the event is live, all posters will be available to view. We have assigned poster presenters to poster sessions in order help participants narrow their options and view specific posters, encouraging live discussions. Poster presenters need to be prepared to be online and ready to respond to comments, messages, and video calls from participants during their allocated session to facilitate real-time engagement.

Will I be able to practice presenting before the event?

We will not have specific practice sessions available. However, Zoom does offer free meeting licenses and we encourage you to sign-up as you will need an account to present. You can then start your own meeting to test the microphone, video, and share screen options. These will be the only options you need to present.

Am I required to have a PowerPoint presentation as a presenter?

Oral presenters do not have to have any presentation and can simply speak if they would like. Poster presenters will not be giving live presentations this year.

Do I need to submit my poster presentation before the conference?

Yes, you will need to upload your poster to Oxford Abstracts once you have been accepted for a poster presentation no later than August 1, 2022.

Can more than one person present with me?

Due to the limited amount of camera space, we are asking that only one author present during the oral presentations unless they are in the same physical space and can share a camera. We encourage other authors to be engaged in the chat and available to answer any questions. Your abstract submission required you to select one presenter and that person is who will be displayed as the presenter on the program.

I was selected for a poster presentation, can I be upgraded to an oral presentation?

In cases when oral presenters are unable to attend, we occasionally promote poster presentations. This usually does not happen until after August 1st as that is when full papers are due for oral presenters. If you are not notified of promotion, then we have not selected your presentation to be upgraded.

What happens to my paper? Will you publish it?

Full papers will be published on the ICSD website as conference proceedings, unless authors indicate otherwise in their submission of their full paper. These are not peer reviewed. Participants must present their work to have it published in the conference proceedings.