Call for Submissions is Closed

The Conference Program Committee invites submissions of presentation abstracts for consideration to the 2022 Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference that will further the goal of the conference. Abstracts are due October 22, 2021  November 1, 2021 by 5pm Pacific, and notification of acceptance will be issued by mid-December.  The 2022 SSEC will be a virtual meeting. 

New for 2022, the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference is opening a single call for submissions. In the past, there was a two-part process: first for sessions (themes/tracks), then for individual presentations. This year we are issuing only one call for all poster, snapshot, oral, and panel submissions, and the Program Committee will organize accepted submissions into a schedule organized by selected themes. Submitters will select a primary topic and multiple keywords to guide the Program Committee’s process (learn more under Submission Procedure below).

The Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference is a place to share information, exchange ideas and lessons learned, and to connect with people to better understand each other and the state of the environment. It is also a place to develop solutions and action plans that further work to protect and restore the Salish Sea ecosystem, and guide our collaborative work between conferences. The conference program will cover a wide range of subjects that address topics pertaining to multiple knowledge systems, sciences, policy, education, and governance of the Salish Sea ecosystem.   

The conference will be organized into 90-minute oral and poster sessions. Priority will be given to presentations that cross disciplines, engage a wide range of participants, and incorporate the lived experiences and voices of members of diverse communities. We are especially seeking engaging and informative presentations that contribute to dialogue among participants. 

We strongly encourage those submitting abstracts to capture elements related to this year’s theme: Honoring Our Ancestors: Visions for Future Generations and the Salish Sea. 

In the submission portal, you will be prompted to select one of the following presentation types below. We are able to offer presenters synchronous (happening real-time in the conference schedule) and asynchronous (prepared or pre-recorded beforehand and accessible any time during the conference) options. 

When submitting presentation abstracts, you will be required to select one primary topic from the list of topics. Additionally, you are required to select at least three keywords from the list of keywords. The Program Committee will use the selected keywords to organize submissions into sessions of the same topic.

As in previous years, the final schedule is the purview of the Program Committee. We recognize that some submitters might have a set of traditional presentations that they hope to present within the same session or a fully formed topical session. For this process, you will need to submit each presentation abstract individually. We recommend selecting the same topic and keywords for each presentation to assist the Program Committee with sorting. There will be a chance during submission to indicate presenters/presentations with which you would like to be paired; the program committee will work to accommodate, but does not guarantee they will be able to honor those requests.

Following your completed submission, you will receive a confirmation email which will include a copy of your submission information. Selection notifications will be issued via email in December.  You also will be able to check the submission portal for the status of your submission.

Approved presenters will be provided with detailed instructions on how to make their presentation material fully accessible in order to connect and share with as many in the Salish Sea community as possible. The submission process will prompt for your compliance with these efforts in consideration of those who use e-readers and anyone who benefits from content that is ADA compliant. 

All live presentations will be recorded and made public via the SSEC website following the conference, unless an explicit request is made to be excluded from the final recording videos. 

Non-video presentation materials (abstract, PDFs, slide deck, or manuscripts) submitted to the conference will be published and made public through the online, open access, repository Western CEDAR.  Opportunity will be given to submit final copies before publishing. 

Q: Who will make the final decision about the program schedule?
A: Submissions will be reviewed and selected by the Conference Program Committee. Final program content and format is at the discretion of the Program Committee. 

Q: How do I submit a series of presentations that are intended to be one or more pre-built sessions?
A: Each presenter should submit their presentation abstract individually. We recommend selecting the same topic and keywords for each presentation to assist the Program Committee with sorting. There will be a chance during submission to indicate presenters/presentations with which you would like to be paired; the Program Committee will work to accommodate, but does not guarantee they will be able to honor all requests.

Q: What is the difference between a session of traditional presentations and a panel?
A: Traditional presentations permit longer presentation times but less Q&A and will be placed into topical sessions based on keywords and topics.  Panels are submitted as a single item, containing significant Q&A time after either short presentations from the panelists or a single presentation by the group.  The panel moderator has discretion to use the panel’s time as best suits the panel.

Q: Is there a limit to the number of submissions that will be accepted?
A: Yes, but that limit will be dependent on the finalize schedule and agenda capacity, which has not been finalized yet.   Priority will be given to submissions that cross disciplines, engage a wide range of participants, and incorporate the lived experiences and voices of members of diverse communities.

Q: What is the role of Session Chairs in the 2022 SSEC?
A: For this virtual conference, the primary role of Session Chairs will be time keeping and providing speaker introductions. The Program Committee will reach out to approved presenters to invite volunteers for the Session Chair role.

Q: Is there a character limit for my presentation abstract?
A: Yes. Presentation abstract submissions are limited to 300 words. 

Q: Can I email my presentation abstract to you?
A: No. Submissions can only be made through the online EventsAir Abstract Submission site linked below. Emailed submissions will not be accepted. If you are having difficulty submitting your abstract, please contact  Western Washington University Conference Services at conference@wwu.edu.

Q: When will I know if my presentation has been accepted?
A: Presenters will receive notice of acceptance in December 2021. 

Q: Do I need to register if I’m a presenter?
A: Yes. All presenters are required to register for the conference. If selected and registration is a barrier to participate in your session, please reach out to ssec@wwu.edu about potential scholarship options.

Q: Do I need to submit an abstract if I’m part of a panel?
A: No. One single submission detailing the list of intended panelists will be accepted for consideration. Each panelist does not need to submit a separate presentation abstract. 

Q: Is there a limit to how many presentations I can give?
A: Yes. Presenters are limited to a maximum of two (2) presentations of different types.  For example, one traditional and one poster, one traditional and one snapshot, or one panel and one poster.

Q: Will there be a registration fee?
A: Yes. Registration rates range from $50-$70. More details available here.

Q: Who should I contact if I have questions?
A: For questions regarding the conference, please contact ssec@wwu.edu
For issues with your submission or this portal, please contact conferences@wwu.edu