Session Organizer Information

Session Content

WiReS Sessions should be designed to address broad, fundamental WUI fire risk problems inherent to the built-environment through interdisciplinary talks that promote the exchange of timely or state-of-the-art information.

Sessions should address problems, mitigation strategies, and solutions based on scientific developments and best practices to guide future research, technology advances, and policy developments toward best serving our communities against the increasing challenges of wildfires.

Session vs. Tradeshow Presentations: Tradeshow presentations will provide the opportunity for companies to demonstrate new wildfire resilient and preventative technologies, materials, services, and techniques. Please contact the Conference Manager, Olivia Schlanger, to discuss these opportunities in depth.

Session Format

Sessions should include presentations focusing on interdisciplinary topics and convergent science themes around case studies or research conducted by a diverse set of people and organizations. Sessions are scheduled in 1.5-hour time blocks (90 minutes per block). Each session block typically includes 4 - 5 speakers, all of whom are experts in the discussion topic/area of research.

Role of the Session Organizer

Each technical session will have an organizer or “host” to manage each session. WiReS Technical Session Organizers are an integral part of coordinating this conference. The success of individual sessions is heavily dependent upon the session organizers. The primary goal of a WiReS Technical Session Organizer should be to build the strongest, most influential session possible. Organizers will work closely with the Conference Manager, Olivia Schlanger, as well as the Theme Lead (a member of the TPC) to design a dynamic, educational session. As the session organizer, you are responsible for the content of your session as well as the wide promotion of your session and the conference as a whole. Session conveners will also be required to attend the conference in person.

The main tasks assigned to the session organizer are as follows:

  • Define a scope for the session so that the objectives are clear and the session can be focused on meaningful information dissemination or exchange.
  • Invite identified individuals to speak during the session. This includes formally inviting the individuals identified in your session proposal, following up with those individuals, and confirming their intent to submit an abstract to speak during your session.
  • Regularly communicate speaker invite status and necessary information in the appropriate time frame to the Conference Manager, Olivia Schlanger via email. This includes cc’ing Olivia on all speaker invitations and correspondence for tracking purposes.
  • Proactively solicit abstract submissions from August 1st – September 7th .
  • Ensure that the abstracts invited and accepted into the session are topically appropriate. You will lay the foundation for the success of the session during this part of the process.
  • Collect and compile presentation information from the speakers in your session. This includes reviewing all session content and verifying that all presenters have submitted all relevant information/files to the Conference Manager. Along with the Conference Manager, session organizers are responsible for ensuring their speakers meet critical deadlines in the conference development process and timeline.
  • Promote your session and share information about WiReS with your contacts and networks.

Please contact the Conference Manager, Olivia Schlanger, with your questions.