Presentation Formats

SfN receives nearly 14,000 abstracts each year for presentation at the annual meeting. After abstract submission, the Program Committee reviews each abstract and sessions them into topically-relevant poster sessions and nanosymposia. A select number of abstracts are assigned to dynamic poster sessions.

Authors may select from four presentation formats when submitting an abstract, including:

1. Nanosymposium preferred, indicating preference for a nanosymposium session but will accept poster format.
2. Poster only, indicating author will accept ONLY a poster session.
3. Dynamic poster preferred, indicating preference for a dynamic poster but will accept poster format.
4. No preference, indicating authors' willingness to be placed in the best format for the program.

A limited number of abstracts will be selected for dynamic poster presentation. To offset the costs of this presentation format, dynamic poster presenters will be charged a $160 presentation fee, similar to the costs of printing a paper poster.

While the Program Committee makes every effort to honor requests, due to space limitations, the committee cannot guarantee preferences for a nanosymposium or dynamic poster session.

Nanosymposia

Nanosymposia offer abstract submitters an innovative way to create and propose slide-based sessions similar to a symposium. Just like poster presenters, those seeking a nanosymposium can link presentations together with colleagues to form their own session. A nanosymposium consists of abstracts from multiple labs with a common topical interest.

How to get started:

1. Talk to colleagues now: Make contact with labs with which you collaborate, spread the word about nanosymposia, and suggest colleagues agree to join your nanosymposium group when submitting their abstracts for the annual meeting.
   
   Use the Abstract Topic Matching Forum on Neuronline to connect with colleagues with similar interests. This member-only resource can be used to join with other abstract submitters to form a proposal for a self-assembled nanosymposium.
   
   
2.  Match presentation preferences: When submitting an abstract online, ensure you and your colleagues each choose "Nanosymposium Preferred" as your type of presentation.
   
   
3.  Use linking groups: This feature alerts the Program Committee that all abstracts with the same linking group should be grouped in the same session. If suggesting a nanosymposium group, provide a brief explanation regarding the importance of the results and why they would make a great nanosymposium.
   
   The first submitter of the linking group is considered the linking group creator and is given a linking group name, which all authors in the linking group would need to use in their own abstract submissions. All abstracts in a group must select the same presentation preference (Poster or Nanosymposium) and the same theme, subtheme, and topic. Any divergence from this will result in exclusion from the linking group. If you do not have a linking group, don't worry. Just select "Nanosymposium Preferred" as your program type. The Program Committee reviews all individual abstract submissions and creates thematically-coherent groups in addition to considering submitter-proposed groups.
   
   Note: By creating a linking group, you are agreeing to have your email address included in the Special Linking Group Report, available within the submission site. This report lists all linking groups that have been created by submitters, the name and contact information for the linking group's creator, and the linking group's description. The report is accessible to all SfN abstract submitters, who may contact you regarding joining your linking group.

Points to consider before submitting:

• Nanosymposia are competitive due to demand and space limitations. The Program Committee gives first consideration to well-organized submissions that include a linking group, proposal appeal, and suggested nanosymposium chair.
• Individual presentations in a nanosymposium must be topically-related and not just a collection of presentations from one lab. To promote diversity of opinion, no more than two abstracts from any one lab should be in a given nanosymposium.
• Forming a linking group with other presenters on a similar topic makes it more likely a nanosymposium is formed. For individual abstract submitters that select "Nanosymposium Preferred" as their presentation preference, there is no guarantee that enough presentations on a given topic will be submitted to form a coherent session.
• The Program Committee reserves the right to add other appropriate abstracts to any session or to reject the nanosymposium proposal.
• Nanosymposium groups that are not programmed will be reassigned as a poster session; the linking group will remain intact for poster sessioning consideration. Note: linking groups are not guaranteed; the Program Committee may prioritize the thematic cohesion of the scientific program over grouping preferences. 

Poster Sessions

Poster sessions at SfN's annual meeting allow for the casual exchange of key scientific breakthroughs and emerging innovations within the neuroscience field. During each four-hour session, presenters and attendees have the unique opportunity to connect with leading researchers from around the world.

How to Present a Poster

SfN members are invited to submit an abstract for presentation at the annual meeting. Presenters must submit an abstract in order to be considered for participation in a poster session. To indicate a preference for a poster presentation, submitters should select "Poster Only" for their presentation preference during abstract submission.

Once an abstract is submitted, it is sessioned by SfN's Program Committee into topically-based poster sessions and nanosymposia based on the themes and topics list. Submitters can propose their own poster sessions using the linking group function during abstract submission. Linking groups indicate to the Program Committee that a group of abstracts wish to be sessioned together in the same poster session. Up to 20 abstracts can be included in a linking group requesting to be assigned in a poster session. Linking group requests are not guaranteed.

During a Poster Session

Each poster presenter is assigned a six foot (1.8 m) by four foot (1.2 m) poster board to use for presentation. Poster presenters are assigned to present in one of the nine half-day poster sessions that occur during the annual meeting. Poster sessions take place from 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturday and from 8 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday — Wednesday.

Posters are placed on display for the entirety of the assigned four-hour poster session. Within each session, poster presenters are given a specific, one-hour presentation time when they are expected to be present at their poster. Presenters may stay longer, but are required to be present during their assigned presentation time.

Theme J Posters Session

Theme J (History and Education) abstracts are presented in a Theme J poster session that takes place Saturday - Sunday during the annual meeting. Theme J posters are displayed beginning at 1 p.m. on Saturday and remain posted until 5 p.m. on Sunday. One-hour presentation times occur either Saturday afternoon or Sunday morning.

Dynamic Posters

What are Dynamic Posters?

• Dynamic posters are an electronic version of a paper poster.
• Uses a flat-screen display and includes dynamic content such as videos, slides, or animated charts or graphs that incorporates multimedia elements.
• Designed for face-to-face interaction between viewer and presenter while allowing for casual viewing as well.

How to Become a Dynamic Poster Presenter

• Indicate your interest during abstract submission on the Special Requests page.
• Abstracts selected for dynamic poster presentation will be notified in late-June.
• Dynamic poster presenters will be charged a presentation fee of $160. The fee for dynamic posters is similar to that of producing a paper poster and would only be offsetting costs to SfN. The fee is assessed for accepted dynamic poster presenters in mid-July.

SfN is committed to bringing the annual meeting into the digital age by exploring new technologies. This goal is challenged by the size of the annual meeting scientific program: SfN hosts nearly 14,000 abstract presentations at the annual meeting. The dynamic poster experiment at Neuroscience 2018 will allow SfN to continue to test available technologies and applications, explore attendee interest, and determine the challenges presenters and logistical staff may encounter.