Session Proposals

SACNAS hosts two different kinds of sessions throughout the annual NDiSTEM Conference:

• STEM Symposia consist of discipline-specific talks and panels highlighting research and advancements in STEM fields.

• Professional Development consist of trainings and informational workshops for students and professionals. 

STEM symposia sessions share cutting-edge research, ideas, and industry knowledge from community members who are experts in their STEM disciplines. This includes original research, advancements, and multidisciplinary approaches to the STEM fields. 

Format and Requirements:

• Style: A moderated series of presentations discussing papers or technical talks followed by a Q&A.

• Speakers:  A minimum of three individual talks are required.

• Format: The 2025 NDiSTEM conference is 100% in-person, and session speakers will be required to attend on-site in Columbus, Ohio.

• Time: Total 75 minutes – approximately 10-15 minutes per talk, including a session introduction and a closing question and answer period managed by the chair.

• Audience: STEM students, postdocs, and professionals.

Professional development sessions provide our attendees with guidance and training in beyond-the-bench skills. Support your intended audience by developing professional skills to help them refine their career choices and/or make successful transitions. 

Format and Requirements:

• Style: The goal is to have active audience engagement; propose a format that suits your submission best (e.g. interactive panels, hands-on demonstration, skills practice, small group discussion, Q&A, etc).

• Speakers: A minimum of two speakers are required, a chair is optional.

• Format: the 2025 NDiSTEM conference is 100% in-person, and session speakers will be required to attend on-site in Columbus, Ohio.

• Time: Total 75 minutes.

• Audiences: Undergraduates, grad students, postdocs, and professionals – you may tailor your session for one or more of these audiences.

• Topic Areas: We are interested in sessions relevant to STEM students and professionals at all levels. We are seeking proposals on:

  • Academic Career (i.e. Graduate School Application: Developing a Personal Statement)

  • Industry, Government, Non-Profit, or Policy Career (i.e. Navigating Non-Academic Careers: Exploring STEM Start-up Companies)

  • Mentorship (i.e. Choosing the Right Advisor)

  • Networking (i.e. Using Social Networks Professionally, How to Build/Expand your Network of Support)

  • Science Communication (i.e. Scientists are people too! Using storytelling to connect people to your science.)

  • STEM Policy/Ethics (i.e. Ethical Issues, Career Opportunities in STEM and Policy)

  • Skills for Success (i.e. CV/Resume 101, Management Skills for Scientists)

1. Log-in or Sign-up on the Submission Website

   This call for proposal is open to the wider SACNAS Community and a membership to the organization is not required for this program. 

• SACNAS Members: All existing SACNAS members must use their SACNAS login button to access their membership record first. After logging in, you will be prompted to share your membership profile with the online submission portal - this will help auto-populate your information in the proposal form. After sharing your profile, you will automatically be redirected to the home page to start a proposal.

• Non-members can register a new account by clicking on My Account and either logging in using their pre-existing credentials or by creating a new user account on the right-hand side. If you have you have a SACNAS membership account associated with your email address you will not be able to create a new account.

2. Start a proposal

   Once you are logged in you will find yourself on the submission portal's Home Page, from there: Scroll to "NDiSTEM Sessions Proposals" and click on the appropriate link to begin a proposal. Not sure what proposal to submit? Check the “Session Types” section above these instructions. You can save your proposal and return to complete it at your convenience by clicking "Save" at the bottom of the submission form. 

3. Collaborators

   Once you start a STEM Symposia or Professional Development session proposal form in the submission portal, you can add and remove collaborators to the proposal, but only the owner of the session proposal form can submit it for review. For detailed instructions click here.

4. Submit a proposal

   Session Proposals are due Thursday July 31, 2025 at 11:59pm PT

   To return to an existing proposal, log back into the submission portal and navigate to "My Applications" and you'll find the proposal under the "Incomplete" category. Once you are ready to submit your proposal for review, open the proposal and navigate to the last page and click "Submit Proposal for Review" - submitted proposals can no longer be edited, if you are not done yet simply click save at the bottom of the window. Once a proposal is submitted a confirmation page will appear with next steps. The person listed as the Point of Contact in the submission form will receive a confirmation email and all communications moving forward.  

Scoring Rubrics are available to help you fill out the submission form:

• STEM Symposia

• Professional Development

Proposal Selection takes place in three phases:

1. Volunteer Review*: completed submissions are reviewed by independent STEM volunteers using the rubrics above

2. Committee Review: submissions are then reviewed by a working group from the SACNAS Conference Subcommittee

3. SACNAS Staff selection: finally, all scores are aggregated to help SACNAS select the best sessions for the conference

*Volunteer reviewers cannot be affiliated with a proposal, for more information on volunteer requirements visit HERE.

Benefits of presenting a session include:

1. Contributing to advances in your field

2. Reaching the SACNAS Community

3. Networking within your field and beyond

4. Serving as a role model

Session speakers, which include chairs, panelists, presenters, moderators, and any other role that requires participation in a session, are expected to meet the following requirements: 

• Attend the NDiSTEM Conference in person. The 2025 NDiSTEM Conference will take place October 30 - November 1, 2025 in Columbus, Ohio. In the event a speaker can no longer attend in person, it is recommended that their talk is pre-recorded and the video file downloaded to a USB key to play onsite by another speaker present. 

• Purchase Registration. Registration fees are dependent on the speaker's career level, membership status, and how early they register. SACNAS does not issue refunds - any registration fees paid cannot be refunded - in full or in part.

• Sign the NDiSTEM Conference Code of Conduct at the time of registration. 

• Keep their session to the 75 minutes provided.

• NDiSTEM is a noncommercial forum and under no circumstances may a breakout session be used as a place for direct promotion of a presenter's product, service or monetary self-interest. Sales pitches disguised as presentations will not be considered.

• Session speakers will be disqualified from reviewing session proposals but are welcome to review student applications. 

SACNAS is launching a speaker gallery to help our community connect and find co-speakers for STEM Symposia sessions.  

Fill out a speaker profile form with information about yourself and your research. Completed profiles will be posted in an online gallery that is visible only to other SACNISTAs who have completed a profile. Participants are responsible for initiating contact and forming a group as SACNAS will not facilitate speaker matching.  

Once you have identified at least two co-speakers and formed a session team, you can submit a formal STEM Symposia Session Proposal here. 

At SACNAS, diversity, equity, and inclusion are not abstract concepts or buzz words. They are values and the heartbeat of our programs. They are part of our DNA. We create space where STEM students and professionals from historically underrepresented populations can feel like they belong, can embrace their intersectional identities, and be empowered to bring their whole selves to STEM. We invite you to become a member to gain year-round access to our member community, programs, services, and events designed to inspire and advance you in your STEM journey! Learn more and sign up at sacnas.org/memberships.

If you need further assistance, please email the SACNAS Conference & Events Team at sessions@sacnas.org.