The NCB-ESA Program Committee is currently requesting proposals for symposia and workshops for the 2026 Annual Meeting in Des Moines, Iowa.
The theme for the meeting, created by President Kirk Larsen, is “Connect, Inspire, Discover”. Therefore, we are soliciting diverse symposium proposals that showcase your efforts to make connections in research, teaching, extension, or community-oriented projects, to inspire new approaches in your work or new audiences in entomology, and to make discoveries in insect science in the field, lab, classroom and beyond!
We are also soliciting workshops that target professional development, skill building, and communication. Be creative in developing your submissions!
If you have submitted a symposium proposal previously that was not accepted, you are encouraged to give it a refresher and resubmit for the 2026 meeting.
The deadline for symposia & workshop submissions is December 5, 2025. All successful applications will be confirmed and notified by mid-December.
If you would like to discuss a symposium idea prior to submitting a proposal, please contact the Program Chairs, Sally Raymond and Alison Gerken.
Session Proposal Requirements
Proposals are to be submitted online, and submitters will be required to provide:
- Session Type (Symposium or Workshop)
- Session Title
- Summary Statement
- Briefly summarize your session topic, target audience, and goal or objectives. If and where applicable, include your session's relevance to the Branch and the meeting theme. (250 words maximum)
- Symposium Description
- Provide a short (3-4 sentences) session overview describing what the attendees will take away from your session. Think marketing and edu-tainment. This will be posted in the online program to aid attendees in selecting the sessions that they wish to attend. (50 words maximum)
- Audience Engagement (optional): If applicable, please indicate any intended engagement aspects of your session. (optional) (select any that apply)
- Standard talks with Q&A
- Moderated panel
- Structured discussion
- Breakout groups
- Lightning talks
- Hands-on activity
- Networking activity
- Mentoring component
- Shared document/resource building
- Poster session
- List of Invited Presenters
- Please list the presenters you plan to include in your session. Where possible, include the presentation topic, presenter's career level, area of expertise, and whether the presenter's participation has been confirmed.
- Total time required
- 2 hours: 2-hour symposia may feature up to a maximum of six 20-minute presentations or up to eight 15-minute presentations.
- 3 hours: 3-hour symposia may feature up to a maximum of eight 20-minute presentations or up to eleven 15-minute presentations, inclusive of a break.
- 4 hours: 4-hour symposia may feature up to a maximum of eleven 20-minute presentations or up to fourteen 15-minute presentations, inclusive of two breaks.
- Anticipated Attendance
- Additional Comments for Organizers (optional)
- Please include any comments or requests for the Program Committee not already addressed above, including any special room configuration, equipment, or other special considerations for your session. (50 words maximum)
- Organizer name(s) and contact information
Submissions open October 16.