Oral submission deadline: 15 February 2027

IGNITE - Panel - Symposium - Paper - Workshop - Plenary/Invited

Results of oral submissions will be emailed out in the last week of March or the first week of April 2027.

Poster submission deadline: 20 March 2027

Poster

Results of poster submissions will be emailed out in April.

Chapter/SIG meeting deadline: 1 April 2027

Chapter/SIG Meeting

*Due to local technological capabilities, all presenters will need to be at the conference in Hong Kong and present in-person. No virtual presentation option will be available. 

General Submission Tips and Information

Submission types: 

IGNITE

The Ignite presentation is a short, structured talk in which presenters present on ideas and issues they are most passionate about using a “deck” of 20 slides that auto-advance every 15 seconds (no exceptions). Exactly 5 minutes total. Topics may be empirical, conceptual, philosophical, historical, or methodological. Presentation should be well-practiced and high energy (perhaps even... fun!). 

In addition to any topic within CBS, we are specifically soliciting research-related submissions as these are a unique opportunity for oral presentation of research.  We encourage researchers to consider this format for pilot data; what you would do differently if you could re-run your study; theoretical innovations (ideas that have not been yet tested but are either up and coming or something they want feedback on); program evaluations/ reflections on running CBS interventions with specific populations; conceptual innovations/ new models; "what if" presentations (what if research was conducted this way); methodology presentations on something very concrete (like sampling in CBS or recruitment best practices); qualitative research (focus groups, needs assessments) done with stakeholders receiving CBS services; and more!

Abstract word limit: 175 words maximum
For more on Ignite presentations, see:

http://igniteshow.com/

http://www.speakerconfessions.com/2009/06/how-to-give-a-great-ignite-talk/

Panel Discussion

Panel discussions are 75-90 minute sessions and consist of 3 to 5 speakers selected for some shared interest or expertise in an area. Panelists respond to one or more questions or issues, with time allotted for interaction among the speakers and with the audience. A panel discussion is organized by a chairperson who serves as the session’s moderator. Abstract word limit: 175 words maximum

Symposia (chair, 3 - 5 papers and a discussant)

Organized by a chairperson who moderates the 75 or 90 minute session, symposia are a series of three to four 15-20 minute presentations focused on either empirical research or conceptual, philosophical, historical, or methodological issues. A discussant highlights and integrates the contributions of various speakers in the symposium and moderates questions from the audience. Chairpersons are encouraged to use symposia as an opportunity to integrate related work by: 1) bringing speakers of different affiliations together rather than showcasing the work of a single group and 2) incorporating different kinds of talks (e.g., historical, conceptual, and research-based) on the same topic into one symposium. Papers from submissions that are not accepted may be considered for a poster session. This year, we are prioritizing submissions that are research and data driven. In service of being more data aware, we encourage you to include research citations (data citations) with your proposal. The Program Committee will not split apart symposia that are submitted together. Abstract word limit: 175 words maximum

Symposium organizers: You may send this document to the presenter of each of the papers in your symposium to collect the needed information from them. The symposium organizer will then submit all of the information for the session to ACBS via the submission link below (prior to the February 15 deadline):

Paper (not part of a pre-arranged symposium)

Paper submissions are individual, oral presentations, usually concerned with conceptual, philosophical, historical, or methodological issues. A paper submission will usually report on data. All paper presentations will be 15-20 minutes long. Accepted submissions will be organized into paper sessions of 75 or 90 minutes. Submissions not accepted will be considered for a poster session. We are prioritizing submissions that are research and data driven. In service of being more data aware, we encourage you to include research citations (data citations) with your proposal. Abstract word limit: 175 words maximum

Workshop

Workshops are training sessions of 1.25/1.5 or 2.75 hours and usually focus on a combination of experiential and/or didactic exercises. Workshop submissions are highly competitive (note: based on past events, the acceptance rate for workshops is approximately 50-60%, and of workshops submitted only 10%-15% receive 2.75 hour slots). Please put your best workshop/abstract forward keeping this in mind when determining your desired length. Keep in mind as well that most workshops selected are for the 1.25/1.5 hour slots. Be sure to clearly state your goals and objectives for participant education in your submissions. Workshops should be regarded as opportunities to directly train specific skills rather than to present research findings, discuss conceptual, philosophical, or methodological issues, or share opinions. However, in service of being more data aware, we encourage you to include research and data citations supporting your topic with your proposal, and to briefly present these (1-2 slides) during your workshop. Submissions that are not clearly focused on training should be submitted for other formats. Abstract word limit: 175 words maximum

Poster

Posters usually report empirical research and will be organized into one or more sessions, during which attendees will be invited to review the research presented and discuss findings with poster presenters. Presenters must be at their poster during their assigned time of the poster session and may choose to provide handouts. (Poster size: no larger than 36 inches tall by 48 inches wide, or A0 size. Smaller is also permitted). Abstract word limit: 175 words maximum

Plenary/ Invited Address (use only if instructed) 

Chapter/SIG/Committee Meeting

This gives Chapters/SIGs (or forming chapters and sigs) the opportunity to reserve a space and time to get together to network with others who share the same area of interest or geographic setting. This form allows SIGs and Chapters to request a time in the program for this purpose. Deadline: 1 April 2027

Tips for Submissions

• Are you wondering how to increase the chance of acceptance for your submission? Click here for tips.
• Unsure about writing Educational Objectives? Click here to learn more about them.
• Are you submitting a poster? Check out the poster guidelines here. 

ACBS Junior Investigator Poster Award: 

The purpose of this award is to recognize and help develop junior investigators conducting research in contextual behavioral science and who are presenting the results of this research at the Association's annual meeting.

ACBS Student Spotlight Program: (Accepted November 1-November 30)

The Student Spotlight Program highlights students who are doing important work in the CBS community whether for research, clinical, and/or volunteer-humanitarian efforts. It is a way to highlight their achievements, let the ACBS community know important work students are doing, and provides a platform for mentoring/collaboration/professional development/conversations around highlighted areas.

Developing Nations World Conference Scholars: (Application closes February 1)

ACBS is an international society but in many corners of the world it is difficult for professionals to attend ACBS conferences and trainings due simply to cost. The Developing Nations Fund helps disseminate CBS in the developing world and provides scholarships for attendees and presenters from developing nations to attend the world conference.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion World Conference Scholars: (Application closes February 1)

The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee is aiming to bring increased diversity to our annual conferences by providing funds for individuals who come from diverse backgrounds and who would not be able to attend an ACBS conference without this added financial support. Both trainees and professionals are eligible for this competitive award.

Early Career Research Paper Award: (Accepted papers will be emailed regarding eligibility)

The Award recognizes an outstanding empirical research abstract from an early career researcher, with the goal of stimulating that person’s long term participation in the ACBS conference as an outlet for presenting empirical science within the broad domain of CBS.

Michael J. Asher Student Dissertation Award: (Application closes February 1)

This award is given to students based on their doctoral dissertation proposal related to the use of Contextual Behavioral Science with children/adolescents. Michael J. Asher, Ph.D., ABPP passed away in 2016 and was a clinical psychologist at Behavior Therapy Associates, P.A. since 1988. He was passionate about his work, loved psychology, cognitive behavior therapy, and especially enjoyed learning about and practicing Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).

ACBS Foundation Student Scholarship: (Application closes February 15)

The goal of the ACBS Foundation is to support existing activities within ACBS and explore areas for future development. The ACBS Foundation Student Scholarship that will cover the full student registration fee for attending the annual ACBS World Conference.

Student World Conference Scholars: (Application closes February 15)

The mission of the ACBS Student Special Interest Group is to work to support students of contextual behavioral science by advocating for their professional and personal development and facilitating their contribution to ACBS and the larger community. One step in moving towards this mission has been to create a Student World Conference Scholarship that will help subsidize the costs of attending the annual ACBS World Conference.

Type of credit available:

• CE credit for psychologists 

  The Association for Contextual Behavioral Science is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Association for Contextual Behavioral Science maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

• ACBS will be applying for CEs for BCBAs

• Certificate with Number of Hours Attended

  As an alternative to a CE certificate, some credentialing agencies (please check with yours) may accept a certificate with the number of hours attended. This requires that an individual verifies their attendance by signing in and out of each session that they attend during the event. The cost for this type of certificate will be approximately $25 USD.

Not sure if you need CEs?

Check with your licensing agency, and/or sign in/out on the yellow sheets provided, and you can determine your eligibility immediately after the event (still adhering to the evaluation deadlines mentioned above). If you do not scan or sign in/out, or complete necessary evaluations by the deadline, that cannot be “corrected” later.

Information about the CE Process:

• CEs or certificates with the number of hours attended are available for a one-time fee for the entire event.
• CE rules require that we only issue credits to those who attend the entire session. Those arriving more than 15 minutes late or leaving before the entire session is completed will not receive CE credits.
• Evaluations will be available, but are not required to earn CE credits.
• Please remember to scan in and out at the beginning and end of each session using our scanner system. If there is a problem and the scanners are not working, please make sure to sign in and out on the yellow attendance sheet provided. We cannot give CE credit if you do not scan/sign in and out.
• Please DO NOT SCAN in and out for coffee/tea breaks.
• *CE credits are NOT available for the following sessions:
  • IGNITE sessions
  • Poster sessions
  • Chapter/SIG/Committee meetings, or other lunch time sessions
• Note: CE credits are only available for those registered as a professional. You may not earn CE credits with a student registration.

Fees:

An approximately $75 USD fee will be required to earn CEs. If you attend either a pre-conference workshop(s), World Conference, or both, only one fee is due. If you register for multiple events separately, please only pay the fee one time. This fee is non-refundable (unless you cancel your registration in its entirety before the cancellation deadline). Attendance verification (sign in/out) and evaluations also may be required.

The cost for a certificate indicating only the number of contact hours (not a CE certificate) is approximately $25 USD.

Refunds & Grievance Policies: 

Participants may direct any questions or complaints to ACBS Executive Director Emily Rodrigues, [email protected], or through the Contact Us link on this website.

*If you would like a different CE type in a future year from what is listed above, please contact ACBS staff via the "contact us" link on the website to provide feedback. The ACBS Conference Strategy Committee determines the final CEs offered each year based on need and relevance to the anticipated conference attendees in each location.  In addition to the time and cost it takes to submit a CE application, a long lead time is sometimes needed to collect the required information.  (Some reporting requirements are so unique that they must be built into the presenter submission forms in October, the year prior to the conference.)

Plan Your Stay in Hong Kong!

Get ready to experience vibrant Hong Kong, a city of modern innovation, world-class food, and stunning natural landscapes!

The 2027 ACBS World Conference will be held 24 - 27 June at Hong Kong Science Park, located in the New Territories along the beautiful Tolo Harbour.

Hong Kong Science Park
Science Park Rd, Ma Liu Shui, New Territories, Hong Kong

Hotels: We’ve partnered with the Royal Park Hotel to make your stay convenient and comfortable. This property is offering a special ACBS attendee rate. Rooms may be limited, so we recommend booking early.

Hotel Information & Reservations

Transit: Hong Kong has an extensive public transportation network, making it easy to get around by MTR (Mass Transit Railway), bus, minibus, taxi, and more. Find information about getting around the city and to Hong Kong Science Park from the airport, MTR stations, nearby hotels, and other locations here:

Public Transit & Airport Transfer Information

World Conference 2027 Program Co-Chairs

Dr Connie Chong is an Associate Professor at The Nethersole School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, and a registered nurse with substantial clinical experience in medicine and paediatrics. Her research centres on Contextual Behavioural Science, with a particular focus on the application and evaluation of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for family caregivers of children with specialised needs or chronic conditions. She serves as Editor of the Journal of Clinical Nursing and Associate Editor of the British Journal of Health Psychology and the Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science. Since her PhD journey, Dr Chong has maintained a close and meaningful connection with the ACBS community through her research leadership and professional service. She was the inaugural recipient of the ACBS Early Career Paper Award in 2018, serves as a Strategic Scientific Council Member of ACBS, and is a former Chair of the ACBS Awards Committee. Recognised as one of the leading CBS and ACT scholars in Asia, Dr Chong brings a distinctive nursing perspective to the CBS field. She also founded ACTuWISE Limited, the first nurse-led technology start-up in Hong Kong integrating ACT and artificial intelligence to advance mental health services, training and impactful research.

Dr Eric Morris is an Associate Professor at La Trobe University and Consultant Clinical Psychologist at Northern Health, Melbourne, Australia. As co-director of ACTUALISE Lab at La Trobe University, Eric researches Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for recovery from psychosis, insomnia, and for workplace resilience training. Eric is on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, the British Journal of Clinical Psychology and Cognitive Behaviour Therapist. Eric is a former Chair of the BABCP ACT Special Interest Group (UK) and President of the Australia & New Zealand Chapter of the Association of Contextual Behavioural Science. He is a Fellow of the Association for Contextual Behavioural Science.  He is a co-editor of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Mindfulness for Psychosis and Psychological Interventions for Psychosis: Towards a Paradigm Shift and co-author of the group treatment manual, ACT for Psychosis Recovery. Eric is a co-author of the self-help guide, ACTivate Your Life: An Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Workbook for Building a Life that is Rich, Fulfilling and Fun. 
 

Gain visibility and access to a highly engaged audience of professionals and thought leaders in contextual behavioral science. Your sponsorship helps advance ACBS’s mission while positioning your brand at the forefront of innovation and professional excellence.

• Showcase your products and services to an engaged global network of 50,000+ decision-makers and practitioners in the field.
• Build brand recognition through conference materials, signage, and digital platforms.
• Align your organization with ACBS’s commitment to advancing science and practice.
• Position your organization as a leader of innovation and professional excellence. 
   

In addition to on site engagement opportunities, sponsors gain access to our global network of industry influencers and tastemakers.

• Fast growing social media community of 42,000+ active followers and counting!
• 13,000 members in email distribution list
• Your logo shared digitally through email and social media each day of the conference.
• Even more reach! Social media posts during the 2026 World Conference garnered more than 478,000 impressions.
• Conference microsite landing page received nearly 44,00 visits in 2026.

Submit Your Interest Here!

Nearly half of the World Conference sessions and all in-person Pre-Conference workshops accessible in 50+ languages.

Which languages?

22-23 June 2027, all Pre-Conference, Intensive workshops will be presented in English and available in 50+ languages via simultaneous AI (artificial intelligence) translation software. (Use of this browser-based translation system requires attendees to have a smart phone, and wired or wireless headphones, that can connect to Wi-Fi.)

24-27 June 2027, the ACBS World Conference will have 6 presentation rooms (including the large plenary session room) available in 50+ languages via simultaneous AI (artificial intelligence) translation software.  (Use of this browser-based translation system requires attendees to have a smart phone, and wired or wireless headphones, that can connect to Wi-Fi.)

_{The AI translation service provided at the conference is the only approved AI-software for this event, all other AI notetaking tools are prohibited without prior approval by ACBS. Please see our policy regarding the use of other AI tools at the 2027 World Conference here.}

General Questions about the ACBS World Conference

How much do workshops cost during the World Conference?

Workshops given during the World Conference are free of charge.

(Note: Pre-Conference Intensive workshops have a separate fee and registration.)

What are The Follies?

The Follies is a unique feature of ACBS conferences. Basically, it’s a cabaret show, filled with funny songs, sketches, stand-up comedy routines, humorous PowerPoint presentations, pre-made videos, etc.  And of all of this funny and talented content is created by the conference delegates! Get your creative powers focused, anything you have seen in the ACT world that deserves to be made fun of is fair game! 

All registered conference attendees are welcome, don't forget to bring your name badge!

What are educational objectives?

Educational Objectives are required for sessions to be eligible for Continuing Education (CE) credit. 

Writing Educational Objectives (according to the APA):

• Educational objectives, or learning outcomes, are statements that clearly describe what the learner will know or be able to do as a result of having attended an educational program or activity.
• Educational objectives must be observable and measurable.
• Educational objectives should (1) focus on the learner, and (2) contain action verbs that describe measurable behaviors
• Verbs to consider when writing Educational objectives:
  • list, describe, recite, write
  • compute, discuss, explain, predict
  • apply, demonstrate, prepare, use
  • analyze, design, select, utilize
  • compile, create, plan, revise, summarize
  • assess, compare, contrast, rate, critique
• Verbs to avoid when writing Educational objectives
  • know, understand, learn, become aware of, become familiar with, have a working knowledge of
  • be able to use, help clients respond to, approach, tweak
  • expand, grow, increase, improve
  • explore, express, appreciate, think critically

Examples of well-written Educational objectives:

• Implement traditional exposure-based interventions as adapted for an acceptance-based model.
• Describe the role and significance of avoidance in the development and maintenance of psychopathology.
• Conduct a full-scale values assessment with clients.

Examples of poor Educational Objectives:

• Hear the latest research about ACT. (not learner-focused; not about measurable behaviors)
• See a role-play. (not learner-focused; not about measurable behaviors)

What does a chairperson do?

The Chairperson for a PANEL should prepare to briefly introduce each Panelist. Keep it brief and relevant, so as not to take up lots of precious session time. Introduce all Panelists at the beginning of the session. Panels vary in their format, some have each panelist give 10 minute presentations followed by a discussion/debate by the panelists, some require the Chair to pose pre-arranged questions, some feed solely off of audience questions. The Chair is responsible for knowing or establishing the format and facilitating it (perhaps by asking the questions or calling on the audience members). If the panel gets off track (or off topic) it's the Chair's responsibility to bring them back to the topic, and make sure that the Educational Objectives listed in the Program are met/covered. Please keep in mind though that the Chair is not a Panelist (unless they are scheduled in both roles) and should make sure not to speak at length. If the Q&A is still going strong at the end of the scheduled time period, please thank the presenters, and announce that if the audience has any more questions, the presenters may be able to give them a few minutes in the hallway for remaining questions. This is necessary if another session is starting in 15 minutes (so that the next presenters can begin to prepare in the room) and so that those audience members that need to leave can do so (without disrupting the session) at the conclusion of the time period. It is the responsibility of the Chairperson to make sure that the session begins on time. Please make sure you have a watch.

Here's another cool article about Panel chairing for some other tips.

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The Chairperson for a SYMPOSIUM should prepare to briefly introduce each speaker, immediately prior to his/her presentation (this can be as minimal as Name, Affiliation, Paper title; or a little more substantive if desired, but still brief.) It is also your responsibility to monitor the timing of each speaker.  (Each session may have slightly different timing... if the session is 60 minutes, with 3 papers, each paper would be 10 minutes, then 15 minutes of time for the Discussant, followed by Q&A. If the session is 60 minutes with 4 papers, each paper would get 10 minutes, 10 minutes for the Discussant, and the remainder for questions.) If there is no Discussant, each presenter may have more time, or you can opt for a longer Q&A period.

Briefly tell each speaker, prior to the session something like "I'll keep the time on my watch. Each speaker has 10 minutes. I'll raise my hand in the back of the room when you have 5 minutes, and I'll raise my hand and hold up 1 finger when you have 1 minute left." You may put notecards on the lectern with the amount of time left, if you prefer. (The set up of the room may or may not permit this.) If the presenter does not stop at the end of their time, please kindly interrupt them (verbally), and ask them to wrap up so that the next presenter may begin.  (The audience will thank you!) The Question & Answer period for all papers should occur at the end of the session (not after each presentation). Please just make sure that everyone gets a fair and equal amount of time. (If the first person has a short talk, the extra time may be divided among the remaining speakers.) It is the responsibility of the Chairperson to make sure that the session begins on time. Please make sure you have a watch.

What does a discussant do?

A discussant is the final speaker in a SYMPOSIUM who highlights and integrates the contributions of various speakers in that symposium. That is, they use their expertise to provide a general commentary on individual papers within the session and explore how the papers (in relation to each other) help advance the topic. Discussants should plan to discuss the session for approximately 10 minutes, depending upon the time available, and then moderate questions from the audience. Discussants should directly request the papers (or at least the outlines) from the presenters before the conference, and prepare by reading related work prior to the conference.

How can my company become a sponsor?

Organizations have the unique opportunity to gain visibility and access to our highly engaged audience of professionals and thought leaders in contextual behavioral science. Your sponsorship helps advance ACBS’s mission while positioning your brand at the forefront of innovation and professional excellence.

To learn more about sponsorship opportunities click here. 

It's my first time, any tips for making the most out of my conference experience?

First off, welcome! We cannot wait to host you in Hong Kong! We have compiled a handy guide to assist first-time conference attendee’s in making their time at the ACBS World Conference as productive and stress-free as possible. There’s no “right” way to attend the conference nor is there a set number of sessions or events to attend. You should attend the conference with the plan to make connections, learn, and have fun.

Click here to see the guide! 

How do I sign up for individual sessions/workshops during the conference?

All sessions during the ACBS World Conference are open to all paid conference attendees.

You don't have to sign up for individual sessions.  You just go to the session/workshop you are interested in. 

ACBS attempts to put the most popular sessions into the largest rooms, but sometimes the room assignment is too small for the interest.  We apologize if a room is full before you arrive. Please consider arriving a few minutes early to your "must have" sessions.

(Note: Pre-Conference Workshops do require pre-registration and a separate fee to attend.)

Submission Information

What are some tips for submissions?

General:

• Citing research and presenting data (original or a review of data) is highly encouraged for all submission types.

• Make sure that your submission for a workshop/panel/etc. is appropriate for that format. Panel submissions that sound more like workshops are unlikely to be accepted and vice versa.

• Submissions should weigh the value of diverse voices against too many presenters to make it coherent. ACBS encourages (and depending on topic may require) panels/workshops to include a diverse complement of presenters (demographic diversity as well as diversity in areas of expertise), but not to the detriment of a coherent, well crafted session. Please consider the practicality of coordinating a quality session among too many presenters.

• Please accurately indicate if your submission is beginner, intermediate, or advanced. Please craft your submission to fit the audience you indicate. You do not have a better chance of being accepted if you choose all 3.

• If your expertise is in a very narrow area (ex. 55-57 year olds with trauma history), we encourage you to craft your workshop/panel submission to meet the needs of a wider audience. Your examples/demonstrations should of course be from your area of expertise, but we encourage that your abstract and title be accessible to more potential attendees.

• Make sure your abstract is clear and well written (have multiple people proofread it before submitting). Unclear or poorly written abstracts have a lower chance of being accepted.

• Make sure your abstract explains skills or information an attendee will walk away with at the conclusion.

• Background like “Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is a behavioral-based…..” isn’t necessary in your abstract. If you feel you need to persuade reviewers that your topic is important (but that background information isn’t relevant for an abstract to entice attendance) please add that to the “additional information” field at the end of the submission form.

• Create actual educational objectives - what the attendees should be able to do as a result of attending your session. (Read the examples/descriptions of what an objective is in the submission form before writing yours.)

• Post-test questions (required so that Continuing Education credit may be earned by those watching recordings of the live sessions), can often be developed (at least in part) from your education objectives. You can do up to 2 true/false questions and the remainder need to be multiple choice.  These questions don't have to be "extra tricky", they're just intended to gauge comprehension of information presented.

Specific to Workshops:

• Be realistic about what you are going to be able to do in the time available and about the time you need (don’t try to squeeze a 2 hour workshop into a 1 hour slot; adjust for the time).

• Workshops should not be didactic with a single exercise included at the end. This is a common mistake. Please consider multiple components (experiential exercises, role-plays, case conceptualizations, etc.) to make your workshop more appealing and useful. These should be woven thoughtfully throughout your workshop.

• Consider the unique opportunities available in the online format (if applying to present online). Not only can you plan for break out rooms, you can create polls, and ask people to indicate understanding/interest through the use of emoticons (thumbs up, etc.).

What is Chapter/SIG World Conference submission sponsorship?

The "sponsorship" means that the Chapter/SIG members or leadership have put their support behind a presentation, as a quality representation of work in their field of study (SIG) or geographic area (Chapter). It means that the Chapter/SIG has reviewed and approved (and in some cases "spurred" the creation of) the submission. These can be any type of oral submission (paper, panel, etc.) or poster.

The Program review committee takes this information and gives those submissions extra consideration, because a group (Chapter or SIG) has already reviewed/approved the submission. Sponsorship does not guarantee acceptance of any particular submission.

Sponsorship also allows the particular SIG or Chapter to direct its members to items of interest while at the World Conference, which is a service given the complexity of our programs.

Sponsored submissions accepted for presentation will include "Sponsored by xxx SIG/Chapter" in the conference program, app, and online.

What do I need to know if I am submitting a session that has been sponsored?

If you would like to reach out to a Chapter and/or SIG for sponsorship, you will find contact information for each Chapter here and each SIG here.

The person who submits that particular session to the conference would indicate the sponsorship at the time of submission.

SIG and Chapter sponsored submissions receive more consideration than other submissions to the conference (as they have had a review and approval), but they are not guaranteed acceptance.

Presentations may be "co-sponsored" by more than one SIG/Chapter (usually for a "cross-over" topic).

What do Chapters and SIGs need to know?

SIGs and Chapters can each sponsor up to 3 oral presentation submissions (submitters indicate sponsorship while submitting). The method of review of your sponsored submissions is up to the individual SIG or Chapter, but we encourage you to involve your community, have a review process, and select submissions that you would like to support due to their quality and relevance to the Chapter or SIG’s mission.

If ACBS receives more than 3 submissions indicating sponsorship from one SIG/Chapter, the SIG/Chapter will be informed of the titles so that they can confirm which were sponsored.

Please use your sponsorship wisely to help the Program Committee and draw their attention to quality submissions in your area/topic. Again, this does not guarantee acceptance, but does lend the submission to extra consideration.

There is no further commitment by the Chapter or SIG beyond their initial review and agreement to "sponsor".

Need ideas for how to review sessions?

Use your SIG/Chapter listserv to recruit reviewers. Create a google form (or other submission method) to collect titles, author names, and draft abstracts, by 20 January (or 1 Feb., whatever timeline you can support), then review and notify submitters by 7 Feb. so that they have plenty of time to submit their session, with sponsorship, on the ACBS website.

Another idea is to craft a panel using your listserv. Email the listserv asking for cutting-edge ideas (relevant to your SIG) that would make for a good panel discussion at the conference and assign someone to chair it and recruit appropriate panelists.