Symposium proposals should target topics that are likely to be of broad interest to SNL members and to influence the direction of science in our community. Compelling symposia include topics that highlight a current debate in the field, introduce new methods or techniques, or challenge the status quo.
We are particularly interested in symposium proposals that involve substantive interaction/debate/discussion between presenters, which is often not the case in traditional symposia. Please include specific details about how your symposium will make interaction/debate/discussion possible above and beyond symposia that merely involve a set of talks on a related theme.
Diversity
We encourage symposium organizers to consider diversity on many dimensions, including diversity of perspectives, disciplines, and demographics. To ensure non-overlapping speakers across symposia, individuals may not be included on more than one symposium submission.
Symposium Structure
Symposium sessions will last for 1 hour of talks, plus 15 min of discussion, and must involve at least 2 different speakers (up to 5). Organizers have full flexibility in the structure of the symposium. A symposium may involve a series of talks around the central theme, a moderated panel discussion, or a debate between presenters with different scientific viewpoints. Audience participation must be built into the symposium program: in the simplest case, 5 minutes Q&A after each of the talks. Proposals that include community engagement offline pre and post conference (e.g., our member initiated initiatives), will be highly appreciated.
Submission Requirements
Symposium submissions must come from one organizer and must include an assurance that all contributors agree with the content and form of the submission and that all contributors plan to attend the conference in person. The organizer must be a current SNL member. Submissions must include the following information:
- Symposium Title
- Symposium Abstract (150 words) that describes the overarching theme of the symposium
- A proposed schedule indicating the timing of the symposium, including time for introductions, talks, discussion, and Q&A
- For each individual presentation (up to 5):
- Title and abstract (150 words) for each individual presentation
- Name, title, affiliation, and email address of the presenter
All presenters in accepted symposia are required to register for the meeting.
Proposal Review
Symposia will be competitively reviewed by the Program Committee, and decisions will be returned to the organizers before the deadline for slide and poster submissions. Symposia talks that are not selected may be resubmitted as a slide or poster.
Submitting a symposium proposal or speaking in a symposium does not preclude you from submitting an abstract for a slide or poster presentation at SNL.
Submission Schedule
Submissions Open: March 4, 2026
Deadline to Submit: March 25, 2026
Notifications Sent: April 6, 2026
Submit a Symposium
To submit an abstract, Create an SNL Account, or Log In to your existing SNL Account. From your account home page, click ‘Submit a Symposium’.