Frequently Asked Questions

What support can we expect from the ISMRM office in the organization of the Symposia?

Invitations to the speakers and/or moderators are the sole responsibility of the organizers, not the Central Office. The Central Office will update the program if changes are absolutely necessary, but they have no other expected communication with presenters of the session.

Is there a particular format for Member-Initiated Symposia?

All symposia will be on site in London. They will be held in standard lecture halls and should have a total duration of 2 hours. Typically, these have 3-5 talks alternated with discussion, but the format is fully up to the organizers. Organizers are fully responsible for delivering the session and there will be no funding or support for additional requests (i.e. special AV setups, computing equipment, hardware, etc.). It is strongly encouraged to leave sufficient time for discussion.

Can I speak in a session that I organize?

Organizers/moderators MAY NOT present in a symposium that they organize/moderate, although other individuals from an organizer/moderator’s institution may present. In general, there should not be multiple speakers from the same institution. Typically, organizers will moderate their own sessions.

Should I ask speakers if they are willing to participate before my symposium is submitted?

Yes, all speakers and moderators are required to confirm participation before submission of the proposed symposium. Note that this year, it is imperative that the speakers also explicitly agree to participate in the format (on-site) selected by the organizers. Again, invitations to the speakers and/or moderators are the sole responsibility of the organizers, not the Central Office. The Central Office will have no other expected communication with presenters of the session.

Are speakers required to submit a syllabus or disclosure?

A syllabus and disclosure are not required for these sessions. We do ask that the presenters include a disclosure slide at the beginning of their presentation only to inform the attendees of any potential conflicts.

When during the meeting will the symposia occur?

On-site symposia will occur during weekday parallel sessions at the Annual Meeting. Specific session dates/times cannot be guaranteed, meaning that organizers/moderators and presenters must commit to availability for Monday through Thursday of the Annual Meeting.

Is there any reimbursement for speakers and organizers for programs?

Symposia program organizers, moderators, and speakers will not receive any reimbursement. When inviting speakers and moderators, organizers should clarify that they must pay for their own meeting registration, travel, and lodging.

Can I submit or participate in more than one proposal for a symposium?

Any individual may only be involved in organizing one symposium. If speakers are giving other invited presentations (named lectures, plenary talks, educational courses), they should be presenting on unique topics for their symposium presentation and should not overlap with their other content. In general, including the same speaker on multiple proposals will reduce the likelihood of both being selected.

Can a Study Group submit more than one symposium proposal?

A Study Group can only submit one proposal. If members of a Study Group are interested in submitting a symposium proposal on a different topic from that chosen by the Study Group leadership, they are encouraged to submit their proposals as separate symposia (which will not be associated with their Study Group).

When will we know if the symposium is selected?

Final selection of symposia will be made when the AMPC convenes in January. Decisions on acceptance will be sent at approximately the same time as acceptances for proffered abstracts at the Annual Meeting.

Can student members be involved in Symposia?

We strongly encourage students and early-career researchers to participate as organizers or speakers. In the interest of helping junior members to submit competitive proposals, we recommend that less experienced organizers either include a more experienced co-organizer, or seek mentorship (for example, from members of the AMPC).

Can AMPC members participate?

The goal of Member-Initiated Symposia is to provide a mechanism for the broader membership to contribute content at the annual meeting. We do encourage organizers to consult informally with AMPC members for feedback on their proposals because of the AMPC's experience, but submissions should not come from AMPC members due to conflict of interest.

Further questions?

Please contact the central office, info@ismrm.org if you have further questions.