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Structures Congress 2020

St. Louis, Missouri | –

Call for Proposals

Call for Session Proposals and Single Abstracts for Individual Presentations

Call is Closed

All session proposals and abstract submissions are due June 5, 2019. No extensions.

Abstracts and sessions are invited addressing topics identified in this list (PDF) with emphasis on presentations that highlight innovative topics with practical application. Presentations that are lively, entertaining and interactive are strongly encouraged.

60-minute sessions with 3 presenters needed. IES sessions strongly encouraged both 60 minutes (8 presenters) and 90 minutes with (10 presenters).

Note: The National Technical Program Committee strongly requests that no more than 2 submissions are made per person.

Note: All accepted presenters and moderators are required to register and attend the conference.

Goals of the National Technical Program Committee (NTPC)

  • Create a program that supports the advancement of the Structural Engineering Profession including how we are creating leaders, new and innovative information with practical and technical applications, global and social impacts, bringing together project teams and supporting the SEI Vision for the Future of SE.
  • Balance the program to include a variety of different topics and new delivery formats that engage the audience and are more interactive.
  • Provide adequate time frame and formats for speakers to share information and allow for audience participation including questions and answers.
  • Limit five abstracts/presentations per traditional 90 min session: NTPC prefers four.
  • Need more 60-minute IES sessions (8 speakers) and 60 min traditional sessions or panel session 3 presenters.
  • Create value-added programs for attendees.
  • Encourage as many different speakers as possible. – Individuals should not submit more than 2 proposals.

Submission Options: (Sessions are 60 or 90 minutes)

  1. Sessions without abstracts
  2. Sessions with abstracts
  3. Single abstract

Make sure you understand the type of submission you want to make. Note: If not asked by a session organizer to be part of a session you will submit only a single abstract - please do not submit the same abstract twice.

All session proposals and abstract submission are due  No extensions.

Sessions without Abstracts

60 or 90-minute program. No papers. Could be a panel, debate or other creative programs. Moderator and all confirmed speakers with e-mails must be included in the author tab of the paper management system at submission.

Session with Abstracts

60 or 90-minute program. Option to submit a paper if accepted. Two-part submission process. Read instructions below on how abstracts are connected to a session. Moderator and confirmed speakers/authors with e-mails must be included in the author tab of the paper management system at submission. Only the Primary author has the ability to submit a final paper.

Single Abstract

One person's presentation submitted to a Topic/Subtopic will be reviewed and grouped together with other single abstracts to create a 60 or 90-minute session including IES sessions. Option to submit a paper if accepted. Presenter and authors with e-mails must be included in the author tab of the paper management system at submission. Only Primary author has the ability to submit a final paper.

Session Ideas

  • Innovative Executive Sessions (IES): 8 or 10 speakers for 3 minutes each and each presenter has one PowerPoint slide. Then all move to an area for small group discussion with each presenter. This consists of three 20-minute blocks, so the audience can rotate to different speakers.
  • Comprehensive Session: May extend beyond traditional 60- or 90-minute session and will provide comprehensive information as well as practical or technical application. An example of this might be a session on a new Code or Standard. Audience participation and dividing into small working groups is encouraged if appropriate.
  • Panel Sessions: Multidiscipline project team members discuss the project's success and lessons learned. Panel sessions can also include debates or other creative formats.
  • Case Studies: Presenter(s) describe in detail an entire project including issues like management structure, design, issues encountered, solutions to overcome problems and outcome.
  • Other Creative Sessions: Encourage audience participation and breakout groups, game show
  • Traditional Sessions: A moderator and 4–5 presentations/papers.
  • Live Stream: Traditional sessions work best but the topic should be of high interest to a large group of engineers. Some additional coordination needed for these sessions if accepted. 

All session proposals and abstract submissions are due June 5, 2019.

Instructions

Review and Evaluation

All submission will be reviewed and evaluated based on the following:

Technical Content

  • Contributes to science and/or practice of Structural Engineering?
  • Quality of methodology and approach.
  • Impact on Structural Engineering Profession.
  • How does this support the advancement of the Structural Engineering Profession?
  • Practical applications.
  • Is this new or innovative?
  • Will this advance the attendee's career?

Quality of Presentations

  • New dynamic presentation formats are strongly encouraged to include audience participation.
  • All requested information is included in the submission, including confirmed presenters.
  • Content (objectivity, methodology, results, conclusion and/or limitations).
  • Clarity of writing, organization of abstract or session.
  • Grammar and mechanics of writing.
  • Format and size requirements.
  • The presenters would not have more than 2 speaking opportunities

Final Papers

Final papers are optional but encouraged. They should be 10–12 pages. A few additional pages are not a problem. Deadline for final papers is October 22, 2019.

Note: All accepted presenters and moderators are required to register and attend the conference.

For questions about submissions contact Debbie Smith, 703-295-6095.

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