History and Philosophy of Science at AAAS call for symposia proposals

Dear members of the SPSP community,

In my capacity as a member of the History & Philosophy of Science section at AAAS, I’m writing to encourage you to consider
developing symposia proposals for the 2017 AAAS meeting. Although it’s a very competitive selection process, there is room for
history of science and philosophy of science symposia - especially if they have a focus on the theme of the meeting (“Serving
Society through Science Policy”) and include as speakers both philosophers and scientists. For more details on the process, please
see the attached pdf.



Thanks! With warm wishes,
Carole

---
Carole Lee
Department of Philosophy
http://faculty.washington.edu/c3

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Andrea Woody
Department of Philosophy
University of Washington

mail address:
Box 353350, M393 Savery Hall
University of Washington
Seattle, WA 98195

Call for Scientific Session Proposals
2017 Theme: Serving Society Through Science Policy
To make decisions, societies rely on knowledge and multiple perspectives. Policies both within and
outside science should be informed by the best available evidence. Science alone cannot translate
knowledge into viable policy options; other factors include societal norms and cultural values. One aspect
of science policy is advancing the practice of science: How do we continually improve scientific methods,
mechanisms, and outputs to increase the value of science to society? Another aspect of science policy is
providing the best available scientific evidence to policymakers, community leaders, and citizens. How
can we most effectively provide scientific evidence that informs policy? What are the roles for scientists
as individuals and for the scientific enterprise as a whole in the policy landscape? What emerging and
established areas of science are essential to future policy decisions?
Proposal Submission
The AAAS Annual Meeting is the most important science venue for the growing segment of scientists
and engineers interested in the latest advances and the influence of science and technology on how we
live today. Thousands of leading scientists, engineers, educators, and policymakers interact with one
another and with hundreds of members of the national and international media. The growing number of
international attendees attests to the increasingly international nature of this gathering. Approximately
150 sessions spread across a dozen tracks are typically presented at the Annual Meeting.
The 2017 meeting will be held February 16-20 in Boston. Scientific session proposals are solicited
beginning January 29, 2016. The deadline for submission is Friday, April 22, 2016 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
Decisions will be announced in early July 2016 after the completion of external review and final
selection by the AAAS Annual Meeting Scientific Program Committee. Proposal organizers are
encouraged to be creative and to focus on the uniqueness and interdisciplinary nature of the Annual
Meeting.
IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ
The AAAS Annual Meeting Scientific Program Committee is particularly interested in proposals that
highlight the theme. However, proposals that are not directly related to the theme will be considered if
they involve ground-breaking areas of research, new and exciting developments or new angles for
approaching a topic, or cross-cutting activities in support of science, technology, and education.
Successful proposals are characterized by:
• Interesting, topical subjects that are thoughtfully developed and include capable and articulate
speakers who represent the diversity of science and society (including disciplinary field, gender,
ethnicity, geographic location, and institution).
• Proposals focused on specific projects or programs are discouraged, unless they significantly
emphasize broader applicability.
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• Proposals that cover policy are expected to primarily focus on the cutting-edge aspects of the
scientific research driving policy in that particular subject, rather than focusing wholly on the
issues beyond the science.
Please see below for submission instructions, and pages 7-8 for the specific considerations provided to
reviewers.
About AAAS
The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is the world’s largest general
scientific society and publisher of the journal Science as well as Science Translational Medicine, Science
Signaling, and a digital, open-access journal, Science Advances. AAAS was founded in 1848 and includes
nearly 250 affiliated societies and academies of science, serving 10 million individuals. Science has the
largest paid circulation of any peer-reviewed general science journal in the world. The non-profit AAAS
is open to all and fulfills its mission to “advance science and serve society” through initiatives in science
policy, international programs, science education, public engagement, and more. For the latest research
news, log onto EurekAlert!, the premier science-news website, a service of AAAS.
Instructions for Submitting Scientific Session
Proposals
All proposals MUST be submitted online before the deadline through the
AAAS proposal submission website at www.aaas.org/meetings
The deadline for proposal submission is Friday, April 22, 2016 at 11:59 p.m. PT. Proposals will not be
accepted after the deadline. All proposals will be peer-reviewed. Decisions will be announced in July.
To receive notifications, please ensure that the following e-mail addresses will not be blocked:
meetings@aaas.org, tlohwate@aaas.org, cjones@aaas.org, nmaylett@aaas.org, ekimbrel@aaas.org.
Follow these instructions carefully. The information you provide will be used by reviewers to
evaluate and score your proposal. Incomplete proposals will be eliminated from consideration.
The AAAS Scientific Program Committee underscores that a successful proposal is characterized by
interesting and timely topics that are thoughtfully developed and include capable and articulate speakers
who represent the diversity of science and society, including disciplinary field, gender, ethnicity,
geographic location, and institution.
SCHEDULING NOTE: When selecting speakers, please ensure that they are available to
participate at any time from Friday, February 17 through the morning of Monday, February 20,
2017. Once the schedule for sessions is announced in the fall of 2016, it will be considered final.
LANGUAGE AND STYLE: Meeting attendees come from more than 50 countries. For language
choice, use American English spelling and translations. For style, use The Chicago Manual of Style.
Spell out all abbreviations and acronyms. Do not use “ALL CAPS” for the title of a session or the title
of a speaker presentation.
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A correct example:
Unlocking Plant Genetic Diversity for Food and Nutritional Security
AAAS reserves the right to edit all submissions for publication, as they will be published in the meeting
program book and website. Modifications are sometimes made to improve clarity and encourage
attendance.
TRAVEL SUPPORT: Organizers, speakers, and others participate in the program at their own expense
or use funding secured by an organizer from a source that has been vetted by AAAS Meetings to avoid
conflicts of interest. As a nonprofit organization, AAAS does not have the financial resources to fund
travel expenses for the more than 1,000 program participants at each year’s meeting. However, one of the
24 disciplinary sections of AAAS may choose to authorize travel support for speakers, organizers, and
discussants from their modest budgets. Funding is limited and typically provides partial support. Coorganizers
and moderators are not eligible to apply for travel support unless they are acting as a
moderator in place of an organizer who cannot attend the meeting.
FIVE STEPS FOR SUBMISSION
1. Set Up Proposal
SELECT SESSION TYPE – NOTE CHANGES FOR 2017 PROPOSALS
Based on feedback AAAS has received and the decision of the Scientific Program Committee, there is no
longer an option for 180-minute symposia. Two new session formats, in addition to the standard 90-
minute symposium, have been added as options. Please select the desired session type and adhere to
format specifications. The Program Committee reserves the right to accept a proposal contingent on
altering the format.
There are now three session types: 90-minute symposium format; 90-minute discussion-focused format;
and 15-minute “flash talk” format.
 90-Minute Symposium Format: This is the standard symposium format. Symposium should be
focused on topics and projects with broad appeal and relevancy. A moderated panel composed of
3 speakers give presentations (~20 minutes each), followed by a ~30 minute discussion/Q&A
period with the audience.
 90-Minute Discussion-Focused Format: This is a slight variation on the standard symposium
format, intended to emphasize discussion and interaction with the audience. Topics where
audience input on next steps is desired are encouraged to consider this format. A moderated panel
of 2-3 speakers give short presentations (~10 minutes each), followed by a longer (~60 minute)
discussion/Q&A period with the audience, either as a full group or in smaller groups. The
moderator must be a skilled facilitator; moderator tips and advance support are available.
 15-Minute Flash Talk Format: Flash talks are intended to give individuals the opportunity to
provide an introduction to a particular topic or area of research (one speaker only per
submission). The Program Committee may group the flash talks by topic or cross-cutting theme,
such that 3-5 flash talks may be presented consecutively, followed by a Q&A period with the
audience. A video clip of a prior talk is required in the proposal.
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ENTER SESSION INFORMATION
TITLE OF PROPOSED SCIENTIFIC SESSION
Title must include no more than 85 characters, including spaces. When preparing a proposal and the title
of the session, organizers are encouraged to be creative and to focus on the interdisciplinary nature of the
AAAS Annual Meeting. Please avoid jargon.
SUBMITTER E-MAIL ADDRESS
Please enter a valid e-mail address where messages can be received and accessed year-round. The
submitter will immediately receive an e-mail confirming the initiation of a session proposal.
CATEGORY SELECTIONS
Please select the Primary Subject Category that best describes the overall nature of the proposal. This
information is used by the Program Committee to help generate broader scientific session tracks or subthemes.
Also, please select Secondary Subject Categories, which are used to develop the cross-cutting
General Subject Index contained in the program book.
SECTION MEMBER AFFILIATION
If applicable, indicate the primary AAAS Section affiliation of the session organizer.
DISCIPLINARY SECTIONS CONSULTED? (optional)
Indicate if your proposal has been discussed with an AAAS Section. Consultation is not required;
however, sections can provide input to help strengthen a proposal, especially if an organizer is submitting
for the first time. Consultation does not imply support or endorsement of a proposal. A list of sections and
contacts are available at www.aaas.org/page/sections.
SYNOPSIS
Provide a clear, succinct synopsis of your proposed scientific session (up to1,500 characters, including
spaces) as it would appear in the meeting program. Avoid the use of report or book references,
abbreviations, or technical jargon. Do not repeat the meeting theme’s title in the synopsis. Past Annual
Meeting programs are archived at http://www.aaas.org/annual-meeting/archives and can be a useful
source of information.
Describe the subject, highlighting the scientific issues, innovations, or research to be addressed. Do not
name speakers or the titles of their presentations in the synopsis. Speakers are listed separately along
with their presentation titles and descriptions.
*Discussion-focused sessions are requested to include in their synopsis whether they plan to hold a
moderated, full-group discussion or small group discussions, after the presentations.
RELEVANCE TO THEME OR SPECIAL RELEVANCE TO THE AUDIENCE
Describe how the proposed scientific session relates to the theme (up to 500 characters, including spaces).
Almost any topic in science and technology can be related to the theme, and submitters are encouraged to
extend their reach by thinking internationally. However, the Program Committee will consider proposals
that are not directly related to the theme if they involve ground-breaking areas of research, new and
exciting developments, or cross-cutting activities in support of science, technology, and education.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
AAAS requires clear disclosures from all presenters at its Annual Meeting regarding any affiliations,
funding sources, or financial holdings that might raise questions of bias or be perceived to have
potentially influenced presentation content. You will be asked to confirm that there are no known
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conflicts of interest for your speakers or list conflicts of interest. Speakers will also be asked to provide
this information at a later date.
DIVERSITY STATEMENT
The Program Committee is particularly interested in proposals that include representation of women,
international scientists, and underrepresented minorities. Organizers for 90-minute sessions are strongly
encouraged to include such participants, as this is a consideration in the selection of sessions by the
Program Committee. After proposal selection, if your proposal is conditionally accepted to be included
in the Annual Meeting program, the Program Committee may suggest ways to modify the composition of
the session to ensure greater diversity among session participants.
2. Add/Edit People
EXPLANATION OF ROLES
Please note: If the organizer or co-organizer will also be participating in the session, each separate role
must be entered into the system (e.g., organizer and moderator).
Organizer
A session may have only one organizer. The organizer is the primary person responsible for shaping the
topic, coordination, and recruitment of participants. The organizer serves as the primary contact for all
communications with AAAS Meetings staff. It is the responsibility of the organizer to submit the
proposal to AAAS and ensure that participants, including the co-organizer(s) if there is one, receive
all information relevant to their inclusion in the proposal and in the Meeting if the proposal is
accepted. After proposal acceptance, as necessary, the organizer may suggest addition, removal, or
replacement of participants. However, the organizer is responsible for providing, in a timely manner,
information regarding any proposed new participants and the reason for the change to AAAS for final
approval.
For Flash Talks, the Organizer is likely to be the same person as the speaker, unless someone else is
submitting it on their behalf; however, as noted above, each role must be entered separately into the
system. Organizer and speaker are the only two roles that apply for Flash Talks.
Speakers
*90-minute symposia are required to have three (3) speakers. 90-minute discussion-focused sessions
may have two (2) or three (3) speakers. Speakers must not all be from the same institution.
*Flash talks have only one (1) speaker per proposal submission. The speaker and organizer may be the
same person, or they can be different people. A hyperlink to video of the speaker giving a talk is
requested.
Other Roles
Co-Organizer (optional)
Co-organizers may assist the organizer of a 90-minute session with lining up speakers and ensuring that
deadlines are met by session participants. There is a maximum of one (1) co-organizer in addition to the
mandatory organizer.
Moderator
Moderators are optional for the symposium format, and required for the discussion format (no more than
one moderator per session). AAAS encourages selecting moderators for their skill and experience in
facilitating group discussions. The moderator provides a brief overview, introduces each speaker, and
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facilitates a general discussion by the audience and speakers through a Q&A session. Moderators do not
make presentations, submit abstracts, or have a formal speaking role. Please refer to moderator guidance
when selecting your moderator.
Discussant (optional)
A maximum of one (1) discussant for a 90-minute session of either type. Discussants provide a brief
review of, or counterpoint to, the main topics or issues covered by the panel. They do not make
presentations, submit abstracts, or have a formal speaking role.
PARTICIPANT INFORMATION
You will be required to enter the following information for each individual:
• Name (confirm correct spelling)
• Job Title
• Affiliation (primary institution; confirm correct spelling)
• E-mail address (confirm address where messages can be received year-round)
• City
• State or Province
• Country
• Status (Confirmed or Invited)
• Complete mailing address
• Telephone number
Without correct contact information, AAAS will be unable to:
• Confirm participation.
• Communicate with speakers who apply for travel assistance.
• Send speakers information about AAAS Annual Meeting Newsroom requests
Presentation Titles and Descriptions: For each speaker, include a final presentation title (up to 85
characters, including spaces); for example, Domains of Learning and Memory that Are Enhanced with
Sleep in Adults. Also, describe the proposed content or perspective of the presentation in a few sentences
(up to 500 characters, including spaces). This is crucial to reviewers’ understanding of why you are
proposing a particular speaker.
Please do not submit CVs, biographical information, or formal abstracts for the presenters (beyond the
short presentation description). A request to speakers to submit an abstract will be made after the Program
Committee has made its program selections. While recognizing that some changes will occur, the
committee reserves the right to reconsider sessions if there are speaker substitutions after acceptance of
the original proposal.
Status: Invited or Confirmed. “Invited” means that you have contacted the speaker, and your invitation
is under consideration. “Confirmed” means the speaker has responded to your invitation and confirmed
both that they are available during the dates of the meeting, and will participate if the proposal is
accepted. After the program decisions are made, AAAS will send notifications to all speakers, whether
invited or confirmed, to verify their status and request final confirmation.
3. Enter Keywords
KEYWORD SELECTIONS
Select a minimum of three (3) and up to five (5) keywords that best describe your proposal. These
supplement the categories and help significantly with matching proposals to appropriate peer reviewers.
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4. AAAS Sections
SECTION SELECTIONS
Select up to three (3) AAAS Sections that are related to your proposal's disciplinary areas. Please check
the AAAS Section(s) relevant to your proposal’s disciplinary areas. You can indicate one or more
sections. After you have confirmed proposal submission, a link to your proposal will be sent to section
officers for informational purposes.
5. Confirmation
Once you have entered all the required information for the people in your session (including a
presentation description for each speaker), proceed to the Confirmation step. Review all the information
you have submitted. If you need to make corrections to any information, just click on the appropriate step
link in the left frame. Otherwise, click the “Submit” button at the bottom of the page. To log out, simply
close your browser window. If you run into any problems, please e-mail your questions or comments
using the hyperlink to Technical Support that appears in the Scientific Session Control Panel.
Additional Note: Once a proposal has been accepted into the program, any change to the session topic,
number of speakers, or participants must be approved by AAAS.
Proposal Review Considerations: 90-Minute Sessions
The following are considerations that are provided to reviewers. Organizers should carefully follow the
instructions for submitting their proposals, which will be evaluated for completeness and clarity.
Incomplete proposals (including missing descriptions for the presentations) will not be reviewed.
1. Evaluate the proposal in general: Is information adequate for evaluation? Does the proposal clearly
describe the session? Is it well organized and coherent? More important, is the proposal complete?
2. Evaluate the topic: Is the topic timely? Is it suitable for the AAAS Annual Meeting? Is the topic too
narrow for a multidisciplinary audience? The AAAS Annual Meeting Scientific Program Committee is
particularly interested in proposals that highlight the theme. However, proposals that are not directly
related to the theme will be considered if they involve ground-breaking areas of research, new and
exciting developments, or cross-cutting activities in support of science, technology, and education.
3. Evaluate the content: Does the proposal cover ground-breaking areas of research, new and exciting
developments, or cross-cutting activities in support of science, technology, or education? Does it present
new or innovative ideas or approaches to attendees? Is it a policy-related proposal that presents the
science underlying policy, or addresses issues of significant importance to research, funding, or
collaboration? Consider overall merit and the importance of including the proposed session in the
program as well as whether the content is too specialized for an AAAS multidisciplinary audience.
4. Evaluate the participants: Are they of a caliber to speak authoritatively on their topic? Is the panel
composed of diverse organizations and institutions? Are the presentations integrated and coherent as a
group? Does the panel present a balanced perspective?
5. Finally, and most important, make an overall judgment about the relative merit of each proposal,
expressed as a rank ordering of all the proposals you review, with 1 as the best, 2 the second best, and so
on. This rank should be based on the previous four criteria, but it need not be from a mechanical
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arithmetic average of your communicated scores. Different criteria may figure more or less strongly in
your judgment of each proposal, based on the particular nature of that proposal, and this can be reflected
in your overall rankings.
Proposal Review Considerations: Flash Talks
The following are considerations that are provided to reviewers. Submitters should carefully follow the
instructions for submitting their proposals, which will be evaluated for completeness and clarity.
Incomplete proposals will not be reviewed.
Flash talks are different from 90-minute sessions and will be evaluated separately. They are intended for
one speaker to give a short, 15-minute talk on a specific topic or area of research.
1. Evaluate the proposal in general: Is information adequate for evaluation? Does the proposal clearly
describe the focus of the session? Is it well organized and coherent? More important, is the proposal
complete?
2. Evaluate the topic: Is the topic timely? Is it suitable for the AAAS Annual Meeting? Is the topic too
narrow for a multidisciplinary audience? The AAAS Annual Meeting Scientific Program Committee is
particularly interested in proposals that highlight the theme. However, proposals that are not directly
related to the theme will be considered if they involve ground-breaking areas of research, new and
exciting developments, or cross-cutting activities in support of science, technology, and education.
3. Evaluate the content: Does the proposal cover ground-breaking areas of research, new and exciting
developments, or cross-cutting activities in support of science, technology, or education? Does it present
new or innovative ideas or approaches to attendees? Is it a policy-related proposal that presents the
science underlying policy, or addresses issues of significant importance to research, funding, or
collaboration? Consider overall merit and the importance of including the proposed session in the
program as well as whether the content is too specialized for an AAAS multidisciplinary audience.
4. Evaluate the speaker: Are they of a caliber to speak authoritatively on their topic? Are they an
effective communicator?

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