Session Submission

Session submission is now open.

The deadline to propose a session is 23:59 EAT on Tuesday, 15 December.

Submit a session

Be a Session Chair at the Next SETAC Africa Biennial Meeting

All it takes to propose a session is a passion for a specific area of environmental science. 

Session chairs and co-chairs are vitally important to the success of the meeting. To propose a session, follow these steps:

  • Enlist the help of a co-chair but be aware that a maximum of four co-chairs is accepted.
  • Prepare a short write-up of the environmental issue that is the subject of the session and the type of abstracts you hope to attract.
  • Learn more about the meeting scope and tracks to identify the track that best fits your session.
  • Read the session guidelines below and submit your session proposal by 23:59 EAT on Tuesday, 15 December 2026.

After the deadline, all proposals will be evaluated by the Programme Committee. 

Guidelines

  • Format: 
    • Session title: max 150 characters (including spaces), using title case. The title should read as a normal sentence. 
    • Session description/motivation: max 2500 characters (including spaces and any references); 
    • Session chairs: Please list a minimum of two and a maximum of four session chairs. SETAC strongly encourages sector diversity and invites you to include students and early career researchers as co-chairs. 
  • If the proposal is submitted by a SETAC Interest Group, this should be indicated during submission.

Information for Session Chairs

Session proposals

  • After the session submission deadline, all session proposals will be evaluated by the Program Committee. By 2 February, submitters will be informed if their session will be included in the call for abstracts.
  • The fact that a session is included in the call for abstracts does not guarantee that the session will be programmed at the annual meeting. Depending on the number of individual abstracts received, the Programme Committee will decide on the format and length of the session (number of time blocks). Moreover, it may happen that the session will be merged or cancelled if only a limited number of abstracts are received. The final session schedule will be announced in early May.

Abstract submission and review

  • Session organisers may actively solicit the submission of abstracts. Abstract submission will open on 17 February. All abstracts must be submitted through the online abstract submission system by 14 April. Note that people submitting an abstract for a platform presentation will be asked to submit a two-page extended abstract.  
  • In case a session is accepted, session organisers will be asked to review both the solicited and non-solicited abstracts (mid-April to early May) and organise the session by selecting papers for platform and poster presentations.  
  • If a session proposal results in a session at the Annual Meeting, the session organisers will be invited to chair this session at the meeting. If session proposals are merged, the principal chairs from the original sessions will be asked to chair the merged session.

At the meeting 

  • The role of a session chair at the meeting is to give a short introduction at the start of the session, chair the session according to the general guidelines (available closer to the meeting), and give a brief summary of the presentations at the end of the session. Also, chairs are asked to provide a summary to be used for a conference highlights article in the SETAC Globe.
  • Session organisers and chairs are collaborating voluntarily; their efforts are strongly appreciated and publicly recognised. However, the work does not include free registration or any other financial compensation. All session chairs must register for the meeting and pay the applicable registration fees.

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact SETAC Africa.