Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Acknowledgments
- 1 Introduction: what can go wrong?
- 2 The decision: to run or not to run
- 3 Scientific and related events: variety delights
- 4 Social events: something for every taste and budget
- 5 The program: how to accommodate pigs in a poke
- 6 Selection of the meeting site: a touch of Russian roulette
- 7 The dates of the meeting: you can't win
- 8 Publications: cruel and unusual punishment
- 9 Selection of participants: how to lose old friends and make new enemies
- 10 Committees: you have to live with them
- 11 Accompanists: you better love'm
- 12 Office and staff: don't take chances
- 13 The budget: a jungle with pitfalls
- 14 Fund raising: some would rather see their dentist
- 15 Allocation of travel support: not much fun either
- 16 Schedule of preparations: from dream to reality
- 17 Announcements, programs, and related information: clarity pays
- 18 Design of forms, nametags, tickets, signs and stickers: how about using common sense?
- 19 Satellite meetings: think twice
- 20 Checklist of important no-nos
- Appendix A Poster presentations
- Appendix B Outline of a general schedule for an international meeting
- Appendix C Excerpts from a letter to prospective panelists of a Colloquium
- Appendix D Excerpts from a letter to the moderators of Colloquia
- Appendix E Invitation to participate in a Socratic Workshop
- Appendix F Excerpts from a letter to leaders of Socratic Workshops
- Appendix G Example of a ‘statement of research interests’ for a Socratic Workshop
- Appendix H Service contract with an exposition service
- Appendix I Contract with a congress hotel
- Appendix J Suggestions for the preparation of abstracts and abstract forms for scientific presentations
- Appendix K Letter with clout to a manuscript delinquent
- Appendix L Schedule for staff of an international meeting
- Appendix M Checklist of equipment and supplies for the registration desk of a major meeting
- Appendix N Equipment and supplies for meeting rooms
- Appendix O Example of a letter/form confirming attendance of prospective participants in various events of a meeting
- Appendix P Calculation of fees
- Appendix Q Suggestions for a hotel reservation form
- Appendix R Summary of daily program schedule
- Index
19 - Satellite meetings: think twice
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 11 May 2010
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Acknowledgments
- 1 Introduction: what can go wrong?
- 2 The decision: to run or not to run
- 3 Scientific and related events: variety delights
- 4 Social events: something for every taste and budget
- 5 The program: how to accommodate pigs in a poke
- 6 Selection of the meeting site: a touch of Russian roulette
- 7 The dates of the meeting: you can't win
- 8 Publications: cruel and unusual punishment
- 9 Selection of participants: how to lose old friends and make new enemies
- 10 Committees: you have to live with them
- 11 Accompanists: you better love'm
- 12 Office and staff: don't take chances
- 13 The budget: a jungle with pitfalls
- 14 Fund raising: some would rather see their dentist
- 15 Allocation of travel support: not much fun either
- 16 Schedule of preparations: from dream to reality
- 17 Announcements, programs, and related information: clarity pays
- 18 Design of forms, nametags, tickets, signs and stickers: how about using common sense?
- 19 Satellite meetings: think twice
- 20 Checklist of important no-nos
- Appendix A Poster presentations
- Appendix B Outline of a general schedule for an international meeting
- Appendix C Excerpts from a letter to prospective panelists of a Colloquium
- Appendix D Excerpts from a letter to the moderators of Colloquia
- Appendix E Invitation to participate in a Socratic Workshop
- Appendix F Excerpts from a letter to leaders of Socratic Workshops
- Appendix G Example of a ‘statement of research interests’ for a Socratic Workshop
- Appendix H Service contract with an exposition service
- Appendix I Contract with a congress hotel
- Appendix J Suggestions for the preparation of abstracts and abstract forms for scientific presentations
- Appendix K Letter with clout to a manuscript delinquent
- Appendix L Schedule for staff of an international meeting
- Appendix M Checklist of equipment and supplies for the registration desk of a major meeting
- Appendix N Equipment and supplies for meeting rooms
- Appendix O Example of a letter/form confirming attendance of prospective participants in various events of a meeting
- Appendix P Calculation of fees
- Appendix Q Suggestions for a hotel reservation form
- Appendix R Summary of daily program schedule
- Index
Summary
Satellite symposia can save travel funds for both the main and satellite meetings. On the other hand, they may create problems for the organizer of the main meeting. To avoid this, satellite symposia lasting longer than one day should only be permitted under the following conditions:
They are held after the main meeting.
They do not compete for funds with the main meeting.
Their presentations are coordinated with those of the main meeting.
Their budgets are kept separate.
Travel support for participants of both meetings is coordinated.
The first condition is based on the experience that: (a) most people feel tired after several days of scientific discussions; and (b) a specialized meeting still attracts a good audience when the general interest is waning. If a general meeting follows a specialized symposium, the chances are that tired participants will either leave early, or spend more time in the hallways than in lecture rooms. And you, the organizer, will cringe at these ‘lobby lizards’ when the audience in some sessions drops to an embarrassing low.
On the other hand, a conference dealing with a topic directly relating to one's research has an enlivening effect, provided there is a chance for discussion, and not just another barrage of talks. Thus, a well-conceived satellite symposium should not suffer from a preceding main event. A good satellite symposium will provide opportunities for personal interaction, such as Workshops, Round Table Discussions with participation of the audience, and Poster Sessions.
The second condition is self-evident, but all too often ignored. An extreme case should make the point.
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- Information
- Organizing Scientific Meetings , pp. 146 - 147Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1997