IMCC FAQs
Interested in presenting at and/or attending the 4th International Marine Conservation Congress, but have additional questions? Here is a list of the most frequently asked questions.
Where can I find the IMCC4 conference app?
The app can be downloaded at https://imcc2016.quickmobile.mobi/ for iOS, Android, and to access the mobile website (Blackberry and Windows Phone users, please access the mobile website). Delegates can also search iTunes and the Google Play Store for "IMCC4." Each delegate was sent a unique username and password to log in to the app and use its features. If you need your login, please email Lori Strong.
If I have already registered for the conference, how can I register for additional activities, like workshops, field trips, or events?
If you have already registered for the conference, but would now like to add a workshop that requires registration, a focus group that requires registration, a special event, a field trip, or any other add-ons, you can use the online registration system again and just register for add-on items. You will have to fill out your personal information again. This is the most secure means to enter credit card information.
Or you can email Mary Lou Scarbrough and request to add it to your registration.
Will everyone receive a program?
As part of our mission to make IMCCs more environmentally friendly, all delegates will not receive a printed program. A pdf of the program will be made available on the website to download and will be uploaded on everyone's IMCC4 lanyard. The website also has a lot of information, and the full online schedule of presentations will be linked when available. IMCC4 will also have a meeting app, that will be freely available to download for all IMCC4 delegates. Every delegate will have access to free wifi on their laptop and/or mobile devices any time they are in the Delta Conference Centre.
Printed programs were available to pre-order before June 1, for those who needed one. Printed programs are made from 100% post-consumer recycled paper. Those using the printed or pdf program should continue to check the website and app for updates, as some information has changed.
Where is the schedule of presentations?
The full online schedule of presentations is ready! It's ready! You can view the full presentation schedule in the IMCC4 Online Program. We request all presenters and session organizers to check the schedule for errors in their presentation/session.
Is there a daily session schedule available?
The IMCC4 General Schedule is available, which shows sessions, workshops, special events, and more. You may need to zoom to read the text. A floor plan for the conference center is also available.
The Abstract Submission form asks if the abstract is "assigned." What does "assigned" mean?
An “assigned” abstract means you have been specifically invited to submit an abstract as part of an organized symposium by the sympoisum organizers.
My research is relevant to an organized symposium. Can I submit an abstract for a symposium?
Presentations in symposia are by invitation only. But, if you think your work is very relevant, you may request to contact the symposium organizer. They may have had people drop out and might have speaking slots free. But you are always welcome to submit your abstract for the contributed sessions (and not part of the symposum). Many delegates at the meeting, including those in the symposium, may be interested to see your work.
I received an email that says acceptance of my abstract is pending review, but I am submitting an invited presentation for a symposium.
If you have an invited presentation for a symposium, the accepted symposium has already been reviewed during the proposal review and the presentation has already been accepted. You can relax. But keep an eye open for when registration opens (tentatively scheduled to begin 15 March 2016). Register early, as the fee is substantially smaller (and your symposium organizers' stress levels will be reduced to see you registered). Remember, all presenters of abstracts accepted prior to the Call for Late-Breaking Abstracts must register and be paid in full by the early deadline of 8 May 2016, unless other arrangements have been made with the IMCC4 Chairs. Authors failing to comply with this rule may not be included in the Congress.
In the confirmation email, I noticed errors in my abstract. What can I do?
You can go to http://birenheide.com/IMCC2016/correctabstract.php with your abstract ID number and edit the abstract until the review process begins. This link is now closed.
I want to submit a poster, but I can’t go to the meeting. Can I get someone else to put it up for me?
No. Everyone presenting must be registered and plan to attend the meeting. Spaces for talks and posters will be limited. If we give a slot to you, someone who was potentially able to attend may not be getting a presentation slot (and because funding is often dependent on presenting, they may not be able to get funding to come to IMCC at all). By taking up a presentation slot when you know you can’t come, you’re denying a colleague the opportunity to present, or possibly attend the meeting.
What size should my poster be?
The maximum size for posters at IMCC4 is 43.5 inches (110.5 cm) wide and 45 inches (114 cm) tall. Posters may be in poster or landscape orientation, as long as neither side exceeds these dimensions. If your poster is too big, you will not be allowed to overlap another presenter's poster. Posters that are too large may be removed. For more information on posters and printing options, please visit the Presenter Info page.
My presentation doesn’t fit into one of the conference themes. What do I do?
Simply select “other” on the Abstract Submission Form (this form is now closed). The selection of themes is to help organize the program and to encourage submissions for those topics. But, abstracts that cover other topics are more than welcome. Also, your submission may address one of the 71 research questions critical to the advancement of marine conservation, developed by the SCB Marine Section.
Can I still submit an abstract even if my presentation doesn’t fit into any of the themes?
Yes. The overriding theme for the meeting is Making Marine Science Matter. The conservation value of your presentation is most important to us.
Does it help if my submission addresses on of the 71 research questions critical to the advancement of marine conservation?
Developed by the SCB Marine Section, these are questions considered urgent to marine conservation. Addressing one of these questions will help to decide acceptance of presentations in tie-break situations during the review process. We are also interested in assessing how many presentations at the meeting address one or more of these priority questions.
May I submit more than one abstract?
No. You may submit one presentation only. (This does not include people who have been invited to give a plenary, focus group organizers, workshop organizers, or anyone presenting in OceansOnline.) You cannot be first author on two or more symposium presentations either.
I've already submitted an abstract for a contributed presentation, but due to someone dropping out in a symposium, I've now been invited to present for a symposium. Do I have withdraw my original abstract submission?
Please don't withdraw your original submission. Contact the IMCC Scientific Program Committee and we will work with you and the symposium organizers to make sure everything works out.
I'm a symposium organizer, and one of my presenters has dropped out at the last minute. If I can't find a replacement before the abstract submission deadline, what can I do?
Please don't panic. We can waive the abstract submission deadline just for cases like this. Please contact the IMCC Scientific Program Committee, and we will work with you to help ensure that your symposium is a success.
But my projects are the most important projects in the world. You must allow me to present more than one abstract?
We're very sorry, but no. We're sure you are doing excellent work in muttiple areas, but we receive far more abstracts that we have space for in the conference, and want to give as many people as possible the chance to present in the contributed sessions portion of the meeting. You can start preparing additional presentations for IMCC5!
I’m the organizer of a workshop/focus group/symposium. Can I submit an abstract, too?
Absolutely!
I can’t go to IMCC4, but my co-author is going. Can he/she present my abstract for me?
Yes, if they register for and attend the meeting. But, they cannot submit another abstract themselves (unless they have been invited to present in an organized symposium, workshop, or focus group—this is the only exception).
Do I have to be a member of the Society for Conservation Biology Marine Section to submit?
No. But SCB membership will save you lots of money when it comes to registration time! In fact, you will save more money on IMCC registration that it costs to become a member. For more information on becoming an SCB Marine Section member, see our instructions. (Once you are a member of the Society for Conservation Biology, you may become a member of up to two sections at no additional cost.)
What’s my SCB membership number?
If you log into the Member Area of the SCB website (www.conbio.org), you can look it up. If you’ve forgotten your password (as we always do), the system can send you a link to make a new one. Write down your membership number somewhere safe. You will possibly need it to claim a fee discount when you register.
Do you have travel funds available?
We had funds available for students and non-students through the Diversity Travel Grant Awards Competition, which is now closed. If you did not qualify to apply or did not win a travel grant through this program, there are various means to save money and attend the meeting more cheaply, as noted in the IMCC4 on a Budget page. Also check the External Travel Grants page. Many universities also have some travel grants available for students with accepted presentations. Check with the travel support offices of your affiliated university or organization.
But my research is super important. You must fund me to attend?!
I’m sorry, we cannot print money (legally). As noted above, there are ways and means to save money when attending the meeting, as outlined in the IMCC4 on a Budget page, including discounted registration fees for post-docs and others whose salary is under a certain amount.
Can I submit something that is not related to the marine environment or conservation?
Presentations must be appropriate content for the International Marine Conservation Congress. However, presentations do not have be marine natural science only. We are seeking presentations on social science, communication, education, conservation marketing, coastal conservation, and more. It must be relevant to marine conservation and stakeholders, but it does does have to strictly be marine science.
I’m a post-doc/work for a tiny non-profit/unemployed /on a fixed pension, and I have limited funds. Is there a discounted registration rate?
The average U.S. graduate student salary is $27,700USD. We recognize that there are many NGO salaries and postdoc stipends that are lower than that. If your pre-tax annual salary is equivalent or lower to the grad student stipend noted above, please notify our registration coordinator (LStrong@burkinc.com) who can give you permission to register for the lower graduate student rate. You may be asked to provide proof of your current salary. Please also see our post on IMCC on a budget for cost-saving tips.
