We are pleased to invite proposals for side sessions at the 2022 Carnegie International Nuclear Policy Conference, which will be held on October 27-28 at the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. 

As a service to conference attendees, we make space available before the first session of each day for them to organize meetings on subjects of interest to the nuclear policy community. In the past, these side sessions have proved popular, often attracting between 50 and 100 attendees. Because there will be fewer attendees at the 2022 conference than at previous in-person events, the physical audiences for side sessions are likely to be smaller. We hope to stream some or all of the side sessions to virtual participants, though at this time, we cannot commit to doing so. 

Side sessions, which are open to all conference attendees, can focus on any subject relevant to the conference, including a specific nuclear policy question or structural challenges facing the nuclear policy community, such as a lack of diversity, equity, and inclusion or professional advancement opportunities. 

Proposals should be sent to James Acton by 12:00pm ET on Monday May 9, 2022. Late submissions will not be considered. Proposals should be no longer than 500 words and should contain: (i) the name(s) and affiliation(s) of the organizer(s); (ii) a description of the proposed session’s subject matter and format; (iii) a brief explanation of the subject matter’s importance; and (iv) a tentative list of speakers/panelists, highlighting how this list meets the diversity, equity, and inclusion criterion outlined below.  

We recognize that speakers may change, but organizers must have obtained an in-principle commitment from proposed speakers. Before accepting a side session, we reserve the right to check that such commitments have been secured.  

We will assess proposals using the following guidelines: 

  • Proposals will be evaluated in terms of the importance and timeliness of their subject matter, the quality of the proposed speakers, and the likely degree of interest to the nuclear policy community.
  • In keeping with our diversity, equity, and inclusion goals for the conference, the gender balance of speakers and their diversity (race, ethnicity, geographic origin, and viewpoint) will also be an important consideration. We will not, under any circumstances, accept proposals for all-male panels. And, while no single panel can encompass every dimension of diversity, we will only accept proposals for panels that are diverse along at least some of those dimensions.
  • Proposals are unlikely to be accepted if all or most of the proposed speakers represent the same institution. They are also unlikely to be accepted if their goal is to highlight a single publication, such as a working group report, unless the format is designed to facilitate a genuine and balanced debate about the publication’s findings, featuring individuals not involved in drafting.
  • It is unlikely that we will accept more than one proposal from the same institution (though institutions may choose to submit more than one proposal). 

Finally, here’s what you can expect from us, and what we expect from you: 

  • There will be no charge to the organizers of side sessions. We will provide a room and advertise the session to all conference attendees. We will also try to accommodate requests for room set-up and audio-visual equipment, but except for providing microphones, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to fulfill such requests. 
  • We will not provide any other forms of financial or logistical support. Organizers are entirely responsible for making all the arrangements for their side sessions, including inviting and communicating with speakers, and providing us with required information by specified deadlines. 
  • The organizers of side sessions must be registered conference attendees (which, in practice, means committing to register when it becomes possible to do so).  
  • Side-session speakers do not have to be registered conference attendees. If they are not, however, they will be unable to attend any part of the conference, except the side session in which they are speaking. All speakers at side sessions will be required to abide by the conference’s COVID-19 safety rules, including vaccine requirements.
  • Will we not provide free conference registration, under any circumstances, to the organizers of side sessions or to speakers at side sessions.