The Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, known as LPSC, is the premier conference for lunar and planetary science research since 1970.

The following tips will help you have an engaging and enjoyable conference experience.

Before the Conference —

Sign up for email updates:  Stay in the know by completing the Indication of Interest Form to receive important news such as deadline reminders and abstract submission details. You will need to create a profile in the Meeting Portal which is quick and easy, requiring only a few minutes of your time.

Register:  The best way to save money is to register early. The early registration deadline is February 19. Don’t fret if you miss the early registration deadline; you can still register in advance and avoid the cost of onsite registration up until March 17.

Bonus tip—Hold on to your registration receipt for reimbursement from your home institution.

Make travel arrangements:  Houston is serviced by two major airports—Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) (22 miles from the conference venue) and William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) (40 miles from the conference venue). While in Houston, there are several ground transportation options available which can be found on the Transportation page.

Book a hotel:  Pick one of the local area hotels on the Hotel Information page that best meets your needs. Most of the hotels are located in close proximity to the conference venue. Many hotels are serviced by a conference shuttle for your convenience. Take advantage of special rates offered by local area hotels by using the reservation links provided on the Hotel Information page.

Bonus tip—Save money by sharing lodging expenses with another LPSC attendee! Use the Roommate Bulletin Board in the Meeting Portal to find a good match.

Plan your days:  To make the most of your LPSC experience, study the Program in advance and tailor your own program using the Personal Schedule Tool. There are five concurrent sessions each day, but with a plan in place you will feel less overwhelmed by the options. Don’t forget to leave breaks in your schedule for socializing and preparing for your own presentation.

First-timers are highly encouraged to sign up for LPSC Insights: Get Connected, Stay Connected (registration opens in 2018) which is designed specifically to help new-comers navigate the conference. You will be paired with an experienced LPSC attendee and will spend Monday morning attending sessions and networking.

Bonus tip—Consider contacting a few presenters several weeks ahead of the conference that you would be especially interested in meeting and set up a time to grab a coffee or lunch.

Prepare your presentation:  There are three types of presentations that can be requested for LPSC:  oral, poster, and print (title) only. (The latter is for the benefit of those who want to present their research but cannot attend the conference.) Oral presentations are limited to one per first author. All decisions for assigned method of presentation are made by the program committee, and all decisions are final. We strongly encourage you to read the Speaker Instructions and Poster Instructions before you start preparing your presentation.

Pack for your trip:  The conference dress code is business casual. We recommend wearing comfortable shoes and dressing in layers because the meeting rooms can get cold. Remember, this is an opportunity to leave a good impression on future employers and collaborators, so you’ll want to look professional. Be sure to pack your poster if you’re presenting one or use the onsite poster printing service and have it waiting for you when you arrive on the first floor of the conference venue at the AlphaGraphics Printing Desk. Bring plenty of business cards for all the new connections you’ll make.

Bonus tip—International travelers should bring a U.S. power adapter.

At the Conference —

Check-in:  The check-in location for the conference is on the second level of The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center in The Woodlands, Texas. The conference registration desk will be open from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 18 and beginning at 8:00 a.m. each morning. Print out your conference badge at one of the kiosks and pick up other conference materials. Feel free to stop by at any point during the conference for assistance. Conference staff will help you locate sessions and answer any questions that come up during your trip.

Bonus tip—Park for FREE at the Pavilion Parking Garage on Six Pines Drive and use the skywalk on the 4th floor to enter the conference venue.  

Network:  Kick off the meeting with your peers at the Sunday Night Welcome event on March 18. Introduce yourself to someone new; it could lead to job opportunities or future collaborations. Attend the Opening of the Exhibits in the Town Center Exhibit Hall on the first floor following the NASA Headquarters Briefing to learn more about the organizations exhibiting and receive free goodies. Make the most of the many opportunities at LPSC to connect with those within and outside your field.

Bonus tip—Free Wi-Fi is available in the public areas of the conference venue.

Attend sessions: Use your pre-planned schedule as a guide, but also be open to attending sessions beyond your main research focus. You may discover new ideas and collaborators where you least expect them. Recognize you will need to make tough decisions on which sessions to attend because sessions do overlap. If you try to attend two simultaneous sessions, sit toward the back of the room where you can discreetly enter and exit without too much disruption. Poster sessions are held on Tuesday and Thursday night. Know ahead of time which posters you are interested in viewing and seek out those researchers you don’t normally cross paths with to discuss research interests and potential collaborations. Be sure to exchange contact information and follow up with them after the conference.

There are many Highlighted Events, such as the Plenary Session featuring the Masursky Lecture, held prior to or during the meeting. First-time attendees especially should check out the Education and Engagement opportunities offered for scientists, students and educators.                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
Present your research:  You are here primarily to present your research, receive feedback, and make connections. If your travel schedule allows it, attend pre-conference sessions such as the Early Career Presenters Review to receive feedback on your oral or poster presentation from senior scientists before you give your presentation at the regular meeting. Checking in your oral presentation on time is the most important step you can take to ensure your electronic presentation is successful. Refer to the Instructions for Electronic Presentations for presentation submission and laptop validation deadlines.  Find time to introduce yourself to the Session Chair before the start of the session.

For poster presentations, be sure to stand by your poster during the designated times and engage with anyone who pauses long enough to read your poster. These one-on-one interactions are a great way to receive valuable feedback and advance your research.

Bonus tip—During check-in of your oral presentation, it is important to review your presentation in its entirety on the LPSC computer system to ensure text and images are displaying properly and animations are playing correctly. It is a good idea to have a back-up PDF file with you. 

After the Conference—

Share the knowledge: Put everything you’ve learned into practice and share it with your colleagues.

Reconnect: Be sure to follow up with the contacts you made while networking. Send them some of your work and use the opportunity to keep the conversation going.

Take our survey: Provide feedback to the conference organizers by taking the LPSC survey which is emailed to all conference attendees and can be accessed via the LPSC website.

View posters: Access the e-poster site to view e-poster presentations organized by session. Get your own research noticed beyond the meeting and upload an e-poster through the Meeting Portal.

Access the research: Use our searchable abstract database—a convenient tool for accessing science data from past meetings.