#LPSC2023
#LPSC2023
Frequently Asked Questions
General
Why is the conference offered in a hybrid format rather than fully virtual or fully in person?
We realize that many people will be unable to travel to The Woodlands, TX, due to travel restrictions, financial considerations, or safety concerns. We also recognize that the social and professional interactions at an in-person conference cannot be replicated in a virtual format. Therefore, the 54th LPSC will be delivered in a hybrid format, which will allow the widest possible participation.
What does it mean that the 54th LPSC is a hybrid conference?
The 54th LPSC is being planned as a hybrid conference, with attendees having the option of registering to attend in person in The Woodlands, Texas or virtually. All registered attendees (in-person and virtual) will have access to streamed in-person content and on-demand oral sessions, iPosters, press conferences, and plenary sessions.
Both in-person and virtual registration include access to on-demand content on the virtual platform for 30 days after the conference.
Do virtual attendees need to download or install any software to participate in the conference?
No, attendees just need a standard web browser and a stable internet connection to access the virtual conference website.
In what time zone is the 54th LPSC?
All times are listed in U.S. Central Daylight Time (CDT). To convert your time zone, visit Worldtimebuddy.com. For the conference program, use the new Add Time Zone feature to add a time zone next to U.S. CDT.
Where can I find information on hotel accommodations?
The 54th LPSC offers a variety of hotel accommodations with special discounted rates.
How do I learn more about accessibility at the 54th LPSC?
We are committed to a healthy, safe, and inclusive conference for all attendees. We are following ADA guidelines and NASA standards. Captioning will be used for all oral sessions. Plenary and Special Sessions will feature live captioners. Regular Sessions will feature Zoom auto-captioning. Reference the Schedule Overview for more information.
Attendees are responsible for arranging any special accommodation needs when making their hotel reservations.
Will there be networking opportunities for attendees?
We are planning for virtual and in-person networking opportunities. The LPI will be conducting activities for planetary scientists, students and early-career scientists, and the public. First-time attendees should check out Student and Early-Career Events. Other networking activities will be announced as we get closer to the conference dates.
Where can I find virtual backgrounds to use?
An assortment of virtual backgrounds can be found on the conference website here.
Where can I find the session recordings?
The recordings will be listed in the virtual platform on the corresponding day at the bottom of the page.
How long will the 54th LPSC content be available for after the conference?
Recorded sessions will be accessible to registered attendees for 30 days after the conference concludes. iPosters will be accessible to registered attendees for one year after the conference concludes.
COVID-19 Protocols
What COVID-19 protocols will be in place for in-person attendees at the 54th LPSC?
Our highest priority remains the health and safety of everyone attending the conference. We are closely monitoring news and guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), and local health agencies regarding travel and large events. Please visit LPSC COVID-19 Protocols to learn more.
Will in-person attendees be required to wear masks?
Yes, regardless of your vaccination or natural immunity status, all conference attendees and volunteers will be required to wear a face mask while in the convention center and riding on the shuttle buses. Masks can be removed temporarily when actively eating or drinking. In-person speakers in oral sessions can choose to remove their masks while presenting. In-person poster presenters must remain masked due to the close proximity to fellow attendees.
Will proof of full vaccination be required to register and attend the conference?
At this time, we will not require in-person attendees and volunteers to demonstrate proof of full vaccination. However, we will closely monitor local area case rates and guidance from health agencies. If warranted, changes to this policy may be made. Please check LPSC COVID-19 Protocols regularly for updates.
Will physical distancing be implemented at the conference venue?
Yes, LPSC organizers will modify floor plans and seating so that attendees can maintain appropriate physical distancing. Signs will be posted to remind attendees about physical distancing. Attendees will have the option to display color-coded labels to indicate their comfort level with physical proximity and contact.
If I test positive for COVID-19 during LPSC, how do I report my test result?
Attendees who receive a positive test result during LPSC are not allowed to enter the conference venue and must immediately quarantine. These attendees are encouraged to share positive test results with a USRA/LPI HR representative: [email protected]. For contact tracing purposes, a list of close contacts without masking will be requested. All information will be considered as HR confidential.
Registration
Do I need to register to attend the 54th LPSC?
Yes, whether you plan to attend in person or virtually, all attendees are required to register for the 54th LPSC.
What if I register to attend in person and later need to switch my registration to virtual?
Requests to change registration types from in-person to virtual or vice versa will be allowed as long as that request is submitted by February 24. You will be refunded the difference if the cost of your new registration is less expensive and charged for the balance if your new registration is more expensive. Visit the Registration page for more information.
What is your cancellation policy?
Requests for cancellation with a full refund will be accepted through March 6. All cancellation requests must be submitted by clicking the cancel button under the action column in the registration section of the USRA Meeting Portal. Those who fail to attend and do not notify USRA prior to the March 6 deadline will forfeit their full registration fee. Visit the Registration page for more information.
No refunds will be issued after March 6, 2023.
Oral Sessions
What will the schedule for 54th LPSC look like?
Visit the Conference Program page for a downloadable Schedule Overview.
Where can I find the full conference program?
Visit the Conference Program page.
What special sessions will be presented during the 54th LPSC?
The 54th LPSC special sessions are listed on the Special Sessions page.
Can virtual attendees fully participate in the oral and poster sessions?
Since the 54th LPSC is offered as a hybrid format, many elements of the in-person experience will have a virtual component.
Virtual attendees can:
- Watch all in-person sessions live and on-demand via the virtual platform
- Ask and upvote questions during all live, streamed sessions
- View abstracts for all presentations in the online program
- Present remotely in all oral sessions
- View iPosters throughout the week and ask presenters questions
- Ask and upvote questions for all presentations (in-person and virtual) via Zoom Webinar Q&A (during sessions) and participate in discussions with Slack (to continue discussions after sessions)
- Message both in-person and other virtual attendees through Slack
How do virtual attendees watch oral sessions?
Visit the Auditorium in the virtual platform, click on “Click Here for Oral Sessions,” click on the day, and scroll down to your desired session. A “Join” button will appear in place of the countdown timer five minutes before the start of the session. Click “Join,” and you will enter the session.
How do in-person attendees who prefer to ask a question virtually submit their question during an oral session?
All attendees logged into the virtual platform should use the Zoom Webinar Q&A feature to ask questions during the oral sessions. Attendees can upvote a question by clicking the thumbs-up icon. Each live oral session will have session chairs and a moderator to monitor the Q&A and convey questions submitted by virtual attendees. The speakers will do their best to answer as many questions as possible during the allotted time.
How do I distinguish between virtual and in-person speakers in the conference program?
There is no distinction in the conference program for virtual or in-person oral presentations to ensure equal stature among all speakers. Oral sessions will include a mixture of in-person and remote presentations, all of which will be streamed live.
Poster Sessions
How do virtual attendees view the posters?
Virtual attendees will only be able to view posters uploaded into the iPoster gallery within the virtual platform. All virtual poster presenters must publish their posters to the iPoster gallery by March 8, 2023.
To view a poster in the virtual platform, click on iPoster Gallery in the LPSC virtual lobby.
How do attendees contact a virtual poster presenter?
There are multiple ways to contact poster presenters. The best opportunity to interact with a virtual poster presenter is during Wednesday’s evening poster session in the Gather.town virtual environment. You can search the gallery for Presentations with Chat in order to see the time an author will be at their poster for a text-based chat. Likewise, posters that have live presentations will have an associated video conference at the listed time. Outside those times, there is a Contact Author tab at the bottom of each iPoster that allows you to send the author an email.
I have an iPoster. How do I present?
You will be able to present your iPoster virtually through the virtual platform and in a dedicated Gather.town poster hall. A dedicated poster session for iPosters will be held on Wednesday night from 6:30–8:30 p.m. U.S. Central Daylight Time.
Reference How to use Gather.town for more information.
Will there be a dedicated timeslot for in-person and virtual poster sessions?
Poster viewing hours are from 6:30–8:30 p.m. U.S. Central Daylight Time (CDT) daily as indicated in the Schedule Overview. In-person poster sessions will be held on Tuesday and Thursday from 6:30–8:30 p.m. Wednesday’s evening poster session will be dedicated to iPosters, which can be viewed via the Gather.town environment. iPosters will be available to all attendees all week at any time of the day. Attendees may contact poster presenters to ask questions and leave comments using the chat feature. iPosters will be available for viewing on March 12, 2023.
For the virtual poster session, reference How to use Gather.town for more information.
How do attendees participate in the virtual poster session on Wednesday evening?
All attendees will need to log in to the virtual environment to access the iPoster gallery and the Gather.town environment.
In-person attendees are encouraged to gather in the session rooms on the second floor of the conference center on March 15 from 6:30–8:30 p.m. U.S. Central Daylight Time (CDT). In-person attendees should bring their devices and headphones to participate in this unique opportunity. Complimentary food and beverages will be available to in-person attendees during the virtual poster session.
Reference How to use Gather.town for more information.
How will it work for people who are attending in person but have been assigned a virtual poster?
Authors assigned a virtual poster can present their posters from the conference center or any location they choose. If presenters want to present at the conference center, they must use own devices and headphones.
