Call for Presentations

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Call for Presentation Links

Example Topics
Important deadlines
Abstract guidelines
Presentation Categories
How to Submit an Abstract
Standard AV Equipment

The EPA Quality Staff is pleased to announce the 2009 Quality Management Conference, continuing a 28-year tradition of addressing environmental issues through the exploration of advancements in quality management. The conference will take place May 12-14, 2009, in San Antonio, Texas. Registration is now open.

The theme of this year's conference is "Quality…a River Flowing with Opportunities." As we meet new challenges and expectations, the quality paradigm is evolving. This presents unprecedented opportunities to apply quality practices not only to our traditional data and information, but also to our products and services, from concept to implementation. For our conference, we are soliciting abstracts that will demonstrate these opportunities.

Abstract submissions will be considered on the basis of content, compatibility with the theme, and available number of speaking time slots.

Example topics in the area of Quality Management

Leading change and managing expectations for quality
Case studies from environmental programs highlighting quality solutions from concept to implementation
Performance measures/business metrics for products and services
Environmental indicators for tracking trends and outcomes
Ensuring sound science
Information management
Assessing the utility of existing data
Standards integration for improved performance, including

Quality management systems (QMS),
Environmental management systems (EMS),
Occupational health and safety management systems (OHSMS), and
Information technology management systems (ITMS)

QA principles and practices for

Product development
Regulatory and research programs
Data and information

Trends and innovative technology in environmental sampling and laboratory analysis

Important Deadlines

December 5, 2008: Deadline for submission of abstracts for consideration
January 23, 2009: Notification to submitters about acceptance of abstracts
April 3, 2009*: PowerPoint presentations and speaker biographies due

*Please note: Your final PowerPoint presentations and speaker biographies, i.e., the versions you present at the conference, are to be submitted by April 3, 2009. We will not accept modified presentations or biographies after this date or at the conference.

Abstract Guidelines

Since your abstract will be posted on the Conference Web site, it is important to clear it through your organization in advance.

Conference participants will be able to view abstracts to help them decide which sessions to attend; therefore, please keep the following Abstract Guidelines in mind.

We are requesting that abstracts :

Have a clearly-worded title that describes the content;
Briefly describe the presentation;
Be in 11-point Arial font;
Be no more than one page in length; and
Be cleared through your organization in advance.

Presentation Categories

Single presentation: 30 minutes in length
Session or workshop: 90 minutes in length

Please note: If you are proposing a 90-minute session or workshop, submit only one abstract for the entire session or workshop. Do not submit separate abstracts for each presentation within the session or workshop. If you have any questions about this note, please email us at EPA_Quality_Conference@epa.gov.

How to Submit an Abstract

Download and complete the abstract submission form (Word doc 30 KB, 1 pp.)
For identification purposes, save the file with this format: lastname-keyword.doc. (The “keyword” should reflect the topic of your presentation[s].)
The conference management contractor is managing submission of abstracts. Upload your completed abstract submission form to the conference management contractor's site.
You will be asked to select a presentation type--i.e., Informational; How To; Case Study; or Interactive Workshop--when submitting.
You will receive an automatic email verification of your electronic submission from admin@epaqualcon.com. Note that accepted abstracts will be posted on this Web site prior to the conference.

Standard AV Equipment

Each speaker will be provided with:

Laptop with Internet connection
LCD projector, screen, and wireless remote
Wireless Lavaliere microphone and handheld microphone
Laser Pointer
Flip Chart with Markers

Questions or comments should be directed to the EPA Quality Conference Help Desk (EPA_Quality_Conference@epa.gov).