Call for Proposals – Symposia and Workshops

    Headwaters to Saltwater:
    Understanding the Past, Protecting the Future, 155 Years of AFS

    Proposal Submission site opens: December 6, 2024
    Session Proposal Deadline: January 24, 2025

    The American Fisheries Society President Miguel Garcia, the AFS Southern Division and the AFS Texas Chapter are excited to welcome you to the 155th Annual Meeting, August 10-14, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas! The theme for 2025 is Headwaters to Saltwater: Understanding the Past, Protecting the Future, 155 Years of AFS.

    The San Antonio Program Committee invites proposals for symposia, continuing education courses and innovative sessions that support the theme and look to advance the fisheries profession. While San Antonio is an inland destination, we hope the proximity to the Gulf Coast encourages students and professionals from all ecosystem types to submit session proposals to ensure diverse opportunities.

    Submit session proposal

    Session proposal submission now open!

    Symposium Proposals

    An organized symposium will contain a series of presentations integrated around a single topic or theme. Symposia proposals are encouraged to address the meeting theme, though this is not mandatory. Symposium proposals should be submitted through the San Antonio symposium submission portal when it opens later this year. Please contact Program Coordinator Tricia Fry ([email protected]) for questions related to symposium topics and submissions.  

    The 2025 Annual Meeting includes the Black Bass 2025 Symposium, which will feature concurrent sessions organized under the topical themes of Ecology, Management, and Conservation. If you are submitting a session proposal for the Black Bass Symposium, please use the same submission form and check the box to be considered for the Black Bass Symposium. Contact Dave Philipp ([email protected]) and Mark Ridgway ([email protected]) for more information about BB2025. 

    Innovative Session Proposals

    The Program Committee encourages organizers to submit creative proposals for sessions that use engaging design, approaches and formats. These proposals could include panel discussions, interactive approaches and nontraditional engagement strategies. Innovative sessions should not be structured as a traditional session. Abstracts will not be submitted to innovative sessions; if you would like abstracts submitted, please submit your proposal as a symposium session. Please contact Program Coordinator Tricia Fry ([email protected]) for questions related to symposium topics and submissions.  

    Workshop/Continuing Education Course Proposals

    Courses should be designed to offer in-depth, hands-on learning and professional development that is of interest to a variety of participants, ranging from students to professionals, or specific audiences. Continuing education courses will be offered on the Saturday and/or Sunday prior to the start of the conference, as half-day, full-day or two-day sessions. AFS will offer some travel/financial assistance for up to two instructors per course. Please contact Mike Homer ([email protected]) for questions related to continuing education proposal topics and submissions.

    Requested Information

    1. Session Type
    2. Session Title – title is limited to 12 words or 80 characters.
    3. Short Session Title – under 30 characters including spaces. The short title will be used for marketing materials, including printed materials at the conference. The full session title will appear on the digital schedule, website, and mobile app
    4. A brief description of the session – this will be used to advertise your session (50 words)
    5. Detailed description of the session – include speakers and topics that you are recruiting to participate in the session. This information will be used to evaluate your proposal (1,000 word limit).
    6. Keywords (between 1 and 3)
    7. Supported by (not required)– institutions/groups that are financially or otherwise supporting the proposed session.
    8. Room sets and AV needs: Rooms will have theater seating, a laptop, projector, and screen; if a different room set or AV hardware is needed please request it here.
    9. Intended length (half-day, full day, etc.).
    10. If the session will include a panel discussion.
    11. Organizer(s) – names and complete contact information.