SCEC2021 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

The annual meeting begins on the Sunday after Labor Day. SCEC2021 will be held as an online meeting, September 12-17, 2021. All presenters and attendees will participate remotely.

See the meeting program at: https://www.scec.org/meetings/2021/am.

Questions not addressed below can be emailed to scecmeet@usc.edu. Registered attendees may also bring questions to the SCEC team by visiting the Conversation Corner, accessible during the live meeting sessions. 

Who attends the SCEC Annual Meeting?

• SCEC project teams are expected to present results of research funded through the annual SCEC Collaboration Plan and other Center projects. Investigators present results at the annual meeting poster sessions, workshops and/or working group meetings.
• SCEC leadership, advisory groups, and full-time staff from SCEC headquarters
• Agency sponsors and partners who provide funding support for Center activities and initiatives
• Researchers working on topics relevant to SCEC priorities and initiatives that are interested in engaging with the SCEC collaboration
• Potential academic, government, and industry partners connected with computational science, earthquake engineering research, risk communication and other practical applications of SCEC research
• Early career scientists, graduate students, and undergraduate interns typically make up more than 40% of participants.
• Go to the Meeting Participants page to see who else is attending.

How do I participate in the upcoming SCEC annual meeting?

• Register for the meeting by August 16, 2021 (5:00pm Pacific Time Zone). A SCEC account is required for meeting registration.
• Submit an abstract for the poster sessions by August 16, 2021 (5:00pm Pacific Time Zone). Submitted abstracts are reviewed and, within 1 week, accepted abstracts will be posted online.

What is the cost of attending the SCEC annual meeting?

• For the 2021 SCEC annual meeting, there is no fee to register for the online meeting sessions.

What if I have missed the registration and abstract deadline?

• We cannot offer late registration (or late abstract submission) for SCEC2021. The number of "seats" in the meeting and "boards" in the poster gallery are purchased after registration closes and locked for security purposes. After August 16th, we accept requests via an email to scecmeet@usc.edu to be placed on a waitlist in the case of cancellations. 
• As of August 25, the waitlist is closed. SCEC2021 Zoom participation is now completely locked. No more participants can be added.
• The presentations and posters (with authors’ permission) will all be available on the meeting website after the meeting dates.

My abstract has been accepted, now what?

• Poster Presentations. Work with your co-authors to prepare your poster presentation content, including a poster PDF and optional videos of 1-minute lightning talk and 5-minute walk-through of your poster. Instructions for uploading your poster PDF and videos will be sent to first authors after the August 16 abstract submission deadline. (If you presented a poster at SCEC2020, the process will be very familiar!) Poster PDF and video(s) will be due by September 11, 2021. See the SCEC2021 Poster Session Guide for more information and links to templates you may opt to use.
• Oral Presentations. Only invited plenary speakers will have oral presentations during the science theme sessions. Session moderators and speakers will be supported by the SCEC meeting team, who will help you prepare for the session and facilitate the online meeting format. More detailed instructions will be emailed to all invited plenary speakers and session moderators.

How should I prepare to attend?

• Hardware. At a minimum you will need a computer, internet connection, modern web browser, and audio (speaker/headphone and microphone). For a better interactive online experience, a webcam and headset are recommended.
• Software. You will need Zoom video and web conferencing software installed on your computer. Ensure you have updated to the latest Zoom version for optimal online meeting experience.
• Orientation. Review the SCEC2021 Participants’ Guide for a sneak peak of the meeting platform and tips to make the most of your SCEC meeting experience.
• Dress Code. Similar to packing your best outfits to attend an in-person meeting or conference, take the time to update your scec.org profile to include a recent headshot and expertise, and consider using the SCEC2021 Zoom background as your name badge. 

What accessibility accommodations are available?

• Auto-captions will be available during live meeting sessions.
• Presentation slides will be available for download (with speaker’s permission) as soon as possible after each presentation.
• Poster authors are encouraged to make their materials accessible and follow Universal Design principles wherever possible.
• Participants with additional accessibility needs are encouraged to contact scecmeet@usc.edu as early as possible to determine if we are able to help.

The Southern California Earthquake Center is committed to providing a safe, productive, and welcoming environment for all participants. We take pride in fostering a diverse and inclusive SCEC community, and therefore expect all participants to abide by the SCEC Activities Code of Conduct.