Media Registration
ESA’s press office provides complimentary registration for professional journalists attending to gather news and information to produce media coverage of the Annual Meeting. Credentials considered for press eligibility include a recognized press card or current membership in the National Association of Science Writers, the Canadian Science Writers Association, the International Science Writers Association, and the Society of Environmental Journalists. Freelancers must be currently active in journalism and able to present recent bylined news stories in the natural sciences.
We do not offer press registration for editors of peer-reviewed journals, ad sales representatives, publishers, program officers, or marketing professionals.
Members of the press may attend all research presentations but some events, workshops, and field trips may not be open to press without prior arrangement.
Contact: Liza Lester at llester@esa.org or (202) 833-8773 x211 to register in advance of the meeting.
Overview of the meeting program
*program details for ignite sessions, symposia, and research presentations will be available in June.
Field Trips: local members of the Ecological Society take visitors on guided ecological tours out of the convention center. This year’s trips are headed into the Everglades, behind the scenes at the Miami Zoo, and to the beach to watch sea turtles hatch. Two trips will explore the local urban ecology to learn about planning for sea level rise and socioeconomic effects. ESA does not waive field trip fees for media, but public affairs may be able to make special arrangements for reporters with a serious interest in covering the trip. Please get in touch with us if you want to report on a field trip.
Plenary Sessions highlight leaders in the field of ecology. Open to the public.
Ignite: these fast-paced sessions explore new ideas or introduce new research tools. Ignite sessions are designed to generate discussion. Speakers are not required to present new research results, but are held to a strict format: five minutes for 20 slides, which advance automatically every 15 seconds. An informal discussion follows a set of ten presentations, linked by topic.
Symposia: bring together current perceptions on high level concepts or problems through six half-hour presentations, followed by a panel discussion.
Organized Oral Sessions: session organizers invite ten presenters to speak for 20 minutes about a specific place, research area, or research problem.
Contributed Oral Sessions: 20–minute presentations of new research results, grouped by topic or study area.
Posters: researchers are on hand to talk one-on-one about their work the exhibition hall, Mon-Thursday from 4:30 to 6:30 pm. A special session for late-breaking research results meets Friday morning, 8:30 am to noon.
Workshops: interactive programs to teach special skills and knowledge.
Special Sessions: a grab bag of discussion groups, lectures, and film screenings. This year’s offerings include an eco-fashion show and visiting speakers from the local Seminole and Miccosukee tribes.