So I am a track chair for a fairly big deal company conference in a month. I contacted my colleagues across the company, talking with them about what of their recent work would make good presentations and helping them write abstracts in cases where they couldn’t make the deadline. I got 20 abstracts submitted to my track, an excellent result. We rated all the abstracts, and all submitted to my track were better than 3.5 out of 5; I told the organizers that I wanted space for all 20. 1/2
The organizers agreed, and I put all my papers into their spreadsheet for either Friday (in person) or the following Monday (virtual) based on which author availability. Ever since then, every time I go into the spreadsheet I see some of my presentations deleted or moved and other ones added to my track. Ones that I never saw abstracts for and have nothing to do with the subject of my track. Every time I pushed back, several times asking them to add an uninterrupted virtual session for me. 2/3
Earlier this week they pulled two of my highest rated presentations totally out of my track. Gave them 5 min plenary slots (normal presentation slots are 30 min) and 2 hour posters. The problem with that is most of my audience is virtual, and a poster session has zero virtual impact. And again they put unrelated presentations into my track. I got steamed and expressed my reluctance to chair a track I have no control over. 3/4
The response was “I have so many limitations, and I gave you so many slots, you should just be happy…”
I’m slogging through it, but this seems deeply unprofessional.
I’m looking for your thoughts.Thanks. 4/4
@Treebugz Thanks for saying. I don’t think bailing would impact me so much as it would affect the folks I tried to get into the conf, and the early career folks that watch and emulate my behavior.
@Boyceaz I would bail. But I'm close to retirement so the impact on my career would be nothing. Having said that, I think pushback, with the threat of leaving, is appropriate. Seems highly unprofessional for them to do that to you. (For context - I'm a scientist who has done organizing committee stuff in the past)