This year's Speed Papers session will be held on the afternoon of Wednesday 3rd December, 2008.

Click here to view this year's Speed Papers line-up. →

The speed paper concept is somewhat like speed dating: you get just 4 slides and 4 minutes to tell the assembled audience about a project you are already doing, or would like to do. Everyone in the audience has a form on which they can scribble relevant comments and feedback on your project. You then get to do the same for the other speed papers. Result: you get masses of feedback, and you get an introduction to a vast range of research problems in a short time.

The speed papers session is a fun, fast-paced way to get to know others at SummerFest. Anyone can submit a speed paper; to submit, you just provide a 250 word abstract describing what you want to talk about. A template for presentation slides will be provided to presenters of accepted abstracts in October. Presenters of accepted speed papes get a reduced registration rate to SummerFest, and, if travelling from outside of Sydney, can apply for a travel bursary.

To submit a speed paper abstract, you'll first need to login to the site using your HCSNet username and password -- see the Login item on the menu at left. Then submit a title and 250-word abstract here or via the HCSNet Event Submissions item on the menu at left. You will be asked whether you would like to be considered for a travel bursary. A limited number of travel bursaries will be available to presenters of accepted abstracts.

Important Dates

Call for Abstracts released	Thursday 28th August
Abstract submission deadline	Saturday 27th September
Notification of acceptance	Friday 10th October
Online registration opens	Tuesday 16th September
Final electronic version submitted	Wednesday, 12th November
Online registration closes	Monday 1yth November
Speed Papers Session	Wednesday 3rd December

Speed Paper Format

Your speed paper presentation will consist of four PowerPoint slides. Our template shows the basic design and ideas for different types of speed paper content. For example, you may wish to

• outline a project that you are interested in –- a current project, or one that is planned, or maybe even one that has been rejected by a funding body;
• describe and discuss the Big Question in your field;
• describe and discuss a whacky or whimsical idea couched within the safety of a 'Festival of Doubt'-type approach;
• appeal for collaboration; or
• provide an overview of your career so far.

Please download the PowerPoint template for your speed paper. If you are not able to use PowerPoint, please send us an email for advice.

The idea is to adopt one of these approaches and discuss the material within four slides -– there is no need to try to cram all of these different things into four minutes! Select the approach that is most suited to your interest in being part of HCSNet.

Replace the text on the four slides with your own material as follows.

Slide 1: Title Slide

A photo of yourself; project title; your name, discipline, and affiliation; research interests.

Slides 2-3: A Project I’m Interested In ...

• should be forward-looking;
• might be project-based -– a project that is current, planned or has been rejected; or
• the Big Question in my field; or
• a whacky or whimsical idea raised without fear of embarrassment in an HCSNet 'Festival of Doubt'; or
• an appeal for collaboration; or
• an overview of your career so far.

Slide 4: Implications, Applications

What are the implications of the project or ideas for:

• theory
• applications
• further research

Please note that we must receive the final version of your electronic presentaton by Wednesday 12 November, 2007 to ensure we have enough time for printing. Please email your electronic presentation to the SummerFest Organisers by this date and we look forward to seeing you there!