Symposia are important components of SSAR at the Annual Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists (JMIH). They allow researchers in a given subfield to come together and present the latest research in that area; can result in proceedings and books based on the outcomes of these symposia; benefit society members through interactions with the symposium participants; and they can form the theme of an annual meeting, often referenced historically. At the JMIH, symposia are often sponsored by each society with some co-sponsored by multiple societies.
SSAR invites proposal submissions by March 15 of the year prior to the JMIH when the symposium would take place (i.e., submission by March 15, 2024 would be evaluated for the 2025 JMIH). Proposals are short (3 page max), and the criteria can be found on the SSAR website (https://ssarherps.org/meetings/symposium-proposals/). This coming year SSAR can support funding requests (with a short budget) for up to $2000 for a sponsored symposium. If you have been thinking about a symposium topic that would be of interest within SSAR at the 2025 JMIH, please consider submitting a symposium proposal. Again, the deadline is March 15.
Richard Durtsche
SSAR Symposium Coordinator