ECPN FAQs

2023 SPR/ECPN FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  1. What do I need to know about registration?
  2. What should I do before I leave for SPR?
  3. What should I pack?
  4. What food is provided?
  5. What sessions should I attend?
  6. What should I do during SPR?
  7. What should I do after I get home from SPR?
  8. Resources

Download ECPN FAQs (PDF)

1. What do I need to know about registration?

  • The registration desk is in the Regency Foyer, Ballroom level
  • Pick up your badge early: You cannot attend sessions without your badge.
    • The registration desk is open May 30– June 1 until 7:00 pm.
    • The most crowded time at the registration table is ~30 minutes before the first morning session
  • If you received an ECPN or DNC travel award, ask for your check at the registration desk when you pick up your badge. You will need to sign for it.
  • If you registered (required separate registration fee) for the ECPN lunch, the ticket will be in your name badge.

2. What should I do before I leave for SPR?

  • Download the Conference Mobile app: it will be released a few days before the conference starts.
  • Identify sessions to attend:
    • Search the online program using keywords linked with your research interests or the names of authors whose work is particularly important / inspiring in your field.
    • Identify key people you want to meet, identify which sessions they will be at, and plan to introduce yourself.
    • Ask your research advisor for suggestions regarding presentations or presenters relevant to your work.
  • Email researchers in your field ahead of time to ask if they would have time to meet with you during a break, or for lunch or coffee. Emails are not available on the online program. You will need to Google the person to find their email. You can see who might be attending by looking up presenters in the online program. It never hurts to have more people recognize your name and it can result in some great advice. Plus, “networking” is a little easier if there is a meeting set in advance.
    • You could use this meeting to get feedback on something you’re working toward (e.g., grant proposal, publication).
    • If you set up a meeting with someone, make sure to look at their work before going to the conference.
  • Have an “elevator talk” ready(i.e., a summary of your research in 60 seconds).
  • If you’re presenting:
    • Practice your presentation (~3 minutes for a poster; ~15 minutes for a paper).
    • Review SPR website for presenter information and suggestions about formatting presentations and posters.
    • Ask peers who have presented before if they can share their poster or presentation.
    • If you are part of a paper session, confirm details about the session with your chair/other presenters and who will bring the laptop (and an adapter if the laptop is a Mac); how to share your presentation with that person; whether the discussant wants your presentation in advance and if so, when they want it. SPR does not provide laptops.
    • Confirm your session location (in the online program, conference app, or your schedule email).
    • Socialize during poster sessions.
    • Note: There are tech people in the hotel to help if anything goes wrong with your presentation: your laptop, cables, PowerPoint, etc. They can be either found in the hallways or you can request help at the registration desk.

3. What should I pack?

  • Sweater: The session rooms can be cold.
  • Comfy shoes: You will be walking a lot.
  • Professional or casual professional clothes: To wear during all sessions you attend.
  • Workout clothes: Go for a run or use the hotel gym to relax and clear your head. There is also an ECPN-sponsored fun run/walk Thursday morning!
  • Casual clothes: You’ll need them to explore the area.
  • Business cards or have a QR code on your phone.
    • Suggestion: Keep some business cards in the back of your name badge.
  • Note-taking tools (e.g., notebook, tablet, laptop, paper tablet and pen).
  • Water bottle and/or coffee mug and easy snacks:During the day it can be helpful to have your own water / snacks if you run out of time to grab something between sessions.
  • A laptop (if you are presenting a paper): SPR provides LCD projectors in each of the session rooms, but not laptops, so identify who in your session will bring a laptop. Find that person ahead of time and make sure your presentation comes out okay on their screen. Or, email them your presentation at least one day ahead of time and ask them to make sure it works fine.
  • A display port to VGA adapter (for Mac users who are presenting)
  • Your poster:If you prepare your poster 1-2 weeks in advance, you can mail it to yourself at the hotel if you are staying at the hotel, so you don’t have to carry it. (It should arrive no more than 5 days before you will be checking in.) Bring the file in case it gets lost / needs to be reprinted.
  • A backup file of your poster or presentation on a USB drive or laptop.
  • Your personal schedule: Use the online schedule, conference app, to identify sessions you want to attend, but don’t overschedule panels / events at the expense of networking.
  • Lots of enthusiasm! It will be a great experience!

4. What food is provided?

  • Appetizers and drinks(cash bar): Served during the three evening poster sessions:
    • Tuesday from 5:30-7:00pm
    • Wednesday, 6:00-7:15 pm
    • Thursday from 6:45-8:00pm).
  • Special Interest Group Meetings (SIGs): Great place to network with others interested in a specific topic. Bring your own lunch or eat later. There isn’t a lot of time to grab food and the nearby venues have long lines at lunch, so you may want to grab some food earlier and bring it with you.
    • Wednesday, 12:00-1:00pm
    • Thursday, from 11:45-12:45pm:
  • ECPN Coffee & Conversation: Come connect with ECPN members and ask any questions you have about the conference. Pastries will be served
    • Wednesday, 7:15-8:25am
  • ECPN Lunch:  This year’s topic is: “A Conversation on the Role of Prevention Science in Combating Misinformation.”
    • Wednesday, 11:55-1:00pm
    • The cost is $20. Space is limited, so register ahead of time.
  • Diversity Network Committee (DNC) & ECPN Receptions: These receptions are great ways to meet and socialize with SPR members connected to ECPN or DNC! Pasta buffet will be served.
    • DNC: Wednesday from 7:15-8:30pm
    • ECPN: Thursday from 8:15-10:00pm
  • For recommendations and a list of nearby take out shops and restaurants check with the hotel concierge.

5. What sessions should I attend?

  • Plenary sessions: These often reflect areas of interest, growth, and funding availability.
  • Talks in your area of interest: Introduce yourself to the speakers at the end of the talk.
  • Poster sessions: These are a great place to network because everyone attends. They serve appetizers and drinks (cash bar) and only posters are shown.
  • ECPN Coffee & Conversation (Wednesday from 7:15-8:25am): Come connect with ECPN members and ask any questions you have about the conference!
  • ECPN sessions:Great places to meet other early career attendees. The sessions are particularly well suited to the goals and needs of early career prevention scientists. This year, the sessions are:
    • ECPN luncheon (Wednesday from 11:55-1:00pm): A Conversation on the Role of Prevention Science in Combating Misinformation
    • Session 1: (Thursday from 1:00-2:30pm): Community-based participatory research as a framework for prevention science and health equity
    • Session 2: (Friday from 8:15-9:45pm) Qualitative Research in Prevention Science: Innovative Approaches to Advance Health Equity
  • ECPN Networking Social (Thursday from 8:15-10:00pm, Hyatt Regency Washington Hotel): Join your peers; light refreshments will be provided. Open to anyone and a great way to network.
  • DNC reception (Wednesday from 7:15-8:30pm): Open to all and a great way to network.
  • ECPN table (near the registration desk): For early career prevention scientists (students and anyone within 10 years of degree). Meet other people at your career level; they will be the people who are your colleagues moving forward. Ask them any question you may have about the meeting. While there, get a ribbon for your badge and put your name in the fishbowl for a raffle!
  • Fun run/walk(Thursday morning – meet in hotel lobby at 6:30-7:30am):
    • Easy way to interact with more senior SPR members.
  • SPR Cup (Thursday from 10:15-11:45am): Annual friendly competition among teams of ECPN researchers.
  • Advice: Go to a few sessions each day. Don’t try to go to every session. Make time for networking and take breaks during the day (e.g., go for a walk, shop, explore DC) so that your brain doesn’t explode.
  • Advice:SPR meetings occur throughout the hotel. Check the program for session rooms. Check the map on the conference mobile app.

6. What should I do during SPR?

  • If you are presenting: Find the room where you will be presenting at least 1 hour ahead of time. Some rooms are hard to find. You don’t want to be late to your own presentation!
  • Introductions: People are really open to meet others, so don’t be afraid to introduce yourself. Pick out 1-3 people you’d like to speak to during the conference and introduce yourself (the poster sessions and SIGs are nice times to do this). Discussants who are program officers can provide helpful hints related to funding priorities
  • When to introduce yourself: Some people like to introduce themselves to presenters after a session. Others caution that approaching speakers after the session can be difficult because the sessions are back-to-back, so the next group of speakers is often trying to set up.

7. What should I do after I get home from SPR?

  • Follow up with people you met to thank them or answer any questions.

8. Resources