Symposium Topics
We invite submissions for three presentation opportunities: paper presentations, poster presentations, and video presentations, around the topics listed below.
Submissions that include research results, such as hypothesis-driven experiments, surveys and interviews, quantitative assessments, novel models, and literature citations will be given preference for paper presentation during plenary. The Poster and Video tracks invite experience reports, best practices, project reports, implementation reports, and works-in-progress.
| Topics | Example Submissions (not exclusive) |
| environmentally conscious making | selecting recyclable or reusable materials, quantify $ / volume / carbon footprint |
| physical computing | mechatronics, robotics, integrating electronics, machine and human interaction |
| implementing traditional making | the art of making, sewing, old-school, low-tech, quickly making anything, blend old methods with modern technology |
| defining success: metrics, data collection, impact | qualitative and quantitative studies of making, literature review of academic makerspaces |
| integrating makerspaces into the curriculum | staff vs faculty director, pedagogy driven approaches, teaching in the space vs using the space for building |
| interdisciplinary making outcomes | students from multiple departments, student organizations, cross-campus collaborations |
| students' entry experiences to the makerspace | required / optional course, videos and quizzes, freshman-level activities |
| inviting new people into the makerspace | how to get attention, start community building, users / participants / advocates |
| embracing diversity and inclusive projects | having access be inclusive, student projects of assistive devices, nonvisible disabilities, student voices |
| non-disciplinary, library, and community makerspaces | social makerspaces, media focused, not engineering only, cross-departmental collaborations |
| industrial arts and design | art, architecture, jewelry, fashion |
| intellectual property (IP), entrepreneurship, and commercialization | creating commercial products, navigating the process, IP owners student vs. industry, validations, standards, licensing, scaled manufacturing |
| evolution: users, size, initiative | change over time, what / how / why |
| user focused safety signage and PPE *videos encouraged* | ignored noise vs enabling use, printed vs QR code, machine settings, graphic design, transmitting information, data visualization, emotional / physical safety |
| emerging trends in making | what’s next? (bio-makerspaces, hardware/software tools), architecture layout / flow |
Important Dates
Authors of a Paper, Poster, Student Poster, or Video will follow the deadlines listed below. In order for submissions to be in the Symposium Program and recorded in the Symposium Proceedings, at least one presenting author will need to register by the date listed. Note, Student Posters will follow the deadlines for Posters.
| Papers | Posters / Videos | |
| Paper first draft submitted by authors | June 12 2023 | |
| Paper first round notifications sent | June 23 2023 | |
| Poster first draft abstract submitted by authors; Video draft/overview submitted by authors | July 24 July 17 2023 |
|
| Poster and video authors notified | August 11 August 4 2023 |
|
| Early registration deadline | July 31, 2023 | |
| Accepted paper final version submitted by authors | August 14, 2023 | |
| Program issued with author presentation information (date, time, check-in) | September 5, 2023 | |
| Hotel room block reservation deadline | September 15, 2023 5pm EDT | |
| Author registration deadline (for submission to be in proceedings) | September 15, 2023 | |
| Accepted final versions of - paper slideshows (PPTX) - posters (approx. 40"x30" PDF) - videos (MP4, AVI, WMV, or MOV) submitted by authors | October 2, 2023 | |
| Registration deadline | October 9, 2023 | |
| ISAM 2023 | October 18-20, 2023 | |
Papers
Paper authors should submit an initial draft paper ranging from 4-6 pages in length (using the provided template) by June 12th June 5th. These initial drafts should clearly state the contribution, methods, cite relevant literature, and any include results and analysis obtained thus far. Where work is ongoing, authors should clearly describe what steps they plan to complete.
The ISAM Program Committee will review initial submissions and notify authors with one of three decisions: accept; revise and resubmit, or reject. Papers that were not accepted during the review process may be invited to transition to the poster track. Authors invited to revise and resubmit papers must submit a revision that addresses the comments of the reviewers in their final draft paper, which is submitted by Aug. 14th. The slide deck is submitted by Oct. 2nd, which will be used for plenary presentation on Oct. 19th or 20th (the event will have ready a laptop at the podium that is pre-loaded with all slide deck presentations). Both written paper and slide deck will be included in the symposium proceedings.
Posters
Poster authors should submit an extended abstract ranging from 1-2 pages in length (using the template) by July 24th July 17th. These initial drafts could include experience reports, best practices, project reports, implementation reports, and works-in-progress.
The ISAM Program Committee will review initial submissions and provide authors with feedback. For accepted poster authors, their digital poster is submitted by Oct. 2nd. Authors must bring their own physical poster for the Poster Reception on Oct. 19th (the event have ready an easel, foam board, and clips for all poster presentations). The abstract and digital poster will be included in the symposium proceedings.
Student Posters
Student poster authors should submit an abstract ranging from 1-2 pages in length (using the template) by July 24th July 17th. The ISAM Program Committee will review initial submissions and provide authors with feedback. For accepted poster authors, their final digital poster is submitted by Oct. 2nd. Authors must bring their own physical poster for the Poster Reception on Oct. 19th (the event will have ready an easel, foam board, and clips for all poster presentations). The abstract and digital poster will be included in the symposium proceedings.
Students are explicitly invited to showcase their projects, which were built in a makerspace. If a student has created something – in class or as a hobby – they are encouraged to share it and their experience. This call is soliciting cool stuff made by enthusiastic and passionate student makers. Accepted poster presenters will be given space to display hardware. Show your passion for making – submit a poster today!
Note, students authoring a poster are given priority for student travel support.
Videos
Video creators should submit a video draft or written outline for a 30-second to 4-minute video by July 24th July 17th. The ISAM Program Committee will review initial submissions and provide authors with feedback. For accepted video authors, their final video is submitted by Oct. 2nd. Videos will be featured throughout the symposium on Oct. 19th and 20th (the event will play videos at appropriate times).
Video authors are advised to prepare a video to be accessible to people with disabilities:
- For videos that include dialogue, to support a format for people that are deaf or hard-of-hearing either 1) include closed captions, in-band closed captions, open captions, or subtitles or 2) check that auto-captioning on YouTube, Zoom, etc. will play appropriately (may need to leave space at the bottom of the screen for overlapping text).
- For videos that include visuals, to support people that are blind or have low vision either 1) include audio in the video that describes the ongoing visuals or 2) have a separate audio file that narrates the entire video.