1. Read the Submission Requirements.

2. Submit your abstract using the appropriate Online Abstract Submission Form.

3. There is no limit to the number of abstracts an individual may submit.

4. Membership in NEHA is not required.

The National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) celebrates its 75th Annual Educational Conference (AEC) & Exhibition in Columbus, OH, Corrected Dates: June 18-20, 2011.

The conference is designed to educate and inform people who have an interest or career in environmental health and protection, as well as to build a professional network of environmental health colleagues, exchange information, and discover new and practical solutions to environmental health issues.

Ensuring Attendees Get a Return on Investment
Additionally, the NEHA AEC & Exhibition is being rationalized according to Return on Investment (ROI) principles. Emphasis will be given to those abstracts that have the potential to impart knowledge to attendees, which enables them to make cost effective program improvements in their workplaces as a result of what they learn by attending the conference, and thereby helping to pay for the investment made for their attendance to the NEHA AEC & Exhibition.

Virtual Conference
For the first time ever, NEHA launched a virtual conference with a number of educational sessions being streamed live as they happened at the 2010 in-person conference. Thus, abstract submitters should be aware that if accepted, their abstracts and presentations may also be part of the virtual conference. Certain presentations on particularly pertinent issues will be selected for live webcasting during the conference, and presenters are required to engage with attendees on the virtual platform as well.

Submission Requirements

Please read carefully. Submission forms must be filled out completely. Incomplete submission forms will be sent back for completion.

Content Requirements:

1. Presenter Information: Enter contact information for the presenting author. Co-presenter information should be entered in the Additional Information/Co-Presenter section of the form. For co-presenters, please provide complete contact information (name, credentials, job title, organization, address, phone number, and e-mail address).

2. Prior Speaking Engagements: Provide a list of presentations (if any) given in the past.

3. Presentation Title: The title should be short but descriptive as to the content of the abstract. The title will be printed in select marketing materials and the Conference Program. Keep in mind that many attendees determine what sessions to attend by title only.

4. Type of Presentation: Select the appropriate format.

5. Conference Discipline: Check as many as three main disciplines to which the abstract is best suited.

6. Presentation Description/Teaser: Provide no more than a two- to three-sentence description of the proposed presentation. Descriptions will be published in the Conference Program. Promote the presentation—make the description succinct, appealing, and informative as to what attendees will learn.

7. Abstract: This must be no longer than 350 words. Abstracts should describe the proposed presentation, including problem(s) explored, methodology used, results, lessons learned, solutions, and conclusions. Accepted abstracts will be posted on NEHA's Web site in May 2010. Editorial changes will be made to accepted abstracts at NEHA’s discretion.

8. Learning Objectives: Three learning objectives are required. Learning objectives should describe the desired outcome(s) of the presentation—what the attendee will be able to do at the end of the presentation. Objectives can be expressed in terms of gained knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis, or skills gained.
   
   TIP
   Although words such as “understand”, “know”, and “appreciate” are acceptable, it is better to define what exactly the attendee will understand, know, or appreciate.
   
   The following list of action verbs can be utilized to create strong, clear, and meaningful learning objectives:  list, define, implement, assess, analyze, solve, construct, identify, compare, create, outline, review, apply, demonstrate, employ, operate, utilize, calculate, determine, compile, coordinate, develop, design, incorporate, evaluate, measure, and contrast.
   
   This is not an exclusive list—it is intended to provide examples and ideas for writing learning objectives.

Presentation Formats

Directed and sequenced programming will be presented in simultaneous educational tracks. NEHA is seeking abstracts that bring to a national and international audience the latest advances in environmental health, as well as unique responses to environmental health and protection problems. Practical applications in both the public and private sectors should be emphasized along with the latest in proven emerging technologies.

NEHA offers two different types of educational programs at the conference—the Lecture Hall and the Learning Laboratory. For the Lecture Hall, applications for single or multiple speaker presentations are being accepted. For the Learning Laboratory, NEHA is accepting applications for hands-on demonstrations, tabletop exercises, panel discussions, poster presentations, roundtable discussions, and other types of interactive and innovative presentation formats.

Lecture Hall

1. Single/Multiple Presenter(s): Oral presentations limited to 50 minutes. Time allotted includes question-and-answer period. Three-speaker maximum.
   

2. Panel Presentation: Time allotment depends on panel size and topic. Panels are usually allotted two, 50-minute time slots, which includes question-and-answer period.
   

Learning Laboratory  

NEHA introduced the Learning Laboratory at the 2008 conference. These sessions are hands-on and interactive. The Learning Laboratory also includes presentation formats that are new and innovative.

1. Tabletop/Group Exercises: 50-minute minimum. Session must include several exercises for attendees to work on, either individually or in a group. Session size can be limited depending on instructor preferences.
   

2. Hands-On Demonstration: Must be an interactive demonstration. 50-minute minimum. Session size can be limited depending on instructor preferences.
   

3. Roundtable: 50-minute minimum. Can either be lead by one individual or have a group of individuals leading the discussion.

4. Panel Discussion: 50-minute minimum. A group of individuals discussing a topic. May be led by a moderator.
   

5. Speed Education Subject Matter Expert (SME): 90-minute minimum. Speed Education SMEs will interact with small groups of people during the session in 10-minute rounds. This session is based upon the popular speed dating programs taking place across the country. Attendees will have the opportunity to sit down with SMEs to ask questions and get answers specific to their needs and interests.
   

6. Other: NEHA does not want to put any limits on the format or type of presentation to be considered for the Learning Laboratory. If your presentation does not fit the provided categories, create your own and tell us how you want to present your topic.
   

Poster Session  

Poster or display of information on a display board (size is approximately 8’ x 4’). Two-hour minimum session during which presenter must be in attendance to explain the contents of the poster and answer attendee questions. Two-presenter maximum.

Selection Process

1. Directed and sequenced programming will be presented in simultaneous educational tracks.
   The educational tracks are:
   

   Ambient Air Quality Children's Environmental Health Drinking Water Quality Emerging Pathogens Environmental Health Leadership Development Environmental Health Research Environmental Health Tracking and Informatics Food Safety and Protection General Environmental Health Hazardous Materials and Toxic Substances

   Indoor Air Quality Injury Prevention/Occupational Health Institutions and Schools Environmental Health Onsite Wastewater Systems Solid Waste Sustainability Swimming Pools/Recreational Waters Terrorism and All-Hazards Preparedness Vector Control and Zoonotic Diseases Water Pollution

2. The corresponding NEHA Technical Section Chair(s) and NEHA staff will evaluate the abstracts. Selection is based upon, but not limited to, topic relevance, quality of submission, usefulness of content to attendees, and attendee appeal.

Submission Options

There are two easy ways to submit an abstract:

1. Submit online.

   1. Lecture Hall 

   2. Learning Laboratory 

   3. Poster Session 
      

2. Submit via e-mail. 
   If having difficulties with the online submission form, fill out the appropriate document below and e-mail it to Denise Devotta.

   1. Lecture Hall

   2. Learning Laboratory 

   3. Poster Session 

If after clicking the document link you are prompted to enter a password, simply click “Cancel” and the document will open. No password is needed.

CONFIRMATION OF RECEIPT
An e-mail confirmation will be sent out after NEHA has received your abstract. If you do not receive confirmation in one week’s time, please contact Denise Devotta.

Deadline to submit is OCTOBER 15, 2010 at midnight MDT.

Questions?

Assistance is just an e-mail or phone call away. Contact Denise Devotta at 303.756.9090, ext. 313, or at ddevotta@neha.org.