PERC 2024 will have several types of parallel/breakout sessions, where attendees can engage with other members of the PER community. Parallel sessions have a variety of formats designed to meet the needs of the PER community. If a research team would like to propose a breakout session, they may review the formats and choose the one that best suits their work.

Community Connections:

Community Connections allow individuals to propose a gathering of different members of the PER community that may have common interests. The organizer provides a space for the community members to organize and work together. This can be as structured or unstructured as the organizer desires. This format can also be used to create a safe space for discussion on sensitive topics in our community. Session durations are 30, 45, or 60 minutes. Community Connection proposals were due by May 13.

Parallel Sessions:

There are many opportunities to engage at the conference. Check out the formats, choose what suits your work best, and submit a proposal. We strongly encourage creativity and using the custom formats to do what best represents your work. Session proposals were due by April 5.

• Critical Conversations: Organizers choose proponents of potentially controversial topics and lead a friendly discussion exploring differing perspectives about the topic. Session durations are 60 or 90 minutes.
• Round Table Discussion: In a round table discussion, the organizer chooses a theme and facilitates a community discussion on this topic. This format can also be used to create a safe space for discussion on sensitive topics in our community. Session durations are 60 or 90 minutes.
• Talk / Poster Symposium: In a talk/ poster symposium, the organizer chooses a theme and invites several speakers or panelists to present on this theme, with or without a discussant who may lead a group discussion following any talks. Session durations are 60 or 90 minutes.
• Workshop: Workshops are designed to allow the PER community to learn more about different research techniques, research methodologies, instructional innovations, and participate in professional development activities. These workshops generally involve one or more leaders with the attendees working on a shared task. Session durations are 90 minutes.
• Custom Format: If none of the other formats fit your needs, please propose a custom session, please select "Custom Format" and describe your session's requirements in the available fields. Session durations are 30, 45, 60, or 90 minutes.

We encourage all organizers, even those whose content does not explicitly address the conference theme, to consider ways of embodying and taking advantage of this year’s PERC theme. Sessions that encourage deeper engagement with PER as a research area, provide professional development, promote a stronger, more inclusive physics education research community, develop mutual mentorship opportunities, encourage civil debate, etc., are strongly encouraged.

For examples of each type of session, you may wish to consult these abstracts:

• Example of Community Connection
• Example of Critical Conversation
• Example of Poster Symposium 
• Example of Round Table Discussion
• Example of Talk Symposium 
• Example of Workshop
• Example of Custom Format

Important Dates

February 1, 2024: Parallel session proposal submission opened
April 5, 2024: Parallel session proposals were due
April 6, 2024: Contributed poster abstract submission opened
May 13, 2024: Paper-eligible poster abstracts and Proceedings manuscripts were due
May 13, 2024: Community Connection proposals were due
June 7, 2024: Reviews for the PERC Proceedings were due
June 17, 2024: Non-paper eligible poster abstract submissions were due
July 10-11, 2024: Dates of the PERC

Answers to anticipated questions

1. What abstracts are paper-eligible?
   Contributed poster abstracts are eligible if submitted by the paper-eligible deadline. The deadline was May 13.
2. Does my poster or breakout session have to be on the conference theme?
   No. We encourage submissions on the conference theme but any strong PER work is appropriate for the conference. In the event that there are many more submissions than slots, connection to the conference theme or PERLOC recurring strands may be a secondary selection criterion.
3. How many proposals can I submit?
   There is no limit on proposals. Please note however that the PERC Proceedings has a limit of one paper per primary author. 

Now that you know everything about 2024 PERC, check out the important dates above and, please, do not miss the deadlines.

Thank you for making this 2024 PERC happen!