Working Groups/Protected Working Time
Working groups/protected time slots are a new and exciting way to participate in the ELSI-LHS symposium and the ELSI-LHS community. Building on the success of our writing sprints in 2018, we are now extending the opportunity to design and participate in work of mutual interest to you and the broader ELSI-LHS community. In addition to providing space and refreshments for you and up to 20 collaborators, the ELSI-LHS team can facilitate relevant connections with the diverse symposium community to expand the reach and expertise of your work. We also understand the need for protected space and time to work on papers individually, so support for solo writing projects will also be offered.
The purpose of the working groups/protected time slots is to catalyze efforts to produce deliverables. Participation can either serve as a starting point for a new collaboration or a focused effort on an existing project. Working groups are encouraged to continue working on projects of interest together and meet again at future symposia.
In November 2018, in conjunction with the symposium, four groups piloted this model using their time to:
- Prepare a full grant proposal to AHRQ
- Write an academic manuscript submitted to the American Journal of Public Health in March, 2019
- Draft an academic manuscript
- Create a detailed outline of an academic manuscript and establish a sustained working group that continues to meet regularly
The new working group/protected time slots component of the symposium will be a half-day session onNovember 6, 2019 focused on producing deliverables. Successful working groups will have the opportunity to share their work with the full ELSI-LHS Symposium in a short presentation the next day.
Proposals will be evaluated on the following criteria:
- Relevance to the mission of ELSI
- Working group lead and team members (groups should range from 2 to 20 people, individuals are also welcome to apply for protected working time)
- Clear deliverable (grant proposal, academic manuscript draft, tool development)
- Scientific merit
- Requested support (audio-visual needs, conference call lines, office supplies, agenda examples for grant and paper drafting)
If you are interested in being considered for a supported working group or protected working time at the 2019 ELSI-LHS symposium, please submit a 250-word unstructured abstract below along with the list of your participants and the support you might need. Submissions are due August 12, 2019 at 11:59pm (Eastern).
