Guidelines for Abstract Proposal Submissions

Back to Basics: Creating Value through Environmental Assessment

Wednesday, October 19, 2022 and Thursday, October 20, 2022

York University, Convention Centre, 2nd floor at the Second Student Centre

15 Library Ln, North York, ON M3J 2S5

In person with options for virtual presentations as well as participation

  • OAIA is accepting proposals for the 2022 OAIA Conference
  • The deadline for submission is June 30, 2022
  • Submit an abstract and share your wisdom!
  • Come and join us for a spirited discussion!

Abstracts should explore the main conference topic, “Back to Basics: Creating Value through Environmental Assessment,” and reference the applicable “topic bullets” identified on the previous page under these headings:

Topics include:

  • Explore how efforts to modernize the EA Act in Ontario as well as the federal Impact Assessment Act promote environmental planning processes that in turn create value for proponents, the general public and other stakeholders, regulators and Indigenous Peoples?
  • Highlight case studies where technical studies as part of impact assessments contribute to broader sustainability such as Corporate Social Responsibility and the Social License to Operate. For example, how are social, health, and Indigenous-led assessments in Ontario contributing to broader objectives?
  • Explore best practices and case studies for stakeholder engagement: how do we address misinformation in the context of EA? What role does joint fact-finding play in combatting misinformation and creating meaningful engagement?
  • Explore how the identification and evaluation of alternatives contributes to corporate, political, and societal goals including the public interest, economic development, climate change, and sustainability.
  • Explore how Western science and Indigenous Knowledge Systems are being used in impact assessment including to address alternatives assessment, baseline data gathering, and the assessment of effects.
  • Explore how adaptive management is being used to manage the uncertainty and lack of consensus around the assessment of impacts. How can Indigenous communities, the general public, and stakeholders be engaged as adaptive management approaches are used to manage impacts post-approval?
  • Explore how cumulative effects, climate change, and sustainability are being assessed. Highlight case studies that exemplify best practices for cumulative effects assessment and how climate change and sustainability are being addressed in projects in Ontario.

Pick one of the following formats for sharing your work: Panel presentation, debate, case study, or facilitated audience discussion.

IMPORTANT NOTE: OAIA uses the conference program to advertise the conference. This means that in addition to posting the draft and final conference program on its website, OAIA will be using its Twitter account (@OA_ImpactAssess) to share information about the conference including the speakers. If you have a concern with OAIA using Twitter to show-case your abstract/participation in the conference, please indicate that in the form below.

Please follow all instructions and complete all the questions in the abstract submission forms that follow!

Instructions to Submitters

Important note for student submitters: This year the OAIA will be offering a student bursary. For more information, please see Ontario Impact Assessment Award – Student Bursary ($2,500.00)

Abstract submitters can do one of the following:

  • Submit an abstract for a panel presentation that the organizers will place in conjunction with other speakers who submit abstracts on related topics to one or more of the “topic bullets” for the 2022 OAIA Conference (listed on page 2 above).
  • Organize a complete session of panel presentations (e.g., symposia) on one or more of the “topic bullets” for the 2022 OAIA Conference. Such a submission should include a set of 3-4 abstracts (i.e. several abstract submission forms) and detailed session plan with timelines, key objectives and outcomes including a list of the presenters and their biographies. Confirmation of participation by the presenters must be sought in advance.
  • Organize a complete session for a panel debate on one or more of the “topic bullets” for the 2022 OAIA Conference with multiple debaters and a proposal for audience participation. Such a submission should include an abstract and a detailed session plan with timelines, key objectives and outcomes including a list of the debaters and their biographies. Confirmation from the participating debaters must be sought in advance.
  • Submit an abstract for a case study related to one or more of the “topic bullets” for the 2022 OAIA Conference. These case studies could be international in nature, but the presenter MUST clearly show its relevance to Ontario’s environmental assessment regime. The case study may be grouped with other similar case studies into a session or it can be a stand-alone session.
  • Submit an abstract for a facilitated audience discussion on one or more of the “topic bullets” for the 2022 OAIA Conference. Such an abstract should include a detailed session plan with timelines, key objectives and outcomes.
  • Person(s) planning to be in a panel presentation or a case study must be prepared to make a 15 minute talk on their topic. The conference organizers will group similar presentations into presentation sessions with two or three other presenters and will assign a moderator to facilitate discussion.
  • Person(s) organizing a session of panel presentations, panel of debaters, or a facilitated audience discussion will be allotted 1.5 hours, which must include at least 30 minutes for audience questions and participation.

Proposal Deadline & How to Submit

All abstracts must be submitted no later than June 30, 2022.

To complete the submission process, first download the editable Word form and then submit it via our online form.

Guidelines for Writing a Proposal Abstract

Abstracts for conference sessions are welcome from industry, government, Indigenous groups, academia (including students – see information related to Ontario Impact Assessment Award – Student Bursary), EA consultants and non-government sectors.

All abstracts (see Instructions to Submitters) must be submitted using the submission form. Please ensure that the submission is clear in its intent.

The following should be included for all abstracts:

  • Title
  • Name of Presenter(s), including affiliations and email addresses. Note: please include any co-presenters
  • Co-Authors whom you wish to acknowledge (if any)
  • Biographies (presenters and co-presenters only) (no longer than 100 words each)
  • Abstracts should not exceed 200 words
  • Information on whether the presentation can be posted on the OAIA website after the Conference

Include the following for all conference sessions:

  • Explain how the submission relates to the “topic bullets” for the 2022 OAIA Conference.
  • Provide a general description of research question(s), objective(s), theoretical framework(s), method(s) and expected outcome(s)/finding(s) or result(s) (no more than 200 words).
  • Identify a preferred format for presentation by choosing a, b, c, d, or e, from the Instructions to Submitters section above. If you need to provide a detailed session plan (as requested in the Instructions to Submitters section above), kindly include one as an attachment

Please take care in providing accurate information; spelling errors and missing email addresses may result in presenters or co-authors not being correctly linked to their contributions.

Deadlines, Stipulations and Selection Process

  • You will hear from OAIA by July 30, 2022 about whether your proposal has been accepted.
  • If you are invited to proceed, you will be asked to register for the Conference, join as an OAIA Member, and confirm your participation by August 15, 2022.
  • You will be asked to submit all electronic files related to your submission (e.g. PowerPoint presentations) no later than October 1, 2022.

The following criteria will be used by the selection committee:

  • Link to one or more of the “topic bullets” for the 2022 OAIA Conference (see page 1 and 2 of the Call for Abstracts – above).
    • Applicability to impact assessment practice and/or theory in Ontario
    • Scientific and/or technical merit
    • Clarity of presentation (e.g. abstract begins with a clear statement of issues)

 

Travel and Other Expenses

All presenters must register and pay the registration fee. There are several registration options available. No reimbursement for travel costs will be made. In some instances, with prior arrangement with the conference organizing committee, some assistance may be available to offset some travel costs (Students, please refer to Ontario Impact Assessment Award – Student Bursary).

PLEASE SUBMIT ABSTRACTS BY June 30, 2022.

To complete the submission process, first download the editable Word form and then submit it via our online form.

Please click the corresponding buttons below to download an editable blank abstract form and to finally submit your form once completed.