We need more reviewers

Over 100 proposals have been made to OBTC and the final due date is January 12.  We did have some technical problems and most of the proposals only went to reviewers today.  We are expecting another influx of proposals and need additional reviewers.  If you haven’t signed up, please do so at obtc.org   After January 12, we will send 3 short proposals for review with a two week due date.  If you are already a reviewer and would do a few more please send a note to support@obtc.org  Thanks.  Joe Seltzer, Program Coordinator, seltzer@lasalle.edu

Now 86 proposals for OBTC 2009, now rolling reviews

Thanks to those of you who used the early review date. Proposals will go out for review. There is still plenty of time to submit. We will do rolling reviews as papers are submitted until the final date of January 12.

Early submission date is Dec 8

Submitting a proposal by Dec 8 has several advantages.  I anticipate a higher acceptance rate among the first group than will be possible for the Jan 12 submission date.  I’ll explain in the next paragraph.  Also you will likely get your review back soon and know how to make your travel plans.  You will also help us spread the reviewing process over a longer period of time and thus put less pressure on reviewers.  So think about submitting soon.

Why do I think there will be a higher acceptance rate for early submissions?  I’ll get blind review (usually 3) and look at the proposals myself.  Those that are clear acceptances will be accepted.  Those that are clear rejections will be rejected (and thus may give you time to propose something else or more complete for the Jan 12 final submission date).  Some proposals in-between will be held and considered again in the final pool (possibly including additional reviews).  I only have a limited number of slots in the program and following the procedures started last year will begin building the program from accepted proposals.  As I get to the end of the review process in January, I anticipate that I’ll accept additional high quality proposals, but that some mid-range proposals will have to be rejected, possibly including some that might have been accepted if in the original December pool.  So submit early.

Also if we get lots more high quality papers than I can accept, I may go back to some people with 2 or more acceptances and ask them to choose which proposal to present.

Just wanted this process to be more transparent.

Joe

Joe Seltzer, program coordinator