WEF policy is to require a manuscript for all speakers and alternates for Specialty Conferences. Please check the speaker packet you received when your abstract was accepted to ensure this requirement applies to you.

Manuscripts will be compiled into the Conference Proceedings that are provided to all attendees of the conference.  We have created specific guidelines on how the manuscript should look.  You can find them below.

Manuscript Guidelines

Click here to see a sample manuscript.

All manuscript authors and co-authors must sign the license agreement associated. For more information about the license agreement, please visit the FAQs tab above.

Exceptions from the manuscript requirement in 2022 are the Forum on Particles and Colloids and Innovations in Process Engineering due to the nature of these events. 

WEF SPECIALTY CONFERENCE AUTHOR, SPEAKER, AND PRESENTER LICENSE FAQ

• What are the publication and formatting guidelines for my paper? 
  • For a technical session paper, please visit the Manuscript Tab on this page to find the manuscript guidelines.
    
    
• Do I still own copyright in my paper, powerpoint, or other materials even though I am presenting at a WEF Specialty Conference?

• Yes, you still own the copyright(s).  WEF, however, receives from you (via your applicable licence agreement) certain non-exclusive license rights that also permit WEF to use your paper or Workshop materials in ways set forth in the applicable agreement.  Also, for papers only, WEF’s license right is exclusive for 1 year, which means that even though you own the copyright, you cannot publish or distribute your paper elsewhere within 1 year of your WEF Specialty Conference.  Even during this 1-year period, however, you may “present” (speak) at other conferences regarding your paper topic, and you may continue internal (within your organization) distribution of copies of your paper for private, noncommercial purposes (e.g., posting on a company internally-accessible intranet, but not attempting to publish or sell it, or provide it to customers unless you have otherwise received express permission from WEF).  Please refer to your specific license agreement for details regarding your rights or contact the respective conference email if you have questions. 

• May I provide copies of my paper, powerpoint or workshop materials to my customers or others outside my company?

• Yes, except for your paper (for a limited time).  Your agreement(s) with WEF do not prohibit you from distributing the materials you have developed EXCEPT for WEF’s 1 year period of exclusivity regarding the paper (see FAQ, above).   In addition, you may remain subject to any agreements you have with third parties, and subject to any rights they may have.  If you wish to provide copies of your paper to (external) third parties such as customers prior to the FOLLOWING YEAR’S Conference (i.e., if you are presenting at XYZ Conference 2019, that would be XYZ 2020), please contact WEF at the respective conference email address and explain your request.  We will strive to grant reasonable requests. 

• May I publish my paper in other journals?

• You may publish your paper elsewhere after WEF’s one-year period of exclusivity has expired, i.e., at the time of the following year’s conference.  Please refer to you applicable license agreement.  This period of exclusivity is intended to ensure that WEF maintains the ability to be the first publisher of your paper. 

• Do I need permission of my employer for any of the activities related to presenting or publishing at a Specialty Conference?

• You are responsible for determining any rights and permissions needed from your employer (or former employer).  Please be aware that, under United States copyright law, in some circumstances an employer is deemed the Author and Owner of a copyrighted work created by an employee, such as an employee’s paper, powerpoint presentation, or video.  Such a work is referred to as a “work made for hire.”  See 17 U.S.C. 101 and 17 U.S.C. 201 for further information.  Under your license agreement, you or your employer (as applicable) represent that you have obtained all rights needed to license your paper, powerpoint, video, or other works to WEF as outlined in the agreement.  The information provided by WEF is not legal advice, and you are encouraged to consult your own lawyer or your company’s lawyer if you have any questions.  

• I am a government employee, and believe my paper or powerpoint is in the public domain as a result of my government employment.  Do I still need to sign an author or presenter agreement for the conference?

• Yes.  There is a clause in all WEF license agreements accounting for the possibility that a work is a government work, and if you determine that any of your materials fall into that category, you will indicate so on the agreement.  YOU are responsible for making this determination, and you are encouraged to consult your organization’s lawyer in doing so.  The federal copyright statute specifies that a “work of the United States government” (17 U.S.C. 105) is not subject to federal copyright protection, but making such a determination sometimes is not simple and there are exceptions (works produced by the U.S. Postal Service, for example, are subject to copyright).  Works produced by government contractors are subject to copyright, and ownership may depend on the terms of the contract.  Works produced by state and local municipalities may be protected by copyright, but states and local municipalities may have further applicable rules (some states, for example, place such works in the public domain).  In short, if you believe your work may be in the public domain or owned by a government entity, you are responsible for consulting with your attorney to make that determination. 

• Will WEF register copyright in my paper?

• It is the author’s responsibility to register the copyright in their particular work, if desired, and WEF makes no promise to do so.  WEF may at its discretion, however, register copyright in WEF’s compilation or collection of a conference's works (e.g., conference proceedings including all papers for a particular conference).  Such registration does not replace a copyright registered by the author in an individual work.  Please consult your lawyer for information regarding the benefits of copyright registration.  

This FAQ does not constitute legal advice.  Authors who need or desire legal advice should consult an attorney.  For more information regarding copyrights, authors may also visit the U.S. Copyright Office website (http://copyright.gov). 

How to Submit an Abstract

For most of WEF's Specialty Conferences, you will submit your abstract to our submission portal website from Attendee Interactive. You can find the link to the submission portal in the Contacts and Links tab or on the conference homepage. Some of our conferences will not use this portal. In that case, please check the conference homepage for instructions.

When submitting an abstract, you should pay close attention to the specific conference's Call for Abstracts (CFA) which can also be found on the conference homepage.  The CFA will include the different topics we are looking for, as well as the review criteria.  Please pay close attention to what is being asked before you submit your abstract.  

Sample Abstract

If you would like to know how to submit an abstract using the submission portal, please watch this video or read this description.  The link to submit will be on the conference website.

Use your WEF member log in to access the AI submission portal. If you are not a WEF member, or you need help logging in, please check these instructions before contacting your conference's email address. 

How to Submit a Workshop Proposal

For most of WEF's Specialty Conferences, you will submit your workshop proposal to our submission portal website from Attendee Interactive. You can find the link to the submission portal in the Contacts and Links tab or on the conference homepage. Some of our conferences will not use this portal. In that case, please check the conference homepage for instructions. You will be asked if you are submitting a workshop proposal for a Half  Day or Full Day Workshop.  More info on what to include can be found here.

When submitting a workshop proposal, you should pay close attention to the specific conference's Call for Abstracts (CFA).  The CFA will include the different topics we are looking for, as well as the review criteria.  Please pay close attention to what is being asked before you submit your abstract.  For some events, we will not use this automated system, and you should wait for instructions on what to do.

Workshops may be virtual or in-person. There is a question on the "Additional Information" page in the proposal submission form which asks your preference between the two.

If you would like to know how to submit a workshop proposal using our system, please watch this video or read this description.  The link to submit will be on the conference website.

Use your WEF member log in to access the AI submission portal. If you are not a WEF member, or you need help logging in, please check these instructions before contacting your conference's email address. 

How to Submit a Session Proposal

For most of WEF's Specialty Conferences, you will submit your session proposal to our submission portal website from Attendee Interactive. You can find the link to the submission portal in the Contacts and Links tab or on the conference homepage. Some of our conferences will not use this portal. In that case, please check the conference homepage for instructions. You will be asked if you are submitting a proposal for a Half  or Full Session.  More info on what to include can be found here. 

Please note, not all conferences accept session proposals.

When submitting a session proposal, you should pay close attention to the specific conference's Call for Abstract (CFA).  The CFA will include the different topics we are looking for, as well as the review criteria.  Please pay close attention to what is being asked before you submit your abstract.  For some events, we will not use this automated system, and you should wait for instructions on what to do.

If you would like to know how to submit a session proposal using the submission portal, please watch this video or read this description.  The link to submit will be on the conference website.

Use your WEF member log in to access the AI submission portal. If you are not a WEF member, or you need help logging in, please check these instructions before contacting your conference's email address. 

How to Submit a Mobile Session Presentation

Some of WEF's specialty conferences offer exhibitors the opportunity for a mobile session presentation on the Exhibit Floor or virtually.  We have an automated system for your to submit your mobile session proposal.   

These sessions bring attendees directly to exhibitor booths for topic-focused discussions that allow presenters to showcase products and services in technical and educational presentations combined with equipment or hands-on visuals.  This session is open to any exhibitor who can address the subject matter.  Presenters are expected to give three 20-minute presentations back-to back simultaneously with 4 other exhibitors.

If you would like to know how to submit a session proposal using our system, please watch this video or read this description.  The link to submit will be on the conference website.

Use your WEF member log in to access the AI submission portal. If you are not a WEF member, or you need help logging in, please check these instructions before contacting your conference's email address. 

Mobile Sessions - The presenters should highlight, from their perspective, what works and doesn’t work for the individual technology they are describing.  For example, they should discuss items such as the ideal application, size limitations (diameter and distance), calculations, suitability for various levels of host pipe imperfections, design life, suitability for partial and full structural support, tolerance of active infiltration, requirements for bypassing of flow, adaptability to non-circular pipes, and cost for installation, etc.  Each presenter should be prepared to develop specific topics of interest based on the request of the Conference Steering Committee.  Presenters are encouraged to use the props and product samples within their exhibition booth to make technical points. These presentations are technology discussions, not product or proprietary pitches.  Presentations will be scrutinized for overt marketing during draft presentation review.

Emerging Topics and Technologies Session (Only for Collection Systems) - This session will allow exhibitors to highlight their new and innovative product or service and present its benefits to the collection system community.  Presenters should provide information their product or technology and its applications.  This session will be less structured and allow presenters to showcase new technologies.

All abstracts, session proposals, and workshop proposals go through a rigorous review process before being accepted for presentation at WEF Education & Training Events. Conference Steering Committee and Program Committee members participate in the review process, giving abstracts numerical scores based on the criteria in the conference's Call for Abstracts (CFA). Please reference the CFA for the event to which you are submitting in order to see the criteria. CFAs can be found on the conference webpages, linked in the "Contacts and Links" tab on this page.

Review is now double-blind. This means that reviewers cannot see your name or company information when they review your abstract in order to eliminate unconscious bias from the review process. Please help us keep it fair and unbiased by avoiding mentioning your name in the body of your abstract, or in your session or workshop agenda. 

Virtual workshop speakers have to complete two steps that their in-person counterparts do not have to complete. These are submitting the Video License Agreement and quiz questions.

The Video License agreement is separate from the manuscript license agreement, and allows us to use the recording that is submitted to us in our online platform. In order for WEF to include your video presentation in the virtual conference and for you to present your work, the presenter MUST complete and return the Video License Agreement. 

WEF needs one multiple choice question based directly off each presentation so that a session quiz can be created. Quizzes are a requirement for many states’ continuing education boards for virtual programming. 

Need more information about deadlines for a specific conference?  Call 703-684-2400 x7450, or reach out to the conference-specific email addresses below: 

Forum 2022 – Particles and Colloids – the Next Frontier in Intensifying Water Resource Recovery
Jaunary 10-12, 2022 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
[email protected] 

WEF/AWWA Utility Management Conference 2022
February 21-24, 2022 in Orlando, Florida
[email protected] 
Submission and Speaker Portal link

Public Health Conference 2022 and Wastewater-based Epidemiology Summit
March 21-24, 2022 in Cincinnati, Ohio
[email protected]
Submission and Speaker Portal link

Collection Systems Conference 2022
April 19-22, 2022 in Detroit, Michigan
[email protected]
Submission and Speaker Portal link

Residuals and Biosolids Conference 2022
May 24-27, 2022 in Columbus, Ohio
[email protected]
Submission and Speaker Portal link

Innovations in Process Engineering Conference 2022
June 20-23, 2022 in Miami, Florida
[email protected] 
Submission and Speaker Portal link coming soon!

Stormwater Summit 2022
June 24-27, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota
[email protected]
Submission and Speaker Portal link coming soon!

WEF Virtual Events will be held online on an interactive platform. Technical Sessions will be presented in the following three ways. All three of these formats may not be present at each virtual event. Please check the specifications for each event to find out more.