WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: WiCyS 2025 Call for Presenters

2025 Conference Schedule Expanded by an Additional Day!

WiCyS is pleased to announce that WiCyS 2025 conference will be expanded to include an additional day. Pre-conference workshops will kick off on Wednesday, April 2, followed by sessions on Thursday, Friday and Saturday concluding with optional post-conference workshops on Saturday afternoon. The career fair will take place on Thursday morning and afternoon and Friday morning. In addition to these events, we have a variety of other activities planned throughout the conference. As the program is developed, the conference committee will thoughtfully assign selected submissions to time slots that best enhance the overall agenda and ensure a cohesive experience.

WiCyS is also extending the 2025 Virtual Conference by an additional day. The Virtual Conference will be held on April 9 and 10, with a dedicated time slot for the Virtual Career Fair on the afternoon of April 10.

WiCyS is a community of women, men, non-binary individual’s, allies and advocates. Collectively, we work to fill the cybersecurity workforce shortage by amplifying our efforts to facilitate efforts to recruit, retain and advance women in cybersecurity. At the WiCyS Conference, we strive to spotlight underrepresented and underutilized individuals.

Conference Website	https://www.wicys.org/events/wicys-2025/
Proposal Submissions Open (All Categories)	September 9, 2024
Proposal Submission Deadline (Except Posters)	November 4, 2024; at 5:00pm CT
Notification Status (Non-Poster)	December 16, 2024
Poster Submission Deadline	January 6, 2025; 5:00pm CT
Poster Notifications Status	January 17, 2025

The 2025 WiCyS Annual Conference will have five different tracks. CFP submissions can be related to anything within the five tracks that would be valuable to WiCyS attendees.

Technical Skill Building - (technical skill development in all areas of security and/or privacy)
Education & Workforce Development - (all levels of cybersecurity education and training programs, strategies and initiatives for meeting current and upcoming job demand)
Research & Innovation - (includes research, entrepreneurship, and trends in emerging technologies)
Career Advancement & Management - (includes internships, apprenticeships, hiring and being hired, leadership, career development/growth, work-life balance)
Community EcoSystem & Outreach - (includes collaborations/partnerships and diversity, equality, inclusion & accessibility (DEIA) efforts)

Multiple proposals can be submitted in different categories and tracks. The same proposal content cannot be submitted in multiple categories. Submissions will be peer-reviewed with the presenter's name, email and affiliation anonymized. Accepted proposals will be notified by December 16, 2024. All participants for accepted proposals will have access to early registration and lodging reservations. Presenters will be listed in the program and on our conference app in the order listed in the proposal.

Please do not list people who you would like to invite to present; only include those you have confirmed to present, if accepted.

All submissions must be submitted through this platform.

Submitters need to identify the type of submission: Birds of a Feather, Lightning Talk, Panel, Presentation, Workshop, or Student Poster.
Submitters also must identify which tracks: Technical Skill Building, Education & Workforce Development, Research & Innovation, Career Advancement & Management, and Community EcoSystem & Outreach. Multiple tracks can be selected. No track is required for Student Poster.
Please do not include ANY names or affiliations in the abstract since all reviews are anonymized.
An abstract is limited to 250 words that highlight the proposed session.
An outline of the proposed session should also be submitted for review but will not be published.

BIRDS OF A FEATHER (BoaF)

Birds of a Feather (BoaF) are informal discussion sessions engaging the audience and moderated by the facilitator on just about any topic related to security and/or privacy. The facilitator leads the discussion with primary participation from the audience. These sessions can be a great way to share ideas and be introduced to current issues or trends in this area. BoaF sessions are 45 minutes long with a maximum of two listed facilitators.
- First listed facilitator receives complimentary registration and does not receive complimentary lodging.
- Second listed presenter does not receive complimentary registration or lodging; they receive early registration.

LIGHTNING TALKS

Lightning talks highlight fresh ideas, unique perspectives, valuable experiences and emerging trends in security and/or privacy. Lightning Talks are five-minute talks (with or without formal presentations) with a maximum of one listed presenter.
- Listed presenter receives complimentary registration and does not receive complimentary lodging.

PANELS

Panels provide opportunities to spotlight discussion on a current, relevant topic in security and/or privacy. Panel submitters are responsible for selecting appropriate panelists to participate. In addition to the moderator, there can be up to three panelists and each panel is 45 minutes long with a maximum of three panelists and one moderator listed. Submit all names and their affiliation info along with the abstract.
- Moderator receives complimentary registration and does not receive complimentary lodging.
- Up to three panelists receive reduced rate conference registration ($300) and do not receive complimentary lodging.

PRESENTATIONS

Technical presentations highlight innovations, research & development projects, internships/co-ops experiences, service-learning and outreach projects, or other interesting experiences related to security and/or privacy. Technical presentations are 45 minutes long, including time for Q&A, with a maximum of two listed presenters.
- If accepted for In-person Conference:
  - First listed presenter receives complimentary registration and two nights complimentary lodging.
  - Second listed presenter receives complimentary registration and does not receive complimentary lodging.
- If accepted for Virtual Conference:
  - First & second listed presenters receive complimentary virtual conference registration.

WORKSHOPS

Workshops are hands-on sessions (technical/professional development) on any topic related to security and/or privacy. The audience can be students, educators, professionals and researchers (in any combination or by category). Workshops are two hours long with a maximum of four listed presenters.
- First listed presenter receives complimentary registration and two nights complimentary lodging.
- Second listed presenter receives complimentary registration and does not receive complimentary lodging.
- Other listed presenters do not receive complimentary registration or lodging; they receive early registration.

STUDENT POSTERS

Posters provide opportunities for students to present their work to the audience at WiCyS in poster format. Winners in both undergrad and grad categories receive travel support for future security conference(s) of their choice. Runners-up receive prizes as well.
- The first listed student of accepted posters will receive an automatic scholarship to attend WiCyS 2025.
- Additional students listed on a poster must apply for a scholarship to attend and there is no automatic scholarship.
- Presenting a poster at the conference is a student member benefit. Accepted poster presenters must become a student member if they are not already a student member.
- Submissions must be presented in person and the first listed presenter must be the lead presenter.

WiCyS 2025 Call for Presenters

Important Dates

List of Topics

Submission Types, Guidelines & Formats

Committees

Venue

Contact