The call for proposals is your chance to shape the programme of the 2013 Conference [1].

This year we will have three strands to explore the topics that matter to you:

• Do it: These sessions will be highly practical with an emphasis on sharing skills
• Discuss it: These sessions will cover the hot topics in public engagement and provide an opportunity to discuss the important issues
• Discover it: These sessions will highlight excellent examples of public engagement and provide audiences with fresh ideas to apply to their own projects 

Here are a few suggestions for topics that came up at a brainstorming with representatives of diferent sectors: 

• open access
• links between public engagement and policy
• links between PR and public engagement
• perceived tension between academics who study scicomm and practitioners
• REF and the impact statement
• making the most of partnerships
• cuts and funding

The call for proposals is now closed.

Important dates

• 3 January 2013: deadline for proposals ** Deadline extended til Friday 11 January **
• 18 January 2013: applicants notified if successful or not
• 8 February 2013: successful applicants to confirm speaker names and organisations, and write a brief description about the session
• 15 March 2013: session organisers to provide speaker biographies and photos for the programme, as well as room layout and AV requirements
• 16-17 May  2013: the Conference will be held at Kings Place, London