FAQs

In-Person Experience Questions

• + What are the dates for the in-person meeting?

  The 2021 INFORMS Annual Meeting will be held October 24–27 in Anaheim, California. Please be sure to check back to this website for updates.

• + Am I required to pre-record my presentation?

  Yes, all presenters are required to pre-record their presentations and upload them to the 2021 INFORMS Annual Meeting platform bySeptember 13.

• + Why? I’m planning on presenting in person.

  Several reasons:

  • In person presenters will be able to extend the reach of their research; in 2020 we had over 20k+ presentations viewed in the 3-month period following the end of the meeting.
  • Virtual attendees will have access to all of the presentations.
  • In the event of an emergency, the entirety of the meeting will be preserved for both in person and virtual attendees, and the meeting will be able to proceed virtually.
• + Explain how my presentation will be scheduled?

  You will be scheduled in an in-person session containing only in-person presenters. You will also be scheduled in a virtual session, likely with a mix of in-person and virtual presenters. Your two sessions will be at different days/times and may contain different groups of presenters.

• + I was invited by a Session Chair, does that mean I won’t be in my original session?

  Your in-person session will only have the original speakers if they attend in-person. Otherwise, you will be grouped with other speakers with related topics who will also attend in-person.

  Your virtual session will have all the original speakers. You are welcome to participate in both.

• + Am I required to also present virtually?

  You are required to upload your pre-recorded presentation. Being present for your virtual session and virtual Q&A is optional.

• + Will virtual presenters be livestreamed into my in-person session?

  No, there will be an in-person schedule with sessions containing only in-person presenters. Most meeting rooms will not be set up with Internet.

• + Will the virtual audience see my in-person presentation?

  A select number of sessions will be livestreamed to the virtual audience, but most will not. The virtual audience will, however, be able to watch your pre-recorded presentation online.

• + What are the health and safety protocols for the in-person attendees?

  INFORMS main priority is the safety and health of our attendees, sponsors, speakers, and staff. We are working closely with the Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim Convention and Visitor’s Bureau and the Marriott Anaheim to ensure that the INFORMS Annual Meeting is safe for everyone. All attendees will be required to abide by our COVID-19 procedures, which will be posted in late summer.

  For information on the Anaheim Convention Center protocols click here.

  For information on the Marriott Anaheim protocols click here.