Selection of proposals will prioritize the interests of SMBE members, emphasizing innovative scientific developments while ensuring geographic and gender diversity among the participants. In light of the growing influence of new technologies, such as genetic editing, synthetic biology and AI, on evolution research (as outlined in our mission statement), we also encourage proposals that explore these topics.

Invited speakers will have 20 minutes for their presentation, followed by 5 minutes for questions. After the invited speaker presentation, other speaker slots to be filled later based upon abstracts submitted to the conference.

For each accepted symposium, the meeting will be able to provide financial support up to 11,000 DKK (approx. 1,575 USD) to cover travel and accommodation, along with fully covered conference registration for the eventually chosen invited speaker.

To submit your proposal please click on the link below and follow the instructions. Please complete and submit the form by 15 October 2025. Successful applications will be confirmed by the beginning of November 2025. 

Symposium proposals should include a description of the symposium (250 words max) and the name of proposed invited speaker(s) capable of delivering a talk of high quality and wide interest. Each symposium will be limited to one invited speaker, however, you can nominate multiple invited speakers at this stage. At the time of proposal submission, the proposed invited speaker(s) should have agreed to accept the invitation in principle, should they be chosen. Please explain to the proposed invited speaker that the invitation is conditional on funding of the proposal. For the proposed invited speaker(s), please indicate whether they have been approached, whether they have expressed their interest in participating, and the likely topic for their talk. The symposium organizers will also select contributed speakers from the abstracts submitted by registered delegates.

The final decision on the selection of symposia, invited and contributed talks will be made by the Local Organizing Committee (LOC). Criteria will include quality of the proposals, breadth of interest to SMBE membership, and representation of the diversity of SMBE membership among speakers.

The meeting will be held as a hybrid conference, but the speakers (keynote, invited, contributed) in principle should participate in person.