Conference Session Descriptions
- Pre-Conference Training Sessions
- Opening Plenary Session
- Technical Sessions
- Sustainable Equipment Sessions
- Technology Demonstrations
- Symposia
- Posters
- Technology and Services Fair
- Working Group Meetings
- Morning Roundtable Sessions
- Tool-Torial Sessions
- Roll Up Your Sleeves Roundtables
- Offsite Tours and Receptions
- Evening Technology and Services Fair Reception
- Labs21 Luncheon
Pre-Conference
Training Sessions
I2SL offers a number of Pre-Conference
Training Sessions, which are open to all members of the laboratory and high-tech
facility community. These sessions are taught by seasoned professionals
and cover topics such as sustainable architecture, operations and maintenance,
commissioning, and techniques for laboratory users. Training sessions range from
full-day to half-day, and participants are eligible to receive
continuing education credits. Although these training sessions are held in conjunction
with the Labs21 Annual Conference, there is a separate fee to attend each
workshop.
Opening
Plenary Session
The Opening Plenary Session formally
kicks off the Labs21 Annual Conference and is open to all conference attendees.
The Master of Ceremonies (usually an I2SL board member) and
a local representative (e.g., mayor) welcome the audience, followed by
brief presentations by the two federal cosponsors, EPA and DOE. The highlight
of the Opening Plenary Session is the keynote address, which generally
focuses on sustainability. At the Labs21 2012 Annual Conference, this keynote will feature the winners of the International Laboratory Student Design Competition. This session is usually two hours long.
Technical
Sessions
Technical Session presentations are given by industry professionals who
share case studies, lessons learned, overviews of cutting-edge technologies
and design strategies, and industry best practices that are aimed at reducing
energy and water consumption and improving the environmental sustainability
of laboratories and other high-tech facilities. Four tracks of technical
sessions run concurrently, along with two tracks of specialized sessions
or symposia. Each 90-minute session is comprised
of three presentations, each lasting 30 minutes (20 minutes for the presentation
and 10 minutes for audience questions).
Sustainable Equipment Sessions
Sustainable Equipment Sessions allow laboratory and related high-tech facility product or service providers to share technical information on how their products and/or services can help reduce energy and water consumption, improve environmental performance, and enhance overall building management, while also meeting the requirements of the owners/users. These sessions are not for marketing one's product or service, but rather for providing a technical, non-commercial presentation of a product or service's operation, management, and environmental benefits. Those seeking to give marketing presentations are encouraged to exhibit in the Technology and Services Fair and present during the Technology Demonstrations.
Technology Demonstrations
Technology and Services Fair exhibitors are given the opportunity to market their products and services through Technology Demonstrations. These presentations, which take place in a special area of the exhibit hall (116 KB, 1 pp), allow attendees to learn about and observe how various products and services operate. The demonstrations give vendors the opportunity to showcase and market their technologies and services to an audience and then direct that audience to their booths for more information following the presentation.
Exhibitors should contact I2SL for information on submitting a Technology Demonstration for consideration.
Symposia
Symposia provide attendees with a more in-depth
look at topics pertinent to the Labs21 Community. Each year, I2SL
develops a list of potential symposia topics (based on attendee feedback,
current industry trends, or interest from key industry members), then
works with a lead organizer to develop an agenda, identify speakers, and
coordinate each session. I2SL also welcomes topic submissions from the Labs21 Community.
Two tracks of symposia run concurrently with the Technical Sessions and
can range from 90 minutes to full-day, depending on the topic and the
number of presenters. The agenda (including the topic, the number of presenters,
and the length of each presentation) is determined by I2SL
and the lead organizer(s). Symposia can also include panel discussions
and/or open forums with the audience.
Posters
The Labs21 Poster Session is a unique forum
that showcases some of the world's most innovative designs, engineering
systems, and laboratory equipment and how they embrace a whole-building approach to sustainable design consistent with I2SL's mission. The
session is designed for both individuals and organizations to showcase
their laboratory projects, sustainable equipment, and design strategies.
Technology and Services
Fair
Manufacturers and service providers exhibit the products that make them
unique to the needs of high-performance facilities. Learn more about the
Technology and Services Fair, including who's
already signed up and how you can reserve your booth.
Working
Group Meetings
A number of different Working
Group Meetings are coordinated by I2SL and scheduled throughout
the Labs21 Annual Conference. These informal side meetings provide an
opportunity for I2SL and select members of the Labs21 Community
to identify or initiate specific activities associated with promoting
the goals of Labs21. Working Group Meetings are generally one hour long
and take place during breakfast or lunch.
Morning
Roundtable Sessions
Morning Roundtables are hour-long
sessions that provide attendees with an intimate and informal forum for
discussing new trends, issues, and other emerging topics of interest to
the Labs21 Community. Each year, I2SL develops a list of potential
topics (based on attendee feedback, current industry trends, or interest
from a key industry member), then works with a lead organizer to coordinate
each roundtable. During the session, the leader briefly introduces the
topic and then facilitates an open discussion with the gathered audience.
Leaders and participants are encouraged to continue the dialogue after
the session and conference have ended.
Note: Because Morning Roundtables are intended to facilitate a discussion, PowerPoint presentations are not permitted; microphones are the only audio-visual equipment provided. However, presenters may distribute handouts if necessary.
Tool-Torial
Sessions
Tool-Torial Sessions are late-morning
sessions similar to the Morning Roundtables in that they encourage informal
discussions among attendees. However, as the name implies, the Tool-Torials
cover useful tools and resources that the audience can use to
improve their facility's level of energy efficiency. During the session,
the session leader briefly introduces the tool (including a demonstration,
if applicable) and then facilitates an open discussion with the audience.
Continued dialogue on the topic is encouraged after the session and conference
have ended.
Roll Up Your Sleeves Roundtables
Roll Up Your Sleeves Roundtables are informal working sessions
which allow those engaged in new or retrofit projects to gain insight,
experience, and ideas from other Labs21 attendees. Members of the Labs21
Technical Team, as well as laboratory and high-performance building experts
attending the conference, can provide their perspectives, which may help
you address your major architectural and/or engineering sustainability
challenges.
I2SL encourages organizations with new projects to participate in this session and take advantage of the opportunity to receive technical assistance from the industry experts that attend the conference.
Note: The Roll Up Your Sleeves Roundtable room does not contain audiovisual equipment other than microphones. PowerPoint presentations will not be permitted. Presenters are encouraged to bring schematics and other materials that will contribute to the discussion.
Offsite Tours and Receptions
Offsite tours and receptions offer
attendees access to some of the area's most unique and sustainable high-tech
facilities, giving them an insiders look into the operations, mechanics,
and management of these laboratories. Offsite tours and receptions also give attendees
a chance to network with fellow conference goers.
Technology and Services
Fair Evening Reception
The Labs21 Conference sets aside one evening during the busy week of sessions
and events to host a Technology and
Services Fair evening reception, where vendors and Labs21 Conference
audience can mingle and talk casually about the products and services
vendors have to offer. Light hors d'oeuvres and beverages are provided.
Labs21 Luncheon
I2SL hosts an hour-and-a-half-long luncheon on the final day
of the Labs21 Conference as a way to wrap up the event and, more importantly,
recognize the accomplishments of the annual Go
Beyond Award winners. Go Beyond Awards honor individuals,
organizations, projects, and manufacturers that "go beyond"
the status quo to minimize the environmental impacts of laboratories and
other high-tech facilities.
Attendees are served lunch, which is followed by the presentation of the awards and brief remarks from an I2SL Board of Directors member.