It’s hard to believe, but it’s almost time for ISHI 34! Our hope is that after the conference you return to the office with a renewed sense of passion for the important work that you do and a couple of new contacts to add to your rolodex (assuming you still have one). So dust off your old ISHI tees, pack the comfy walking (and dancing) shoes. It’s time to head to Denver!
Getting Your “Bear”ings
This year’s symposium will be held in both the Hyatt and the Convention Center across the street. It’s a short 5-minute walk between the general session talks in Centennial Ballroom at the Hyatt and Exhibit Hall F in the Convention Center.
The ISHI Welcome Reception, General Session and workshops on Sunday, Monday, and Thursday will take place on the 3rd floor of the Hyatt Regency. Table topic lunches on Tuesday and Wednesday will be at the Hyatt in Mineral Hall and Agate (pre-registration required).
Meal functions (breakfast, breaks, lunch) plus the poster and exhibits sessions will be held in Exhibit Hall F at the Colorado Convention Center, just across the street.
Check in and Material Pick Up
Check in for ISHI by visiting the self-service kiosks located on the 3rd floor of the Hyatt. Enter the first few letters of your last name to print out your badge. Your badge will be required to attend all functions, including workshops and networking events, so be sure to keep it with you.
After printing your badge, collect your conference bag. If you still need to make a payment or have questions, staff are ready to assist at the information desk.
Note that registration lines are longest on Monday and Tuesday mornings. Plan to allow yourself plenty of time at registration prior to any workshops or the General Sessions.
The ISHI Information Desk will be open during the following hours:
Sunday, September 17 – 7:00am – 2:00pm
Monday, September 18 – 7:00am – 6:00pm
Tuesday, September 19 – 7:00am – 4:00pm
Wednesday, September 20 – 8:00am – 4:00pm
Thursday, September 21 – 8:30am – 1:00pm
Speaker presentations, Exhibitor Information, Poster Listing, and More
Almost everything you need to know about the conference can be found on the ISHI 34 mobile application. To access the app, download the “Cvent Events” app from either the Google Play or Apple Store. Once downloaded, search for “ISHI 34” and download the event. Then, enter the credentials you provided when registering for the conference and an access key will be sent to your email for confirmation.
The app includes a schedule of the talks, presentation slides, poster information, speaker details, exhibitor information, and attendee messaging.
If you like to take notes during the presentations, be sure to print out the presentation slides to bring with you before you leave home. Presentations can be downloaded from the conference website by clicking into the individual sessions from the agenda.
Do you have a question for our speakers? Submit a question through the ISHI app. Simply navigate to the session you’re attending through the ‘Schedule’ icon, scroll down to ‘Live Q&A’ and submit your question! Moderators will be able to see the questions you’ve submitted.
Networking
Plan to join a Table Talk during lunch on Tuesday and Wednesday. We’ll have specially marked tables in the Mineral Hall and Agate rooms set aside for these discussions. The following topics will be discussed:
Tuesday, September 19
- DNA Database in Latin America (discussion in Spanish)
- Complex Cases Involving Skeletal Remains (discussion in Spanish)
- Challenges with FIGG in Building Trees with Distant Matches
- Courtroom Testimony for New DNA Analysts
- Implementation of Rapid DNA
Wednesday, September 20
- The Impact of More Autosomal STR Loci (discussion in Spanish)
- Missing Persons in Latin America (discussion in Spanish)
- Addressing Under-Represented Populations in a FIGG Case
- Instagram vs Reality
- Automation in a Forensic Lab: Workflows to Increase Efficiency/Eliminate Waste
If you are curious about these topics, be sure to join the conversation. Space will be limited, so we encourage you to register beforehand. A facilitator knowledgeable on the subjects will be leading the discussions.
ISHI Passport Game, Photo Opportunities, and ISHI Social Media
Are you up for a challenge? Check your conference bag for the Exhibitor Passport. We’ve hidden Denver brewery coasters around the ISHI exhibit floor. Visit vendors to see which coaster they have in their booth and list them in the passport. Locate at least 20 coasters to be qualified for the drawing. Turn in your completed passport at the ISHI T-Shirt Booth to win a FREE registration for ISHI 34. The winner will be announced during the morning break on Thursday, September 21. You do not need to be present to win.
BONUS: Have your picture taken at the ISHI 34 Photo Wall outside the exhibit hall during the poster breaks on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons to be entered into a drawing to win a $50 Amazon Gift Card. Fill out your information on the back of the passport and turn it in at the photo wall.
We’d love to see your photos from the event! Share your photos with your colleagues back home on social media using the hashtag #ISHI34! For the latest ISHI information, follow our social media pages on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Feeling Thirsty?
Answer the “Question of the Day’ at ISHI Central in the middle of the Exhibit Hall during the poster break on Tuesday and Wednesday and receive a $5 Starbucks gift card just for sharing your thoughts.
Off-Site Event at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History
Explore all that the Denver Museum of Nature & Science has to offer! With access to all exhibits, you can take a trip to Australia and the South Pacific or learn about the birds of the Americas at your leisure.
Casual attire and dancing shoes are recommended. Your ISHI badge serves as your ticket to the event. Bring a photo ID to be served alcoholic beverages.
Busses will begin staging at 6:15pm outside of the Hyatt on 14th and California and will circle between the Hyatt and museum throughout the evening with the last bus leaving at 11:00pm.
Certificates
Certificates of attendance will be sent out after the conference using the email address you provided when registering for ISHI. To guarantee that you receive your certificate, double-check your registration to ensure that we have an accurate email address on file.
Last, but not Least
When selecting host cities for ISHI, one of the top considerations is the safety of our attendees. Denver is a large city, and we recommend that attendees be aware of their surroundings at all times. We also encourage attendees to stay hydrated to help mitigate any altitude symptoms you may experience. We will have water available in all meeting rooms at the Hyatt and in the Convention Center.
If you have any questions before you arrive, please email us at ISHI@promega.com. We look forward to greeting each and every one of you!
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