It’s hard to believe, but it’s almost time for ISHI 33! You may have noticed that this year’s symposium coincides with Halloween. If you are so inclined, feel free to attend the Welcome Reception in costume. Whether you arrive incognito or not, there are a host of treats in store for you, so dust off your old ISHI tees, pack the comfy walking shoes, and maybe a jacket or two. It’s time to head to National Harbor!
COVID Update
It is strongly encouraged, but not required, that participants stay up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccinations to provide protection from severe illness. Likewise, masking is optional, but encouraged.
Check in and Material Pick up
ISHI will be held at the Gaylord National located at 201 Waterfront Street, National Harbor, MD 20745. The Exhibit Hall (Prince George’s Exhibit Hall B/C) is a couple floors down from the General Sessions ballroom (Woodrow Wilson Ballroom) and workshop rooms, but don’t worry about getting lost – there will be plenty of signage and staff to help you find your way.
Speaking of your badge, check in for ISHI by visiting the self-service kiosks located outside of the exhibit hall. 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, October 30 – 1:00pm – 4:00pm
Monday, October 31 – 7:00am – 6:00pm
Tuesday, November 1 – 7:00am – 4:30pm
Wednesday, November 2 – 8:00am – 4:30pm
Thursday, November 3 – 8:00am – 12:00pm
**If you are attending a Sunday workshop, your badge will be pre-printed and available to you outside of your workshop room along with conference materials.
Speaker presentations, Exhibitor Information, Poster Listing, and More
Almost everything you need to know about the conference can be found on the ISHI 33 mobile application. To access the app, download the “Cvent Events” app from either the Google Play or Apple Store. Once downloaded, search for “ISHI 33” 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 Annapolis rooms set aside for these discussions. The following topics will be discussed:
Tuesday, November 1
- Hear from members of the Board of Certification for Investigative Genetic Genealogy who will discuss the need for standards and certification for IGG. Presentation followed by Q&A.
- Implementing Next Generation Sequencing technologies into your laboratory
- Implementation of QAS guidelines for validation of software, chemistries, instrumentation, etc.
Wednesday, November 2
- Author Ed Hume and Genealogist CeCe Moore will discuss the case of Tanya Van Cuylenborg and Jay Cook featured in Ed’s new book, The Forever Witness. Presentation followed by Q&A.
- Rapid DNA – To implement or not?
- How to effectively train, retain, and incentivize analysts
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 cards with pictures of dinosaurs, landmarks, and other animals around the ISHI exhibit floor and convention space. Visit with vendors to see which card they have in their booth and list them in the passport. Locate at least 20 cards to be qualified for the drawing. Turn in your completed passport at the ISHI registration desk to win a FREE registration for ISHI 34 which will be held in Denver, CO. The winner will be announced during the morning break on Thursday, November 3. You do not need to be present to win.
BONUS: Have your picture taken at the ISHI 33 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 #ISHI33! 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 back 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
Busses will begin staging at 6:15pm down the hall from the Woodrow Wilson ballroom. The last bus will depart at 6:45pm with the event being held from 7:00-11:00pm. Dinner and dancing will be provided at the museum along with the opportunity to spend the evening browsing through select exhibits. Return transfers to the hotel begin at 8:45pm with the last bus leaving at 11:00pm. Be sure to remember your badge!
Certificates of Attendance
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.
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!
Thank you to our Sponsors!
ISHI would not be what it is today without our vendors and we would like to acknowledge the following sponsors:
