Frequently Asked Questions

A hybrid meeting combines a live, in-person event with a virtual, online component.  MRS is holding the in-person portion of the meeting in Boston from November 29 through December 2.  The Virtual Experience will take place December 6-8.

• Connect with fellow attendees at social networking events
• Access live and on-demand symposia
• Enjoy first access to featured talks and Broader Impact Symposia
• Participate in a tutorial for an in-depth look at a topic of interest
• Visit the Exhibit and connect with exhibitors
• Create and upload an audio over PowerPoint version of your presentation for on-demand viewing
• Conclude your day with a visit to the poster session and live award presentation

  

Meeting events will be held at the Hynes Convention Center, 900 Boylston Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, and the Sheraton Boston Hotel, 39 Dalton Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02199.

• Participate in the virtual scientific program including tutorials
• Access on-demand symposia
• Participate in live streams of featured talks from The Boston Experience
  
• Participate in Career Fair and meetings in advance
• Participate in PowerPoint Karaoke
• View online exhibit booths
• Connect directly with other attendees through messages, meetings, and 1:1 and small group video conversations
• Create and upload an audio over PowerPoint version of your presentation for on-demand viewing
• Access all meeting content through January 15, 2022

 

All registered attendees will receive access and instructions via email in mid-November.

Volunteer committee meetings will take place virtually, before or after the 2021 MRS Fall Meeting.  Meetings are being coordinated with committee chairs and headquarters liaisons.

Review MRS' updated safety precautions here »

 

COVID tests are available near the Hynes Convention Center at

• Sameday Health, 344 Newbury Street
• CVS, 587 Boylston Street
• Walgreens, 841 Boylston Street

A comprehensive list of testing facilities is available here.

Yes. MRS is requiring all Meeting attendees to wear a mask at all Meeting events regardless of vaccination status. Please note that the City of Boston also has a mask mandate that requires masks in all indoor spaces.

 

Registration is available online and via phone, fax and mail. Learn more »

In order for speaker credentials to be properly assigned in the virtual platform, all virtual presenters must register for The Virtual Experience by November 29. Learn more here »

MRS has up-to-date information about domestic and international travel on our Travel Resources page.

 

Please inform us as soon as possible if you have a presenter change, as registration is linked to the presenter.

Refer to your invitation email for details. Your presentation details will be emailed to you again in mid-November.

 

Both onsite and virtual presenters will have the opportunity to expand their audience by creating and uploading a PowerPoint+Audio version of their presentation for on-demand viewing by all registered attendees. This will be in addition to your live presentation. You can find additional details here.

• How to Add Voiceover on PowerPoint Slides (YouTube) »
• Save a presentation as a movie file or MP4 (Microsoft) »
• Complete instructions from MRS »

 

Refer to your invitation email for your presentation time. Your presentation details will be emailed to you again in mid-November. The complete program is posted on the MRS website. All times are listed in Eastern Standard Time, but it is important to note that on the virtual platform, the time displayed will sync with your computer's set time.

 

 

The virtual platform will not permit downloading or sharing of content. MRS’ recording policy, which strictly prohibits any recording of presentations, is in place for both The Boston Experience and The Virtual Experience.  Any attendees who do not comply with the MRS recording policy may have their access to meeting content revoked.

MRS journals do allow submission and publication of figures and content that have appeared as part of a previous presentation. Standard journal peer-review policies apply to these submitted papers. If you plan to submit to a non-MRS journal, we recommend that you first review that journal’s policies.

 

Registration and badge printing are located in the Hynes Convention Center, Level 1, Prudential Corridor:

• Sunday, November 28—6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
• Monday, November 29—7:00 am – 7:00 pm
• Tuesday, November 30—8:00 am – 7:00 pm
• Wednesday, December 1—8:30 am – 7:00 pm
• Thursday, December 2—8:30 am – 7:00 pm

  

Oral presentation guidelines are available here »

Poster presentation guidelines are available here »

We strongly encourage all presenters, including those who are presenting onsite in Boston, to create a recording of their presentation for viewing in the virtual platform. This will provide maximum exposure for your research and will benefit registered attendees by giving them the flexibility to select, schedule and/or view presentations of interest according to their own schedule.  Find instructions for creating your recording here »

Yes. You will receive an access code for The Virtual Experience via email in mid-November. Use this code to enter the platform to upload your recorded presentation and access meeting content when the meeting begins.

 

MRS will use the Pathable platform for The Virtual Experience. Symposium sessions will be held live using embedded Zoom video within the platform. You will be expected to join these sessions and share your screen to deliver your presentation.

 

No. You will need to join your session at the appropriate time and present live.

 

Posters authors will present in a mixed oral session or in an all-poster session.

All virtual sessions are held live and you will be expected to be present and speak live during your session. You will summarize your work while sharing your screen and answer questions from the audience.

There is no set format or template for posters, but we recommend breaking up your information into four slides rather than placing your whole poster onto a single slide. In order for your poster to be considered for a Best Poster Award, you must also have your recorded presentation uploaded by November 24, 2021. Virtual presenter guidelines are available here »

Yes. Virtual meeting content will be available to all registered attendees through January 15, 2022.

 

Exhibit dates and times, rates, promotional opportunities and key benefits are available by visiting the 2021 MRS Fall Exhibit website, or by contacting Jennifer Ibe at [email protected].

 

The 2022 MRS Spring Meeting will be a hybrid event, held in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, May 8 – 13, 2022, and virtually May 23 – 25, 2022. Learn more »

The 2022 MRS Fall Meeting will be held in Boston, Massachusetts, November 27 – December 2, 2022.