When You Register: SorghumBase Workshop (optional)

In 2024, a 1-hour workshop on SorghumBase took place at the SICNA conference.

SorghumBase, a USDA-ARS funded resource, is dedicated to supporting the sorghum research community by providing curated genomic and genetic data sets, research updates, and more.

This workshop was open to all, from beginners to experienced users, and offered valuable training on the SorghumBase content management system to submit news items, research highlights and update funding information; biocuration of gene structure and function; and submission of gene expression and genetic population data. An update on new developments and plans for 2024 was also provided.

It’s a must-attend event for anyone in the sorghum research and breeding community.

Registered attendees are invited to submit entries for a general research poster and registered student attendees are invited to submit entries to one of the student competitions, oral or poster.

Questions for the student competitions may be directed to Dr. Bonnie Pendleton at graminum@yahoo.com. Students are encouraged to email Dr. Pendleton with a notice of interest to compete. 

Questions for the general attendee research poster may be directed to Dr. Gloria Burow at gloria.burow@usda.gov. Attendees are encouraged to email Dr. Burow with a notice of interest to submit. 

Guidelines for Oral and Poster Presentations

• The deadlines to submit abstracts for both the oral and poster presentations have passed, and we are no longer accepting submissions.
• Students may enter either an oral presentation or a poster, but not both.

Student Oral Presentation:

1. The session will be open to the public.
2. Time allotted for each presentation: 10 minutes.
3. Questions and answers: 2 minutes extra; approximately 3 or 4 questions; 2 from judges and 1 or 2 from audience.
4. Participants are responsible for uploading their presentation.
5. All oral presentations must be in PowerPoint format.
6. The speaker must also bring on a USB-drive the presentation saved as a PowerPoint or as a PDF.
7. To determine the top three ranking participants, the committee will tally (add all scoring categories) scores; students with the highest three scores plus judges’ consultation/approval will advance to the Final Round; scores during the preliminary round will not count for the Final Round.  The decision of the judges will be final in both the preliminary and final rounds.

Student and General Research Poster Presentation:

1. The session will be open to the public.
2. The maximum allowable poster size is 40 inches wide by 48 inches tall.
3. The recommended minimum font size is 22 pt.
4. Posters in the competition must be hung in advance of the conference.
5. The author-presenter is requested to remain beside the poster during the breaks.
6. The author-presenter is responsible for removing their poster following the event.

Student Oral and Poster Presentations will be evaluated and judged using the following criteria:

Abstract shall not exceed 300 words.

The deadlines to submit abstracts for both the oral and poster presentations have passed, and we are no longer accepting submissions.