Announcement

250 word Abstract submission deadline: December 8, 2010
Abstract acceptance/notification: January 19, 2011

The Eighth Symposium on the Role of the Vestibular Organs in Space Exploration will be held at the Sheraton Suites Galleria in Houston, Texas, USA, April 8–10, 2011, the weekend prior to the 18th International Academy of Astronautics Humans In Space Symposium, April 11–15. The Symposium is sponsored by the NASA Human Research Program and the National Space Biomedical Research Institute.

This specialist's meeting focuses on the sensoriomotor challenges encountered in space, and countermeasures for them, emphasizing spaceflight as an essential laboratory environment for scientific study of vestibular/sensorimotor function. The meeting targets young as well as established physicians and scientists interested in basic and applied aspects of sensorimotor function in space.

In a special session, astronauts and flight surgeons will summarize and prioritize operational medical problems on exploration class missions. Selected papers will be published in a special issue of the Journal of Vestibular Research.

Symposium Letter of Invite

Organizing Committee

Charles M Oman, Ph.D., Chair
coman@mit.edu

F. Owen Black MD
fob@neurotology.org

William H. Paloski, Ph.D.
whpaloski@uh.edu

Laurence Retman Young, Sc.D.
lry@MIT.EDU

Scientific Program Committee

Meeting Planning

For questions regarding logistics, contact:

    Gail Pacetti
    Universities Space Research Association
    Phone:  281-244-2016
    E-mail:  gpacetti@hou.usra.edu

    For questions regarding registration or abstracts, contact:

    Linda Tanner
    Universities Space Research Association
    Phone:  281-486-2142
    E-mail: ltanner@hou.usra.edu

Sponsors

NASA Human Research Program

National Space Biomedical Research Institute — Sensorimotor Adaptation Research Team

National AeroSpace Training and Research (NASTAR®) Center

Exhibitor

National AeroSpace Training and Research (NASTAR®) Center —
The National AeroSpace Training And Research (NASTAR®) Center is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Environmental Tectonics Corporation (ETC®). NASTAR Center is a state-of-the-art aerospace training, research, and educational facility dedicated in improving the health and safety of humans in extreme conditions. NASTAR Center serves military aviation (fixed and rotary wing), civil aviation (fixed and rotary wing), space travel (government and private) and provides research support for component and human factors testing.

Come visit our booth during the symposium.

Progam and Abstracts

To browse through the entire conference program, view the

Program with Links to Abstracts

To find a particular abstract, or determine where a specific abstract has been scheduled for presentation, view the

Author Index

Information for Presenters

Oral Presentations —

A PC laptop, LCD projector, and speaker remote will be available for presentation of oral presentations during the scientific sessions. In order to facilitate a smooth transition between speakers, we will preload and test all presentations in advance. Therefore, we ask that you provide us your PowerPoint presentation on a CD-ROM or flash drive upon your arrival at the symposium.

Please include your last name in the naming of your presention file. To aid the preloading process, please create a folder on your flash drive/CD called "Vestibular 2011" and place your PowerPoint presentation in that folder.

** The use of personal laptops is strongly discouraged. **

Hardware and Software Specifications —

The plenary room will be equipped with the following minimum hardware and software:

** Internet connectivity will NOT be available, so please plan accordingly. **

For additional details on preparing your oral presentation, please review the Technical Suggestions and Guidelines.

Poster Presentations —

Posters will be highlighted in a poster session to be held at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, April 8. Presenters are asked to be present at their poster during the session.

At the start of the poster session, the chairs will introduce each presenter to the group, and ask each person to briefly (< 1 min) say what their poster is about.

All posters will be available for viewing throughout the symposium. Poster presenters are encouraged to put up their posters during the pre-symposium registration time, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 7. Presenters arriving later may put up their poster during normal symposium hours, beginning at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, April 8.

All posters must be removed by noon on April 10.

For examples of tips on how to best prepare a poster presentation, visit

Poster Presentations:  Designing Effective Posters

Tips and Guidelines for Preparing Your Professional Presentation

Poster Presentations:  Top Tips

Symposium Registration

Secure Registration Form

Symposium Registration Fee:
            Full Registration            $350.00

Full registration fee will include: Symposium program and access to all Symposium sessions. Daily continental breakfast, coffee breaks, and welcome poster reception are also included.

An optional dinner event is scheduled for April 9 at the Omaha Steak House. Tickets are $85.00 per person and can be purchased online while you are registering for the Symposium. The banquet speaker will be Ben Lawson, Ph.D., who will give a humorous presentation entitled “How I Learned to Stop Worrying About Space and Start Loving the Vestibular Organs.”

Credit card registrations: Participants registering by credit card must use the secure registration form on the Meeting Portal. Meeting participants will create a login that will be used for registration and abstract submission.

Other methods of payment: Those registering using any other method of payment (check, money order, traveler’s check, or electronic bank transfer) must contact the meeting registrar for specific instructions.

Logistics

VENUE

Sheraton Suites Houston Near the Galleria
2400 West Loop South
Houston, TX 77027 USA
Phone:  713-586-2444
Fax:  713-586-2445
U.S. Toll-free:  1-800-325-3535

Sheraton Suites

Sheraton Suites Brochure

The Symposium organizers have secured a block of rooms for the symposium participants at the Sheraton Suites (Galleria), located at 2400 West Loop South, Houston, Texas.  Participants may reserve hotel lodging through the Online Hotel Room Reservations Form, or by contacting the hotel directly via phone or fax.

Sheraton Suites Galleria Reservation Form
(OR copy and paste the following link into a web browser) http://www.starwoodmeeting.com/Book/vestibular

Phone:  713-586-2444
Fax:  713-586-2445
U.S. Toll-free:  1-800-325-3535

Symposium participants should specify the “Vestibular Symposium” rate of $109.00 (plus tax for single or double occupancy).

The cutoff date for this special rate is March 18, 2011, at 5:00 p.m. U.S. Central Time.  The hotel will apply the symposium rate for participants who wish to arrive a few days early or stay a few days afterward, subject to availability.

Please secure your hotel reservations EARLY!

Complimentary Hotel Shuttle
Special Note:  Complimentary transportation within a three-mile radius of the hotel is available (upon availability).  The service will help to accommodate those attendees who are also attending the IAA Humans in Space Symposium.

Driving Directions to Sheraton Suites Galleria

Parking Information
The Sheraton Suites Galleria provides guests with a security-monitored, private garage.  Current fees for parking are:

Airport Transportation

Airport transportation is handled at both Houston airports through Super Shuttle.  For reservations or information, dial 1-800-258-3826.

Logistics Coordination

Universities Space Research Association, Division of Space Life Sciences
Kecia Mallette
Gail Pacetti 

Content 6 goes here

Content 7 goes here.