Call for Proposals is Closed!
The NICE 2022-23 planning committee is seeking timely, topical, and thought-provoking presentations for the annual conference and expo. The conference is an opportunity to bring together employers of cybersecurity practitioners and representatives from education, training, certification, and workforce development communities to promote collaboration and highlight effective and innovative approaches from industry, government, and academia.
This year’s theme, “Resetting Expectations: Creating Accessible Cybersecurity Career Pathways,” inspires presentations that reimagine what it takes to be a cybersecurity professional. By resetting expectations, cybersecurity will be an accessible career path through various, nontraditional avenues, regardless of academic, demographic, socio-economic, geographic, or professional background.
Topics of Interest
Building Thruways: Linking Education and Employment
This topic addresses ideas such as work preparation in college courses, internships and externships, competitions, ranges and other extra-curricula opportunities, evidencing competency, curriculum development, and alignment of learning objectives to workplace needs.
Currency Conversion: Evaluating Credentials and Assessing Existing Talent
This topic addresses ideas such as up-skilling and re-skilling within existing workforces, hiring practices, training and development of exsiting workforce, credentials, and recognizing the value of non-traditional career routes.
Maintaining Equilibrium: Work-Life Balance, Mental Health, and the Workplace
This topic addresses ideas such as expectations on professionals and professionalism, work-life balance, burnout, mental health, technostress and workplace culture.
Knocking Down Barriers: Identifying and Assessing Accessibility Challenges and Proposing Solutions.
This topic addresses ideas such as neurodiversity, race, gender, socio-economic diversity, and disabilities, with a specific focus on under-served and under-represented communities.
Improving the Infrastructure
This topic addresses ideas such as the physical space, faculty and teacher shortage, pathways for exchanging educational leadership and talent, collaboration between industry, academia and the government and the lessons from cybersecurity leaders.
Proposal Submissions
The NICE 2023 planning committee is seeking timely, topical, and thought-provoking presentations for the annual conference and expo. The conference is an opportunity to bring together employers of cybersecurity practitioners and representatives from education, training, certification, and workforce development communities to promote collaboration and highlight effective and innovative approaches from industry, government, and academia.
This year’s conference theme, “Resetting Expectations: Creating Accessible Cybersecurity Pathways,” is about reimagining what it takes to be a cybersecurity professional. By resetting expectations, cybersecurity will be an accessible career path through various nontraditional
avenues.
We encourage proposals from a diverse array of organizations and individuals with different perspectives.
The following considerations will also apply:
• Proposals should attempt to align with the goals and objectives of the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) Strategic Plan.
• Where appropriate, proposals shoulder consider uses of the NICE Workforce Framework for Cybersecurity (NICE Framework).
• Proposals should also consider effective practices and solutions rather than merely admiring the problem.
• Proposals will be evaluated and selected based on the quality of the written proposal, diversity of topics and presenters, and alignment with the conference theme and tracks.
• Depending on your topic, please consider the best format for your presentation, lectures, panel discussions, demonstrations of concepts or solutions, or interactive forums. Special consideration will be given to proposals that include audience engagement as part of the presentation.
Please review the 2023 NICE Conference and Expo Proposal Guideline.
CALL FOR PROPOSALS IS CLOSED!
You will have three presentation styles to select from:
1. Breakout Sessions (45 minutes)
2. Pre-Conference Workshop (3.5 hours)
3. Lightning Talk (7 minutes)
Be prepared to submit the following information for breakout sessions or pre-conference workshop:
• Presentation Title (maximum of 10 words)
• Session Description (maximum of 150 words)
• Presenter’s names, emails, affiliation, and biography (maximum of 75 words for bio and limited to three speakers)
• Intended Audience (maximum of 25 words)
• Intended Learning Outcomes (maximum of 75 words)
• Session Outline (maximum of 75 words)
• Active Learning Activities (maximum of 150 words and only for pre-conference workshop)
Be prepared to submit the following information for a lightning talk:
• Presentation Title (maximum of 10 words)
• Session Description (maximum of 150 words)
• Presenter’s names, emails, affiliation, and biography (maximum of 75 words for bio and limited to one speaker)
• Intended Audience (maximum of 25 words)
• Session Outline (maximum of 75 words)
• Intended Learning Outcomes (maximum of 75 words)
*Please note there is a word limit.
The NICE 2023 planning committee will use the following rubric to read and score each proposal.
|
Criteria |
Max Score |
|
Presenters |
The content leader(s) are very knowledgeable and experienced in the topic area. |
|
Theme |
They align the proposal and use language that effectively conveys the conference theme. |
|
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility |
Impact on diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility are clearly presented and integral to the proposal. The panel is diverse in its makeup. |
|
Audience Engagement |
The presentation has an approach that will actively engage the audience through content and/or activities as appropriate. Will achieve all the objectives proposed. |
|
Student/Learner Perspective |
Student/Learner perspective is clearly presented and integral to the proposal. Student/learner is part of the panel. |
|
Relevance |
The topic is current, relevant, or important to the field. |
|
Innovation |
The proposal clearly demonstrates best practices, new developments, or innovative techniques/methods. |
The Call for Speakers opens Monday, October 3rd and will close on Sunday, January 22, 2023, at 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time. Submissions received after the relevant closing date will not be reviewed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where will the conference be?
The 2023 NICE Conference & Expo: Resetting Expectations: Creating Accessible Cybersecurity Career Pathways will take place June 5-7, 2023, at the Westin Seattle in Seattle, WA. Speakers are expected to present their sessions in person. We encourage prospective speakers to submit their proposals with this in mind.
To ensure the comfort and well-being of our attendees, we will be implementing the proper safety guidelines as well as providing an option for our guests to attend the conference virtually.
When will I find out if I have been accepted?
Speakers for all sessions will be notified by the end of March.
How many speaking slots are available?
We anticipate no more than 28 sessions.
How are sessions selected?
A volunteer Planning Committee, comprised of security professionals, technology experts, researchers, government employees, and educators, review all submissions and make selections based on quality of submissions and balance of topics desired to be covered.
Special consideration will be given to proposals that attempt to align with the goals and objectives of the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) Strategic Plan and, where appropriate, consider uses of the NICE Workforce Framework for Cybersecurity (NICE Framework).
How do I increase my odds of getting selected?
The NICE Conference values diversity of thought, background, gender, orientation, ethnicity, nationality and experience—let your unique perspective and expertise shine in what you submit. Well thought out, complete, unique submissions with clear and specific detail will improve your chances of being selected. It is also important that all presentations offer something new. Do not submit presentations that have been previously shared at other conferences or meetings.
What are the main reasons my proposal did not get selected?
1. Incomplete or non-detailed submission. The session outline and intended learning outcomes portions of the submission are the most important pieces of the entire submission.
2. Vendor pitch. Sales pitches are easy to spot, and our Planning Committee quickly eliminates them from consideration.
3. Multiple submissions. The Planning Committee seeks to build a diverse program. With limited sessions available, no more than 1 or 2 presentations will likely be selected from the same organization.
4. Déjà vu. Presentations that have been on programs for other conferences that precede the NICE Conference are not likely to be considered.
5. Diversity. Proposals submitted with little to no consideration for diversity of thought, background, gender, orientation, ethnicity, nationality, and experience will be denied.
6. Final tip. The NICE Conference aims to provide timely, topical, and thought-provoking presentations for attendees. We are looking for “new voices”, “new ideas” and “innovative” topics that have not been discussed before.
Who can I contact if I have problems submitting my proposal or have not received notification of my acceptance status?
The friendly NICE Conference staff are happy to assist you by email at info@niceconference.org.