Published 18/06/2024
In 2025, the annual EARMA Conference will be replaced by the INORMS Congress 2025. The EARMA Annual Conference Programme Committee (ACPC) is looking for dedicated volunteers to help us shape the content of the programme for the INORMS Congress 2025 taking place in Madrid, Spain, May 06-08, 2025. As always, the conference will be structured in ‘topics’, and we are looking for people with expertise in one or more of these topics to support us in evaluating and ranking the submitted abstracts.
Each topic team will be led by a member of the ACPC and we are looking for a couple of expert evaluators for each topic team to help us make the selection process as open and transparent as possible. Each topic team member will independently review and assess a set of abstracts. Then they will meet virtually to agree a ranked list of submissions for the topic.
The deadline for submitting your expression of interest as a INORMS Congress 2025 expert evaluator is Thursday, September 12, 2024, 12:00 CEST.
Apply using this online form.
The applications will be reviewed by the ACPC, and candidates will be informed of the outcomes by September 20, 2024, and if successful, which topic(s) they will evaluate. Successful applicants (expert evaluators) are invited to attend an online workshop to further explain the processes and timescales. The online workshop is scheduled for 11:00-12.00 CEST on Tuesday, September 24, 2024.
What exactly is involved?
Expert evaluators will be required to review and assess abstract submissions in their topic area between September 24 and October 11, 2024. For most "topic teams" a virtual meeting will be organised for the week of October 15-18, 2024, during which the topic team will discuss the abstracts and agree a consensus score and ranking for each submission.
This concludes the work of the expert evaluators. Please note, that there is no remuneration for expert evaluation.
Why expert evaluators?
We are committed to making the abstracts selection process as open and transparent as possible, bringing a wider range of views from a larger and more diverse set of reviewers is a positive move in this direction. We also see it as an opportunity for more people to be involved and contribute to the association but in a way that is less time intensive than serving on an EARMA Standing Committee. However, we do also see it as an opportunity for participants to find out a little more about what it might be like to serve on an EARMA Standing Committee and on the ACPC in particular while building your CV. After the evaluation, each evaluator will receive a certificate of accomplishment.
Frequently asked questions
Q: How many abstracts will I be expected to review?
A: It depends on how many are submitted, but typically between 10-30 per topic.
Q: Can I be allocated to more than one topic?
A: Most expert evaluators will only review one topic area. Some might be asked to review more than one, but normally up to a maximum of two.
Q: Will I be given guidance on how to do the evaluation?
A: Yes, the ACPC will guide you through the process in an online workshop.
Q: Will I be able to see scores of the other evaluators?
A: No, it is a blind review process. However, for most topics, a virtual meeting will be organised including all linked external evaluators and topic Chairs (from the ACPC) to discuss the given scores and substantiation to make the ranking.
Q: How many evaluators will there be?
A: It is expected that each abstract will have two to three external evaluators.
Q: What if I am given a topic that I do not have expertise in?
A: You will only be allocated to topic(s) that you have nominated in your submission.
Q: Do I need to be an EARMA member to be an expert evaluator?
A: No, while we welcome applications from existing members, we want to broaden the evaluation pool as widely as possible and accept applications from any individuals with the appropriate expertise.
Q: How senior do I need to be?
A: You can be at any stage of your career. We are looking to have as many different perspectives as we can.
Q: If I am an evaluator, does that mean that I can’t also submit an abstract?
A: No, you may also submit abstract(s), however you will not be able to review your own. Being an evaluator will not affect your chances of success if you do submit an abstract (or vice versa). However, having been an evaluator, this will surely improve any abstracts you might submit to subsequent conferences.
Q: What if there is a potential conflict of interest?
A: You will be required to declare conflicts of interest and the topic lead will guide you through the process, although as the review process is anonymous at this stage, it is hoped that the number of conflicts of interest will be small.
Q: Will I be rewarded for my work?
A: You will have our eternal gratitude and a mention in the INORMS Congress 2025 proceedings, but there is no monetary reward nor conference fee reduction.
Q: Will I be required to attend the INORMS Congress 2025 itself?
A: There is no requirement to attend the Congress, but you are, of course, welcome to.
Q: What will the online application form ask me?
A: See below
*Name:
*Job Title:
*Organisation:
*Email:
*Country:
*Phone number: [wanted as a secondary point of contact, just in case]
*Motivation [100 words max]:
*Confirmation that you are available for the workshop (11:00-12.00 CET on Tuesday, September 24, 2024); time to undertake the evaluation (September 24-October 11, 2024) [expected to be a few hours over that period]; and commitment to attend the topic Team virtual meeting (tbc, week of October 15-18, 2024), if needed.
*Please indicate which topic areas you are willing to evaluate – indicate first choice, and other choices – and in a few words outline your experience/expertise for the topic.
● Building Better RMA services, (Yes/No) [If yes… 50 words max on experience/expertise]
● Governance and Regulation, (Yes/No) [If yes… 50 words max on experience/expertise]
● Knowledge Valorisation, (Yes/No) [If yes… 50 words max on experience/expertise]
● Open Science, (Yes/No) [If yes… 50 words max on experience/expertise]
● Proposal, Award and Project Management, (Yes/No) [If yes… 50 words max on experience/expertise]
● Use of AI in Research Management, (Yes/No) [If yes… 50 words max on experience/expertise]
● Transnational Collaborations, (Yes/No) [If yes… 50 words max on experience/expertise]
● Sustainability in RMA, (Yes/No) [If yes… 50 words max on experience/expertise]
● Responsibility, Ethics and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) in Research and Innovation, (Yes/No) [If yes… 50 words max on experience/expertise]
Closer explanation on the topics see the Guide for Proposers.
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