What do I have to do to submit the abstract?
Answer: Submit your abstract online via this secure link:  https://eastwestcenter.submittable.com/submit/108187/18th-international-graduate-student-conference-abstract-submissions (webpage will be open for submissions until 9/28/18 at 11:59 PM Hawaii Standard Time).

When is the deadline for the abstract submission?
Answer: The deadline for abstracts submission has been extended to September 28, 2018. 
 
Can I submit more than one abstract?
Answer: Yes, you may. If you would like to submit more than one abstract, please send separate abstract submission forms for each abstract to us. This means that each abstract has to be sent separately. Note:  each presenter is limited to presenting only one paper at the conference.

When will I know the results?
Answer: Usually, by mid November, you will receive an email message from studentconference@eastwestcenter.org acknowledging whether your abstract(s) has been accepted.

How does the IGSC make abstract selection decisions?
Answer: Experts, professors, and PhD students from different disciplines (e.g., economics and business issues, political issues, environmental issues, health and population issues, education issues and linguistics, culture studies and social issues) serve on abstract selection committees and read and rate the abstracts in their area of expertise. The acceptance decisions are based on the scores that the abstracts receive.

What do I need to do if my abstract is accepted?
Answer: Your next step is to complete the conference registration form and online registration payment.

Am I eligible for an IGSC travel grant and how do I apply?
Answer: Due to the funding source for travel grants, only individuals who are citizens or legal permanent residents of the United States OR a place listed on the abstract submission form are eligible to apply for a travel grant to participate in the IGSC. Please complete the travel grant section on the abstract submission form.

How does the IGSC allocate travel grants?
Answer: A limited number of travel grants, generally $100 to $200 (up to a maximum of $500) are awarded on merit, which means that the travel grants will be allocated according to the quality of the abstracts.

When will I know if I receive a travel grant?
Answer: You will learn travel grant results at about the same time as learning your abstract results.
 
What do I have to do if I receive a travel grant?
Answer: You will be acknowledged in details about this via email. Generally, you will need to confirm whether you want to receive the travel grant by emailing your confirmation to studentconference@eastwestcenter.org before a certain deadline. There will be some forms to be completed and sent to us via email as well.

When will I actually receive the travel grant check?
Answer: You will receive the travel grant check when you come to Hawaii. This means on the first day of the conference, once you have checked in at the registration table, you can go to collect the check at the conference. Please note that the check will not be mailed.

What do I need to do to register?
Answer: All presenters must register online and pay the non-refundable registration fee of US$70 (online or by check) by early January. Additional information, along with the registration link, will be available later this year. 

How much is the registration fee?
Answer: The registration fee is $70 (US Dollar).

Why do I need to pay the registration fee?
Answer: The $70 covers the cost  for the food at reception, coffee breaks and two lunches.

If I do not need food at the conference, do I need to pay the registration fee?
Answer: All presenters are required to pay the $70 registration fee.

When will I know the conference schedule?
Answer: The registration period is usually from December - early January. About two weeks after the deadline of the registration period, you will be notified about the conference. However, please also keep updated on our website www.eastwestcenter.org/studentconference as well.
 
May I bring a guest(s)?
Answer: Yes, you may. If the guest needs to have lunches at the conference, the guest also needs to pay the $70 registration fee. Otherwise, the guest does not need to pay $70. The guest also needs to complete the registration form and email to studentconference@eastwestcenter.org as well as pay the registration fee online, if applicable.

What do presenters need to do?
Answer: There will be a presenter guidance email message sent to all the presenters about what to do after the registration period. Generally, on the first day, the presenters should come to the registration/check-in table first to pick up your packet and badge, then, you can go to the room where you will make your presentation to save your PowerPoint or other files to the laptop provided. Please note that this is optional, you can also save the PowerPoint presentation on the day that you will be presenting as well; however, we strongly encourage you to complete this step early to test your file and software compatibility. You can also refer to the "Guidelines for Presenters" page in the righthand menu.

Do I need to have a PowerPoint Presentation?
Answer: No, you are not required to have a PowerPoint Presentation in order to present at the International Graduate Student Conference (IGSC). You also are not required to provide handouts to the audience.

Can I use a Macintosh laptop?
Answer: The conference center only provides Windows laptops in the conference presentation rooms. However, if you want to use a Macintosh laptop, you may bring your own, but do not forget to bring the converter cable as well, since we do not provide the converter. In this case, it will be more convenient to do the PowerPoint presentation in Windows version.

For how long should I present?
Answer: The presentation should be no longer than 15 minutes maximum. This will ensure that each panelist will have equal time to present, and will allow sufficient Q&A time. The length of the Q&A will be facilitated by a panel moderator, to allow approximately 5-10 minutes for Q & A.

Where is the venue of the conference?
Answer: The conference will be held at the East-West Center, in the Hawaii Imin International Conference Center located at 1777 East-West Road, Honolulu, HI 96848, which adjoins the University of Hawaii at Manoa campus and the East-West Center residence halls. Refer to the Conference Center website for more information.

Does the IGSC arrange airport pick up?
Answer: We do not provide airport pick-up service. The fastest way to come to the conference site from the airport is to take a taxi. The cost should be approximately $40. There are also more affordable shuttle services that allow for online bookings:  http://www.speedishuttle.com (approx. $20-25/one-way) and http://www.reliableshuttle.com (approx. $15/one-way - be sure to ask for the special student rate). Alternatively, you can take a Honolulu city bus, number 19 or 20 (Waikiki Beach & Hotel), then change to bus number 6 (Woodlawn Drive via East-West Road) at the Ala Moana Shopping Center, which will take you to the East-West Center and University of Hawaii at Manoa. A bus ride costs $2.50, and one bus ticket can be used twice in the allowance time specified on the ticket. Please note that the bus may not allow you to carry on large suitcases.

How do I use the airport taxi service?
Answer: 1)If you do decide to take a taxi, please ensure that you have at least $35 in cash beforehand. There are Automated Teller Machines (ATM) located throughout the airport terminal areas. 2)Taxi service is available on the center median fronting the terminal baggage claim areas. To get there, simply exit the terminal on the ground level and cross the street to the middle pedestrian walkway. 3)Walk in either direction until you see a yellow sign that reads, "TAXI DISPATCHER." There will be taxi dispatchers wearing green shirts with black lettering with the wording "TAXI DISPATCHER," who can help secure you a taxi. 4)Approach the dispatcher and let him/her know that you want to go to the University of Hawaii, Manoa. He or she will direct you to a taxi. 5)When you enter the taxi, tell the driver that you want to go to the East-West Center at the University of Hawaii, Manoa. If they require an address, provide this information:  1711 East-West Road. This is the address for the Hale Manoa dormitory.

Where can I stay during the conference?
Answer: The nearest accommodation to the Hawaii Imin International Conference Center is the East-West Center (EWC) accommodations, which are Hale Manoa, Hale Kuahine and Lincoln Hall. Please refer to the EWC Housing website for details (including pictures of the rooms) and reservation procedure. Participants are requested to get in touch with EWC Housing authorities directly for their accommodation reservation and questions by email: housing@eastwestcenter.org.

Where can I find general visitor information about the East-West Center?
Answer: Please see http://www.eastwestcenter.org/about-ewc/visitor-information.