Submit an Abstract

Who should submit?

We welcome proposals from educators, students, industry professionals, government and healthcare leaders, entrepreneurs, and community partners. Whether your session is designed for working professionals or for students, both tracks are open and equally valued.

You don't need to be an experienced presenter. We especially encourage first-time presenters, students, and people sharing applied or in-progress work.

How do I submit?

• Create a free Cvent account. This takes about a minute and lets you save your progress.
• Enter the main presenter's details (Step 1).
• Enter your submission details (Step 2).
• Save and return anytime before the July 24 deadline.
• Submit when you're ready. You'll receive an email confirmation.

What information will I need?

Have these ready before you start. The form is split into two steps.

Step 1 – Presenter Details

For the main presenter:

• Prefix (optional), first name, last name, email
• Mobile phone
• Company / organization
• Title
• Facebook URL and LinkedIn URL (optional)
• Profile image (JPG, PNG, or GIF — optional but recommended if accepted)
• Biography (up to 10,000 characters — a short bio of 100–200 words is plenty)
• Presentation type (see options below)

For each co-presenter (only the main presenter creates an account — you'll enter co-presenter information directly on the form):

• Prefix (optional), first name, last name, email
• Company, title
• Profile image (optional)
• Biography

You can add up to 4 co-presenters. Please confirm with each co-presenter that they've agreed to participate before submitting their information.

Step 2 – Submission Details

• Submission Title: Clear, concise title attendees will see
• Submission Abstract: (up to 1,500 characters / ~250 words) What you'll cover and why it matters
• Session Outcome / Takeaways: (up to 300 characters / ~50 words) What attendees will leave knowing or able to do
• Level of Expertise: Beginner, Intermediate, or Expert
• Track: Professional or Student
• Topic: Choose up to three

Presentation types

All sessions are 45 minutes. Choose the format that best matches how you want to engage your audience.

Standard Presentation — A presentation by one or two speakers sharing research, a case study, or an in-depth topic. Typically 30–35 min of content followed by Q&A.

Panel Discussion — A moderated conversation among 3–4 panelists representing different perspectives on a shared topic. The submitter should serve as moderator or designate one.

Workshop / Interactive Presentation — A hands-on, participatory session where attendees actively engage rather than passively listen. Best for skill-building, tool walkthroughs, or guided problem-solving.

Roundtable Discussion — A facilitated discussion where the submitter guides conversation among attendees rather than presenting to them. Best for community-building and peer learning.

How should I pick a Level of Expertise?

This describes the audience your session is designed for, not how advanced your content is.

• Beginner — No prior knowledge required. Accessible to anyone.
• Intermediate — Some familiarity with the topic helpful.
• Expert — Designed for audiences with deep background in the topic.

Most NextTech Kern sessions are Beginner or Intermediate. Choosing Beginner is not a weakness — accessible sessions are some of the highest-attended.

Which Track should I pick?

The Track describes your core audience — who the session is designed for.

• Professional — Sessions designed for working professionals, faculty, industry, government, healthcare, and community partners. Content assumes a workplace or organizational context.
• Student — Sessions designed for students (K-12, undergraduate, or graduate). Content is framed for learners exploring careers, building skills, or engaging with technology in an educational context.

Pick the track that matches who you most want in the room. If your session genuinely works for both audiences, you're welcome to submit two separate proposals — one tailored to each track. Each submission is reviewed independently.

How many topics should I pick?

Up to three. Don't feel obligated to pick three if one or two clearly fit — accurate categorization helps reviewers more than broad categorization. If nothing fits, choose Other and describe your topic in the abstract.

Available topics:

• AI Efficiency
• AI in Academia
• AI in Agriculture
• AI in Arts
• AI in Business
• AI in Ethics
• AI in Healthcare
• Automation
• Career Pathways
• Data Analytics
• Emerging Technologies
• Energy Development
• Project/Change Management
• Research
• Other

Co-presenter information

Co-presenters do not need to create their own Cvent accounts. The main presenter enters their information directly on the form. By submitting co-presenter information, you confirm that each co-presenter has agreed to participate and to having their information used in event materials.

Who reviews submissions?

Proposals are reviewed by a committee of CSUB faculty, industry partners, and community leaders. Reviewers evaluate proposals on relevance, clarity, accessibility to a mixed audience, and overall contribution to the conversation.

What happens after I submit?

• July 24, 2026 — Submission deadline.
• July 25 – August 27 — Committee review.
• August 28, 2026 — All submitters notified.
• After acceptance — Confirmed presenters receive scheduling details, AV requirements, and registration information.

Can I edit my submission after I submit it?

Yes, until the July 24 deadline. Log back into your Cvent account, locate your submission under "My Submissions," and make changes. After the deadline, submissions are locked for review.

Can I submit more than one proposal?

Yes. You can submit as many proposals as you'd like, and each one is reviewed independently. Common reasons to submit multiple proposals:

• You have more than one distinct session idea
• You want to offer the same topic tailored to both the Professional and Student tracks
• You're proposing in multiple formats (e.g., a workshop and a panel on related themes)

Final program decisions are made by the review committee.

Do presenters need to register for the event?

Yes. Accepted presenters receive a registration link with details. Co-presenters also need to register to attend.

Is there a fee to submit or present?

No. Submitting an abstract is free, and accepted presenters do not pay a presentation fee.

Accessibility and accommodations

If you have accessibility needs or accommodation requests, note them in your submission or contact us at nexttechkern@csub.edu. We'll work with you to make sure your session is set up for success.

Still have questions?

Contact us at nexttechkern@csub.edu or (661) 654-3425.

Start Your Proposal