How To Propose a Workshop at MSRI

Typically, proposals are made a year and a half or two before the date of the workshop; if you think that your topic is of great current interest, you might want to consider proposing a 'hot topic' workshop rather than the usual MSRI workshop.

A proposal should contain:

1. Scientific description and justification: what is the field of the workshop, and what is going on in the field that makes this the right moment for a conference? What recent conferences have there been in the area?
2. Prospective Participants: A list of organizers and main speakers. It is helpful if some key people are already committed to the project, but it is not necessary that all the people have already agreed to participate.
3. Format: A standard workshop lasts five days (M-F) and has about twenty talks (four per day, with a free afternoon on Wednesday.) If you think a different format would be better, please explain the reasons for your choice. One of our goals is to encourage a "workshop" atmosphere where participants actually interact rather than merely sit and listen to lectures.
4. Human Resources: The proposal must include a section describing in detail a plan to ensure the participation of women and underrepresented groups at the organizer and participant level, in both programs and workshops. A member of the organizing committee should be identified as the overseer of the plan. The MSRI Human Resources Advisory Committee chairperson can assist the organizers with this task, and if desirable, assign a liasion from HRAC to the organizing committee.
5. Funding: MSRI is able to provide some funding for workshops, but you are encouraged to think of possible alternative sources; MSRI will be happy to help you with the mechanics of budgets and application forms. Please indicate what sources other than MSRI, if any, might be able to help with funding your workshop.