Maryland Emergency Management Association

We are pleased to begin accepting presentations and posters for this year's symposium, where we will be celebrating our 40th ANNIVERSARY!!

We welcome and encourage presentations and posters on a wide array of topics relevant to the rapidly evolving fields of Emergency Management and Homeland Security. Whether it's the latest advancements, best practices, or innovative strategies, your proposals are invaluable contributions to the collective knowledge of our community.

Presentation time slots will be for 45 minute periods to include 5-10 minutes for questions. For presentations with multiple presenters, only one proposal submission listing each presenter's name is required.

Posters must meet the following requirements:

• 48" x 36" in size
• Minimum 24-pt text
• Have a clear problem statement, methodology, and outcomes
• Use at least one visual whether that be a chart, map, photo, or infographic
• Identify at least one actionable takeaway for practitioners

Timeline:

We respectfully ask candidates to adhere to the following schedule:

Jan 30th – February 27th, 2026 | Call for presentations and posters

March 9th – March 13th, 2026 (As of 3.6.26, notifications will go out by 3.20.26--sorry for the delay!) | Selected candidates for presentations and posters are notified (selection to present or create a poster does not guarantee a spot – you are only guaranteed once you complete symposium registration and turn in a draft PowerPoint presentation/poster on or before the due date).

March 31st, 2026 | Presentation/poster synopsis, candidate bio(s), and headshot(s) due 

April 3rd, 2026 | Final day for selected speakers and poster creators to register for the conference and submit draft presentation/poster

May 1st, 2026 | Final Presentations and Posters due to Education Committee.

For any questions, please contact Education@marylandema.org

SYMPOSIUM DATES: May 26th - 29th, 2026 in Ocean City, MD