ECE graduate students at the University of Toronto are invited to submit abstracts of maximum 150 words, outlining state-of-the-art research at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Students may also choose to present an overall summary of work done in their research group, or a research proposal.

Presentation should be a seven minute high-level overview of the presented research and is limited to eight slides only (including title page). The presentation should include a clear statement of the problem, motivation, and an overview of the proposed solution. The abstracts and slides should be submitted through the symposium webpage. Important dates for submission are:

• Presentation slides submission: (EXTENDED)May 13, 2008

Submissions are now closed

1. Why is this conference of interest to me?
   In a large department, such as ours, it is easy to become unaware of the work of other people. The conference provides a perfect opportunity to let other people from academia and industry know what you are doing, and find out about others’ work. The organizing committee is working hard to bring many industry representatives from all fields across the ECE.



2. What are the important dates I should know about?
   
   • March 28 - Abstract submission deadline (EXTENDED)
   • March 31 - Acceptance notification
   • May 13 - Slide submission deadline (EXTENDED)
   • May 27 - Connections 2008 Conference



3. Do I really have to present my work?
   Although some of the benefits of the conference can be gained just by attending, experience from past years is that students presenting their work gain so much more. By presenting, you draw attention of people working on similar projects and industry representatives. They will come and talk to you, instead of you having to chase after them. In addition, top speakers will be invited to a showcase dinner event with industry. The best talks will also receive prizes.



4. But I’m afraid that my ideas and work are not developed enough!
   This is a perfect opportunity for you to get a second opinion on your ideas. At the conference you will get feedback from other people (including industry) which will help you distinguish the aspects of your work that are interesting and worthy of your time from those that are less promising. You should submit your work regardless of its current state, including thesis proposal, work in progress or (pre)-published work.



5. But I don’t have time to prepare for the conference!
   The conference presentation is only 7 minutes long, so you do not have to prepare detailed slides, only a high-level overview of your work. The time you invest will more than pay off in terms of the feedback you gain and the networking opportunities on site.



6. How many people attend the conference?
   Last year’s Connections attracted hundreds of graduate attendees and over 50 talks. We expect the participation numbers to be even higher this year.



7. What about poster sessions?
   Between presentation sessions, presenters can also participate in poster sessions, with more opportunity for interaction with others. The poster simply consists of your slides.



8. Do I have to participate in a poster session?
   Participating in a poster session is NOT mandatory, but is recommended. The conference organizers will take care of printing your slides and installing them on a panel at the conference. You just have to show up. Of course, if you want to use a different poster, that can be arranged as well.



9. I have a really cool demo of my work. Can I present that?
   Absolutely! We are looking for demos of student work which will be exhibited at the conference with very successful demos last year. Contact us at uoftconnections@ecf.utoronto.ca to arrange the details.



10. Will the company xyz be at the conference?
    Although we are working hard to bring as many companies as possible, the companies will only come if we can promise them participation from many of our students. You can help by submitting your abstract EARLY, so that we can make this promise to the companies. If you have a specific company in mind, contact us at uoftconnections@ecf.utoronto.ca, and we will do our best to bring them to the conference.



11. I am looking for a job. Will the conference provide opportunity for meeting potential employers?
    Absolutely! Many of the companies attending the conference see it as a recruitment opportunity. You are encouraged to bring several copies of your resume for potential employers.



12. I have an idea for a start-up. Will there be any venture capitalists or Angel investors at the conference?
    Although we can not promise this to you at this point, we are working hard to bring some venture capitalists to the conference as well.



13. How much is the registration?
    Registration is FREE to all graduate students and faculty from ECE.



14. Are there any other advantages of presenting?
    Yes, free breakfast, lunch and snacks are provided for all the participants. In addition, you will get a free conference package, which includes a conference program, conference proceedings on a CD, a free t-shirt, and much more.



15. If I submit an abstract, do I still have to register?
    No. By submitting an abstract you are automatically registered for the conference.



16. I really like this conference and would like to help.
    Contact us at uoftconnections@ecf.utoronto.ca. We need all the help we can get. You will gain valuable experience and meet many new people. We are looking forward to meeting you.