Speaking Opportunities

Abstract Submission For 2024 Has Ended. 

Sessions provide information readily beneficial to a diverse audience of contractors, municipalities, utilities and consulting engineers. The program is an interactive forum to share perspectives, present ideas and explore issues for the construction and rehabilitation of the underground utility piping infrastructure via both trenchless and traditional methods. Sharing your experience and expertise during UCT provides quality exposure for you and your company while creating an unprecedented learning opportunity for attendees.

The deadline to submit a proposal was Friday,  June 2, 2023. A committee comprised of underground infrastructure professionals (industry experts and association advisors) is responsible for making speaker selections. We will notify you of their decision during the week of August 21. If your topic is accepted, we will confirm the date and time of your speaking engagement in the fall.

What we’re looking for:
UIC is a broad event emphasizing the practical, real-world needs of contractors, owners and engineers in the overall underground construction and rehabilitation markets. We are seeking topics that are relevant, timely and informative.

Proposal Submission

UIC accepts only unique presentations. If your proposal has been previously presented or is pending approval at another conference, regretfully we cannot accept your submission.

 Acceptance Process

• Once abstract proposals are reviewed, the advisory committees will notify authors of acceptance status
• For accepted proposals, authors must submit a complete presentation (PowerPoint). You will be notified of the due date.  No presentations will be accepted without on-time submittal and strict adherence to UIC guidelines.
• Please  note, accepted presentations will be published in conference proceedings.

If selected: 

• You agree to obtain any permissions or clearance required for the content of your presentation at the conference by your employer.
• You grant UIC/Gulf Energy Information the rights to include your paper/presentation content in the conference proceedings in electronic format and grant us permission to add your name, topic and short biography to the conference website and on marketing materials.
• You agree to ensure that your presentation has an educational focus and is not commercial in nature.  (We offer exhibit and sponsorship opportunities for promoting a company and/or service.)
• You agree to speak to conference attendees in person in Oklahoma City, OK at the proposed time on the date assigned, which will be: March 19, 20, or 21, 2024.
• You agree to meet the following deadlines:
  • Confirmation of acceptance to participate within 7-10 business days of the confirmation email going out
  • Registration for the conference no later than Nov. 30, using the registration code that will be provided to you. Do not register ahead of being notified of your acceptance/code receipt.
  • Submission of final slides on the determined date

Failure to submit requested items/presentations according to the dates outlined in your confirmation may result in being removed from the program/agenda.

Presentation Guidelines

• UIC is not a specific engineering/technical conference. While engineering presentations are welcome, presentations emphasizing the practical, real-world needs of contractors, owners and engineers in the underground infrastructure markets are preferred.
• Most sessions will allow for approximately 20 minutes of presentation and 5 minutes for Q&A. Requests for longer times (45 minutes of presentation and 10 minutes of Q&A) will be considered but must be made when abstract is submitted. The advisory committees will make final decisions regarding presentation lengths.
• Final presentations must be generic. Excessive use of proprietary logos and other references are not permitted.
• Proposals from contractors, utilities/owners and engineers rather than vendor-only sessions are strongly preferred. Presentations by vendors for the emerging technology program or for tutorial tracks, must include a contractor, owner or engineer as the primary speaker. 
• Types of presentations include (but are not limited to) the construction and rehabilitation of underground infrastructure systems, including trenchless and open-cut:
  • Case histories and project presentations;
  • Enhancements of current construction and rehabilitation equipment/methods;
  • Effective or new concepts for construction and rehab equipment/methods;
  • Industry trends, issues and concerns;
  • Emerging technologies;
  • Application of new technology or innovative use of existing technologies on a project and
  • Damage prevention and safety.
    Thank you for your interest in educating our industry!
    *Please note you will need to create an account in order to submit your paper/proposal (this includes presenters who have submitted in previous years).  After your account has been created, you will be able to enter your submission(s).