Concurrent Sessions
How do concurrent sessions run?
Concurrent sessions take place Monday to Thursday, 5:00–7:05 pm, several in parallel in different rooms. Each session has five talks, so every speaker has a 25-minute slot, questions included. A session chair introduces each speaker and keeps time. Your day, room and running order are on the concurrent sessions page, and the venue map shows every room.
The first session of each day (MON-1, TUE-1, WED-1, THU-1) is held in the Paradise Ballroom, is streamed live on Zoom and recorded. Sessions in the other rooms are neither streamed nor recorded, and the way you present differs: see the two questions below.
My concurrent talk is in the Paradise Ballroom. How do I prepare?
Talks in the Paradise Ballroom run from the room’s own computer, so please upload your slides in advance using the link Abi sent to all Ballroom presenters by email. If you did not receive it or need it again, contact Abi Behar (abibehar@gmail.com).
Please arrive in the Ballroom 10 to 15 minutes before 5:00 pm, introduce yourself to your session chair, and check that your slides display correctly. Your talk is streamed live to remote participants and the recording is posted on YouTube, usually 30 to 60 days after the conference.
My concurrent talk is in another room. How do I prepare?
Please bring your own laptop with your presentation on it, and a copy on a USB flash drive as a backup. The room projectors use HDMI, so bring an adapter if your laptop has no HDMI port.
Arrive in the room by 4:50 pm, ten minutes before the session, to check the AV. The schedule is tight, so any time needed to fix AV issues with your computer comes out of your own slot. These rooms are not streamed or recorded.
I am chairing a concurrent session. What does that involve?
- Arrive 10 to 15 minutes early, check that your speakers are present and that the projector works.
- Open the session and introduce each speaker briefly, using the information on their abstract page (linked from the concurrent sessions page).
- Keep time. Each speaker has 25 minutes including questions, roughly 20 minutes of talk and 5 of discussion. Please hold the schedule even when a talk runs short or long: participants move between parallel sessions to hear specific talks.
- Moderate the questions after each talk and close the session at 7:05 pm.
- If you also present in the session, ask a colleague to keep time during your own talk.
Plenary Sessions and Workshops
How do plenary sessions run?
All fourteen plenary sessions take place in the Paradise Ballroom, with no competing sessions: Monday to Thursday at 8:30 am, 11:10 am and 2:00 pm, and Friday at 8:30 and 11:10 am. Each session has a chair and two to four speakers; the detailed program lists the chairs, speakers and talk titles. Every plenary is streamed live on Zoom and recorded for YouTube.
I am a plenary speaker. How do I prepare?
Talks in the Paradise Ballroom run from the room’s own computer, so please upload your slides in advance using the link Abi sent to all Ballroom presenters by email. If you did not receive it or need it again, contact Abi Behar (abibehar@gmail.com).
Please arrive 10 to 15 minutes before your session, introduce yourself to the chair, and check that your slides display correctly. Your chair will confirm how the session’s time is shared between talks and questions.
I am chairing a plenary session. What does that involve?
Introduce each speaker briefly, keep the session to its published start and end times, and moderate the questions. Plenaries are streamed live, so please start on time and keep the speakers within their share of the session. Speakers present from the Ballroom computer with slides uploaded in advance; if one of your speakers has not uploaded, point them to Abi before the session.
Do I need to register separately for the Sunday workshops?
No. The Sunday workshops on October 11 are included in your registration and there is no pre-registration: just come to the room. The workshops page lists the times, rooms and speakers.
I speak in a Sunday workshop. How do I prepare?
Your workshop chair organizes the format and running order and is your first point of contact.
Workshops in the Paradise Ballroom (Quantum Biology and the Brain and its Part 3, Brain Electromagnetic Fields, and the Sunday evening Varieties of Non-Human Consciousness) are streamed live and recorded, and run from the room’s computer: talks in the Paradise Ballroom run from the room’s own computer, so please upload your slides in advance using the link Abi sent to all Ballroom presenters by email. If you did not receive it or need it again, contact Abi Behar (abibehar@gmail.com). Workshops in the other rooms are not streamed: bring your own laptop with your slides, a USB backup, and an HDMI adapter if your laptop needs one, and arrive a few minutes early to check the projector.Poster Presentations
What size should my poster be, and what should it include?
Poster boards measure 5 ft 10 in wide × 4 ft high (70″ wide × 48″ high). This is the size of the board. To leave room for mounting, we recommend a poster no larger than 69″ wide × 47″ high.
Your poster should display your poster ID (visible on the poster sessions page, e.g. “Poster #706”), the poster title, and the authors. Poster sessions take place in the Mission Bay Room on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings at 7:30 pm.
Is portrait orientation acceptable?
Yes. Portrait posters are welcome, but they must be no more than 47″ high.
Can I bring a smaller poster?
Yes. Smaller posters are acceptable. Your poster does not need to fill the board.
Will the conference provide mounting boards?
Yes. The conference provides rental display boards for you to mount your poster on site. Bring your printed poster and follow the poster setup instructions.
Where can I get my poster printed?
We have arranged a deal with a local printer, ScanTech Graphics, to have posters printed at a discounted rate (price depends on size), and posters are delivered on site, to the poster room (Mission Bay Room), on Tuesday morning. — order your poster here
Order by noon on Friday, October 9 to avoid rush charges. Later orders can still be printed, but the printer will add a rush fee.
Two recommended sizes, both in landscape orientation (wide side horizontal):
- 48″ wide × 36″ high (122 × 91 cm) — the vendor default and the most affordable ($42).
- 60″ wide × 42″ high (152 × 107 cm), a larger option ($61.25).
When placing your order, please indicate in the comment that you are attending The Science of Consciousness conference at Paradise Point in San Diego, October 11–16, and that you have been told the poster can be delivered on site. Delivered posters will be waiting for you in the Mission Bay Room on Tuesday morning; pick yours up there when you set up. You can copy the note below into the order comment:
I am attending The Science of Consciousness conference at Paradise Point in San Diego, October 11–16, and I have been told that my poster can be delivered on site, to the poster room (Mission Bay Room) on Tuesday morning.
Poster Guidelines
How should I design my poster?
Keep it visual and concentrate on a few main points — bullets and clear figures work better than dense paragraphs, and your message should be clear even when you are away from the poster. Use large sans-serif lettering (e.g. Arial or Lucida Sans) readable from 1 meter: title about 2″–3″ high, subheadings ½″–1″. Put the title, author names, and affiliations at the top, and let the content flow from the upper left corner, left to right and top to bottom (introduction, methods, results, discussion, summary, references). Do not simply paste up typed pages from a paper.
How and when do I set up my poster?
Mount your poster on the day of your session — from 12:30 pm on Tuesday or Wednesday, at the start of the lunch break, so it is up by 2 pm. Posters are in the Mission Bay Room, in the building between the main conference center and the hotel lobby. Place it under the sign for your discipline (Philosophy, Neuroscience, Cognitive Science/Psychology, Physics/Biology, Experiential, or Humanities). Special mounting tape from the poster-board vendor is provided on site: no glue, Velcro, nails, or foam boards, and please do not write or mark on the boards. Remove your poster promptly after your session.
How should I present my poster?
A poster session is an informal discussion, not a podium presentation. Be with your poster during your scheduled session, and prepare a quick 1–2 minute summary of your research for visitors. A good way to start a conversation is to point out the figure that shows your core conclusion and let questions flow from there.
What happens if my poster wins?
Poster winners are announced during the conference and get the chance to present their work in front of the conference in a dedicated concurrent session: winners of Poster Session 1 (Tuesday) present on Wednesday in WED-6 (Bay View Room), and winners of Poster Session 2 (Wednesday) present on Thursday in THU-7 (Mission Bay Room), both 5:00–7:05 pm. Each winner has 20 minutes to present and take questions.
Poster presenters are encouraged to bring their poster on a USB thumb drive (PDF or slides) so that it can be projected to the audience. If you are notified that you have won in your discipline, please let us know whether you can attend the Wednesday or Thursday session — email info@tsc2026.org.
Conference Organization
How are conference topics organized?
The program is organized around the conference’s taxonomy of consciousness studies: six main disciplines — Philosophy, Neuroscience, Cognitive Science/Psychology, Physics/Biology, Experiential, and Humanities — each divided into numbered subcategories. Abstracts are submitted under these categories, and talks, posters, and poster-board signs follow them. The full list is available as a PDF: TSC 2026 Taxonomy of Categories.
What is the relationship between TSC 2026 and the Tucson conferences?
The Science of Consciousness 2026 (TSC2026) is the 32nd edition of the international interdisciplinary conference on consciousness that began in Tucson, Arizona in 1994 under the name The Science of Consciousness (TSC). Following the cancellation of TSC 2026, the conference has been reorganized under new leadership and governance at UC San Diego. TSC2026 continues the scientific tradition of the series while operating under an independent organizing committee and a new donor and speaker vetting protocol.
How is gender balance addressed in the program?
The TSC 2026 Scientific Committee has balanced gender representation, and we are actively working to achieve balanced representation among plenary speakers as well. Ensuring diverse perspectives is a priority for the organizing committee across all aspects of the program.
How is the conference funded? Who are the sponsors?
TSC 2026 is funded through registration fees, institutional support, and vetted sponsorships. All potential sponsors undergo our vetting protocol before any funds are accepted. We will publish a list of sponsors on the website as they are confirmed. If you or your organization are interested in sponsoring the conference, please contact us at info@tsc2026.org.
Why is registration expensive?
TSC 2026 is a non-profit conference, and registration fees are set to cover costs, not generate profit. The fee covers five full days of programming, including plenary talks, concurrent sessions, workshops, two receptions, food trucks on site every day (attendees pay for their own meals, but the conference pays the resort a fee to allow the trucks on site), and professional filming of talks with videos released freely after the conference. Unlike many conferences of similar scope, TSC 2026 does not charge separately for workshops or social events. For comparison, the 2026 OHBM annual meeting (Organization for Human Brain Mapping) charges over $1,260 for non-member early registration alone, before educational courses or membership fees.
The negotiated hotel rates at Paradise Point are also well below the resort’s standard pricing — student rooms start at $199/night with the resort fee waived. Students pay a reduced registration fee ($495 early / $595 regular), and a streaming-only option is available at $130 for those who cannot attend in person. See the registration page for full details.
The registration form asks for an “ID Code”. What do I enter?
Leave it blank. There is no ID code for TSC 2026 attendees, and registration goes through normally with the field empty.
Apologies for the confusion this has caused. The field is a built-in feature of the registration platform we use, and we are not able to remove, rename or hide it. It appears on the conference registration form and should be left empty.
If you were given a discount code, that is a different field — enter it where the form asks for a discount or promotional code, not in the ID Code box. If a code does not work, email info@tsc2026.org before paying and we will sort it out.
What is available for streaming?
All sessions held in the ballroom are streamed live, and their recordings are posted on YouTube, usually 30 to 60 days after the event. This includes the full plenary program and the concurrent sessions and workshops that take place in the main Paradise ballroom. The other concurrent sessions are not streamed or recorded, and social events such as the poetry slam and jam sessions are not streamed either.
Live-streaming registrants receive the Zoom link and passcode by email (sent on October 5 from info@tsc2026.org); please do not share them, and join with the name you registered with. Every streamed session is marked with a “Zoom link” in the detailed program. All times are San Diego time (PDT, UTC−7). If the email has not arrived, check your spam folder, then write to info@tsc2026.org.
Where do I find the Zoom passcode?
The Zoom link is in the detailed program, but the passcode is sent by email only and never posted on this website. Live-streaming registrants received it on October 5, and in-person participants on October 8 (subject “TSC 2026 — see you on Sunday”), both from info@tsc2026.org. Search your inbox and spam folder for that address; if you still cannot find it, write to info@tsc2026.org.
Please do not share the passcode, and join Zoom with the name you registered with for the conference.
Venue and Logistics
Is there Wi-Fi at the conference?
Yes. Connect to the conference Wi-Fi network in the meeting rooms:
Network name: Paradise26
Access code: Paradise26 (same as the network name)
This network covers the conference areas only. In your hotel room, use Paradise25 or ParadisePoint_Guest instead.
When and where do I pick up my badge?
Registration and badge pick-up open on Sunday, October 11 at 7:00 am, in the foyer outside the Paradise Ballroom, and the desk stays open through the day. Badges are required for all sessions; if the line is long on Sunday morning, you may go into the morning workshops and collect your badge later.
When does the conference end, and what are the hotel check-in times?
The conference runs from Sunday, October 11 to Friday, October 16 at 1:00 pm. At Paradise Point, check-in starts at 4:00 pm and check-out is at 11:00 am. All program times are San Diego time (PDT, UTC−7).
Is there a way to connect with other participants before and during the conference?
Yes. Join the conference Discord server for schedule updates and a help desk, discipline channels, and social channels for meetups, roommate finding and shared airport rides.
What is the Mini-Hackathon?
An informal space for coding, tinkering and building things together, in the Sunset Ballroom Zone A, open all week except during the concurrent sessions (5:00–7:05 pm, Monday to Thursday). No registration: drop in between sessions with your laptop, your data and your own AI subscription, and coordinate in the #tsc-hackathon channel on Discord. Details on the hackathon page.
Are there experiential sessions?
Yes. Morning sessions (tennis, mindful awareness practice and synchronistic morning sessions) run at 7:00 am, and a binaural-beats sound session runs at lunchtime, Monday to Thursday. No sign-up is needed; see the experientials page for times and places.
Where do I stay? Is the conference hotel still available?
The conference takes place at Paradise Point Resort & Spa, 1404 Vacation Road, San Diego, CA 92109 — (858) 274-4630. Staying on site is the easiest option: every session, the poster sessions and the evening events are a short walk from the rooms.
The conference room block is now full. Paradise Point usually still has rooms available outside the block, so it is worth calling the resort directly or checking their website — but be aware that rooms sold outside the block are at the regular rate, which can be considerably higher than the conference rate. If that does not work for you, the hotels below are all within reach of the venue.
What other hotels are nearby?
Mission Bay and Mission Beach have plenty of accommodation within walking or short driving distance of Paradise Point. Five options attendees have used:
| Hotel | On foot | By car |
|---|---|---|
| Catamaran Resort Hotel & Spa | 45 min | 10 min |
| Surfer Beach Hotel | 45 min | 10 min |
| Bahia Resort Hotel | 40 min | 6 min |
| ITH San Diego Mission Beach Backpacker Hostel | 45 min | 7 min |
| Heritage Inn San Diego | 65 min | 8 min |
From the Catamaran, the Surfer Beach Hotel and the hostel, the walk is long but pleasant — it follows the bay boardwalk almost the whole way. All five are also an inexpensive rideshare from the venue, and parking at Paradise Point is free during the day if you drive in.
How far is the hotel from the airport?
Paradise Point Resort & Spa is about 15 minutes by car from San Diego International Airport under normal conditions. Peak traffic usually has a limited effect on travel time because several routes between the airport and the hotel avoid the freeway.
Where do Uber and Lyft pick up at the airport?
Not at the curb outside baggage claim: drivers can be fined for stopping there. Rideshare pick-up is across the arrivals road, and you have to cross more than one lane to reach it.
- Terminal 1 (new terminal): exit baggage claim and take the signalized pedestrian crosswalk to the rideshare island. It has nine numbered zones; your app tells you which one.
- Terminal 2: exit baggage claim and take the main crosswalk to the Transportation Plaza. Rideshare is in the second lane, with lettered pick-up columns.
Request the ride once you are standing in the pick-up area, tell the driver your zone or column, and follow the pick-up instructions in the Uber or Lyft app. Details: san.org rideshare page.
How much is parking at the hotel?
Parking is $20 per night for hotel guests. Parking is free during the day.
What are the food options?
Food trucks will be on site every day during the conference; meals are paid for individually, and the conference pays the resort a fee to allow the trucks on site. For affordable grocery shopping, Trader Joe’s is just 8 minutes away by car (13 minutes by bike, 45 minutes on foot) and offers excellent quality at reasonable prices.
The resort also has a small convenience market and two waterfront restaurants of its own (see the resort’s dining page):
- Barefoot Bar & Grill — the casual option, on the bay since 1962: burgers, seafood, salads, craft beer and cocktails, with live music on Friday and Saturday evenings. Open through the day and busy at night.
- Tidal — the sit-down option, an outdoor waterfront dining room with 180° views over Mission Bay and a seasonal menu. Dinner only, weekdays, so book ahead if you want a table.
Can I still get a ticket for the Fire Show dinner?
No — the dinner is full. The Fire Show dinner — the conference banquet — is on Thursday, October 15 at 7:30 pm on the Paradise Terrace, featuring a small-scale fire show by Skyfire Arts. All seats have been reserved; no more can be booked and none will be sold at the door.
If you already reserved a seat — by ticking the dinner question when you registered or by buying a dinner ticket — you are all set. You do not need a dinner ticket for the Poetry Slam at 9:30 pm, which is open to everyone. For anything else, email info@tsc2026.org.
What is the red ticket for?
The red ticket you receive with your badge is a drink ticket: hand it in at the bar for one drink.
How does the Poetry Slam work?
The Poetry Slam is on Thursday, October 15 at 9:30 pm in the Paradise Ballroom, and everyone is welcome to take part. Each presenter has 2 minutes maximum, so please prepare a short piece.
Can I take photos at Paradise Point Resort?
Yes, attendees are welcome to take photos for personal use throughout the resort grounds. We ask that you respect the privacy of other participants during sessions. The resort grounds, marina, and bay views make for excellent photography.
What activities are available at Paradise Point?
Paradise Point Resort & Spa sits on a 44-acre island on Mission Bay and offers a wide range of on-site activities, including five swimming pools (one adult-only), a full-service spa, beach access on Mission Bay, bicycle and watercraft rentals (kayaks, paddleboards, sailboats), a fitness center, tennis courts, volleyball, and waterfront dining. The resort also features walking and jogging paths through its tropical gardens.
Is childcare or daycare available?
The conference does not provide childcare or daycare services. Paradise Point Resort does not offer on-site childcare either. Attendees who need childcare arrangements should plan accordingly before arriving. San Diego has a number of licensed childcare agencies that provide in-room babysitting services at local hotels; the resort concierge may be able to suggest options.
Can I swim at the venue? What about the ocean?
Yes — you can swim right in Mission Bay at the resort. The bay water is calm and sheltered, and tends to be slightly warmer than the open ocean. San Diego ocean temperatures in mid-October are typically around 18–20°C (65–68°F), not quite Hawaii, but still manageable. Air temperatures average 22–25°C (72–77°F) with mostly sunny skies.
The ocean beach is about a 45-minute walk from the resort. For runners, there is a beautiful bayside jogging route — you can run along the bay to the ocean and back in about 40 minutes, a great way to start the morning.
San Diego
What is the weather like in October? What should I pack?
October is one of the best months in San Diego. Expect daytime highs around 24 °C (75 °F) and overnight lows near 16 °C (61 °F), with abundant sunshine and very little rain — October averages well under an inch for the whole month. Mornings can start with coastal cloud that burns off by late morning.
Daytime dress is light: the walk between session rooms is outdoors, across the resort’s gardens. The conference rooms themselves are air-conditioned, so a light layer is useful indoors if you feel the cold.
The one thing people underestimate is the evening by the water. Paradise Point sits on Mission Bay, and after sunset the breeze off the water makes it noticeably cooler than the daytime forecast suggests. For the outdoor evening events — the beach bonfire and hangout, the Fire Show dinner on the terrace, and anything else on the sand — bring a sweater or a light jacket. Ocean water temperature is around 20 °C (68 °F), comfortable for a swim for most people.
Where can I eat and go out near the venue?
Paradise Point is ideally situated between two of San Diego’s liveliest beach neighborhoods:
- Pacific Beach — just to the north, with a wide selection of restaurants, cafes, and bars along Garnet Avenue and the boardwalk. The scene is youthful and energetic, popular with surfers, students, and locals enjoying rooftop patios and ocean-view dining.
- Ocean Beach — just to the south, with a relaxed, eclectic character and a long-established community feel. Newport Avenue is lined with independent restaurants, craft beer spots, vintage shops, and live music venues. OB has a bohemian, welcoming atmosphere that makes it a favorite among locals.
Both neighborhoods are less than 10 minutes from the resort and offer everything from casual tacos to sit-down seafood dinners.
What other activities are available in San Diego?
San Diego offers many attractions close to the venue:
- Balboa Park — 1,200-acre urban park with 17 museums, gardens, and the San Diego Zoo.
- San Diego Zoo and Safari Park — world-renowned wildlife parks.
- La Jolla — scenic coastal cliffs, tide pools, sea caves, and Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve.
- Old Town San Diego — historic district with museums, restaurants, and shops.
- Gaslamp Quarter — downtown dining, nightlife, and entertainment district.
- USS Midway Museum — aircraft carrier museum on the waterfront.
- Cabrillo National Monument — panoramic views, tide pools, and whale-watching (gray whale season begins in mid-October).
- Sunset Cliffs — dramatic ocean bluffs, popular for sunset viewing.
- Surfing and beaches — Pacific Beach, Ocean Beach, and Coronado are all nearby.
The venue is centrally located on Mission Bay, with most attractions within a 15–25 minute drive.