Becoming a Conference Volunteer
Volunteering Opportunities
Volunteering is open to all undergraduate or graduate students at University of South Carolina.
Big Data Health Science Center is seeking volunteers to help make its fouth annual National Big Data Health Science Conference a success. Volunteering will allow you to build your network by working behind the scenes at a national conference. Your engagement will also potentially earn you free registration to the conference (if volunteers commit an entire volunteer block they will receive free registration, allowing them access to sessions and networking opportunities).
Expectations
Volunteers are expected to provide assistances during at least one day of the conference (hours will vary according to tasks). Given that volunteers are the face of National Big Data Health Science Conference, volunteers are expected to be punctual, respectful, and helpful during their shifts. Volunteers will be also expected to keep their volunteer leader informed of any issues and help keep the conference programming on the right track. All volunteers are expected to attend a training relevant to their assigned responsibilities. In particular, we are seeking volunteers to provide assistance in the following key areas of the conference:
Registration
Volunteers will be responsible for welcoming attendees, maintaining the registration roster sheet, distributing registration materials, and answering questions. Volunteers will also assist new attendees with on-site registration.
Social Media
Volunteers will be responsible for posting updates about the conference onto conference social media platforms (e.g., Twitter and Facebook) hourly and making online announcements provided by the conference coordinators.
Room Monitor
Volunteers will be responsible for communicating with the speakers and ensuring all necessary equipment is set up and functioning. They will also be expected to welcome attendees as they enter to the session room and distribute materials if the speakers request. Volunteers may be expected to help run the camera recording of the session and assist the conference staff with making sure a live stream of the session is functioning properly.
Poster Monitors
Volunteers will be responsible for the requests from poster presenters such as putting up the posters to the boards. Volunteers will be also expected to answer directional/basic questions by attendees of the poster session.
Traffic Direction
Volunteers will be responsible for providing directions to attendees throughout the conference. Volunteers will answer attendees’ questions regarding session locations, conference schedules, and the conference venue.
Volunteer Blocks
There are a total of four blocks of time for which volunteers are needed. Committing to an entire block will earn you free registration for the conference. Blocks include:
(1) February 10 (Friday) AM (7:30am-12:30pm)
(2) February 10 (Friday) PM (12:30pm-5:30pm)
(3) February 11 (Saturday) AM (7:30am-12:30pm)
(4) February 11 (Saturday) PM (12:30pm-5:30pm)
Time blocks may be subject to minor adjustments depending on availability of volunteer.
To Sign Up For Volunteering
Volunteers are an essential component of our conference. We highly appreciate your willingness to provide assistance and make this year’s conference a success. If you are interested in volunteering, please sign up using the following Google form. If you are volunteering as a part of an organization’s requirement, we are happy to sign time sheets required of you as appropriate.
If you have any questions, please contact Dr. George Tam at ctam@mailbox.sc.edu