MMM7 - FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Registration and Abstract Submission:

• Q1. How many abstracts can one participant submit as a Presenting Author?

  • A.  Each registered participant may submit only one abstract as the Presenting Author, regardless of whether it is an oral, flash & poster, or poster presentation. For clarity, the Presenting Author is defined as the person who will actually deliver the presentation (oral, flash, or poster) at the conference venue. This policy is commonly adopted at international conferences to ensure fairness among participants and to provide equal presentation opportunities. Please note that this restriction applies only to the presenting author. You may still be listed as a co-author on additional abstracts presented by other participants.

• Q2. Do I need to pay the registration fee before submitting an abstract?

  • A. Yes. Abstract submission is only possible after the registration fee has been paid. This procedure is commonly used for international conferences held in Japan and is also required by the registration system operated by our professional conference organizer (PCO).

• Q3. Can the presenter be changed after an abstract has been submitted?

  • A. Yes. Up to the abstract submission deadline, the presenting author can be freely changed or the abstract can be withdrawn through the submission system. This is a standard technical feature of the system and applies to all submitters.  After the abstract submission deadline and acceptance, however, the presenting author cannot be changed in the official records, as the presenter’s name will be included in the Abstract Book. If an unavoidable change of presenter occurs at the time of the conference (e.g., due to illness or travel issues), this can be accommodated operationally during the session. Please note that such changes cannot be reflected in the Abstract Book once it has been finalized and printed.

• Q4. What happens if my abstract is not accepted?

  • A. The acceptance or non-acceptance of your abstract will be communicated directly to you by email from the Organizing Committee after the review process has been completed. After receiving the decision, it is entirely up to the presenter to decide whether to proceed with participation in the conference or to withdraw. MMM7 is designed to maximize presentation opportunities, and we anticipate that the vast majority of submitted abstracts will be accepted in one of the following categories: oral presentation, flash & poster, or poster presentation. In the rare case that an abstract is not accepted and the registrant chooses to withdraw, the Organizing Committee will review the situation on a case-by-case basis. Please note that refunds cannot be guaranteed, as the registration system does not support automated refunding.

• Q5. Are registration fees refundable?

  • As a general rule, registration fees are non-refundable. This is standard practice for many international conferences held in Japan. In addition, the registration system operated by our professional conference organizer (PCO) is designed on this basis, and the refund policy cannot be modified within the system.
    However, for participants whose abstracts are not accepted and who therefore choose not to attend, the Organizing Committee will review refund requests on a case-by-case basis. Please note that, as the PCO’s system does not support automated refunds, each request must be handled manually and assessed individually, and a refund may not be granted depending on the circumstances and in accordance with the general policy.

• Q6. Can I submit an abstract if I need acceptance confirmation for external funding?

  • A. Yes. Many participants require abstract acceptance in order to secure external funding, and we are fully mindful of this situation. In the MMM conference series, all presentations are traditionally held in a single venue, allowing all participants to attend all sessions and engage in discussions across a wide range of topics. While this format is highly valued within the MMM community, it also means that the number of full oral presentation slots is necessarily limited. To address this constraint while maximizing presentation opportunities, MMM7 has introduced the flash & poster category, which includes a short oral presentation delivered in the main venue, followed by a poster presentation. This format is regarded by the Organizing Committees as a form of oral presentation and has been adopted specifically to increase the number of presenters who can speak in front of the full audience. We therefore expect that the flash & poster category will help accommodate participants who require oral presentation confirmation for funding purposes, while preserving the single-venue tradition of the MMM series.

• Q7. Can I be a co-author on multiple abstracts?

  • A. Yes. While each participant may submit only one abstract as the presenting author, there is no restriction on being listed as a co-author on additional abstracts presented by other participants.

• Q8. Can I propose or organize a dedicated session (e.g., country-specific or institution-led) at MMM7?

  • A. No. The MMM7 Organizing Committee does not accept or organize sessions proposed by individual institutions, groups, or countries. As with previous MMM conferences, all scientific sessions are structured by the Oranizing and Scientific Committees based on the thematic categories defined for the conference. Sessions are organized after abstract submission, taking into account scientific coherence, balance among topics, and broad international representation. Participants who wish to highlight specific regional, national, or thematic issues are strongly encouraged to submit individual abstracts through the standard abstract submission system, selecting the most appropriate thematic category (or categories).  The Scientific Committee will review all submitted abstracts and Organizing Committee will organize sessions accordingly. In this way, MMM7 aims to ensure both scientific quality and inclusiveness, while maintaining the long-standing structure and spirit of the MMM conference series.

• Q9. Can I submit an abstract based on a previously published article?　Are there any specific guidelines regarding abstracts derived from published work?

  • A. Yes. There is no restriction on abstract submission based on whether the content has been previously published or is unpublished. Abstracts derived from published articles are fully acceptable. Authors are requested to prepare and submit their abstracts in accordance with the guidelines provided on the “Abstract” page of the MMM7 website and within the online Abstract Submission System. No additional requirements apply specifically to abstracts based on published work.

• Q10. I am not sure whether my mangrove-related study is suitable for presentation at MMM7.

  • A. MMM7 welcomes a wide range of mangrove-related studies, including ecological, biological, environmental, management, conservation, and multidisciplinary research. If your work focuses on mangroves in any form, it is likely to be suitable for presentation.

• Q11. How is my registration fee category determined (country of origin vs. current affiliation)?

  • A. The registration fee category is determined by the country of your current affiliation, meaning the country where you are employed and receive your salary or scholarship or fellowship, not by your country of origin. Accordingly, the Higher Income participation fee applies if your current affiliation is in a higher-income country.

• Q12. Can I register as a Student if I am a part-time PhD student?

  • A.  If you are employed full-time while pursuing a part-time PhD program, you should register under the Delegate category. The Student registration category is intended for participants whose primary status is that of a student.

• Q13. If my colleagues and I jointly present a poster, does each participant need to register and submit the same abstract?

  • For each presentation at MMM7, only one Presenting Author is permitted and must be designated at the time of abstract submission. The Presenting Author is defined as a single individual who is officially responsible for delivering the presentation. Even if multiple co-authors of the presentation attend the conference, only one abstract of the presentation should be submitted from the Presenting Author. Co-authors should not submit the same abstract separately (but of course, the co-author can be a Presenting Author of another presentation). Please note that all participants who attend the MMM7 must complete their own registration, regardless of whether they are the Presenting Author or a co-author.

• Q14. Is there a word or character limit for abstracts?

  • A. Yes. When you proceed to the Abstract Submission System, you will see that the abstract text is limited to fewer than 300 words. Please ensure that your abstract complies with this word limit when submitting.

Funding opportunity from MMM7:

• Q1. Are there any funding opportunities or financial support available for PhD students?

  • A. At present, MMM7 does not offer funding opportunities, travel grants, fee waivers, or other financial support for PhD students. If any such support becomes available, it will be announced on the MMM7 conference website.

Post Conference Workshop:

• Q1. Do you plan to hold a post-conference paper writing workshop?

• A. Yes. We are preparing a post-conference paper writing workshop after MMM7. Due to capacity limitations at the workshop venue, priority will initially be given to members of the IUCN Mangrove Specialist Group (IUCN-MSG). If additional space becomes available, we plan to open a further call for participation.
  
  The current plan for the workshop is as follows:
  Schedule: The workshop is scheduled for 7–11 July 2026 and will be held at the Iriomote Station, University of the Ryukyus. The workshop will be organized by Dr. Alison Wee.
  Travel to Iriomote: Participants will travel to and from Iriomote individually, using public ferry services between Ishigaki and Iriomote Islands. Ferry services are operated by Anei Kanko and Yaeyama Kanko Ferry, both of which offer morning ferries from Ishigaki to Iriomote. Participants are expected to travel to Iriomote on the morning ferry on 7 July and depart from Iriomote by an afternoon ferry on 11 July. A detailed schedule will be provided to confirmed participants.
  Example travel plan:
    5 July: End of MMM7 (stay in Ishigaki)
    6 July: Stay in Ishigaki (or arrange an independent stay in Iriomote)
    7 July: Morning transfer from Ishigaki to Iriomote by ferry
    7–11 July: Workshop at Iriomote Station
    11 July: Afternoon transfer from Iriomote to Ishigaki (departure from Ishigaki Airport the same day or an additional overnight stay)
  Accommodation: Accommodation arrangements in Iriomote are currently under consideration. We aim to reserve rooms at a nearby hostel with meal service. In addition, for participants seeking more economical options, limited rooms in the University of the Ryukyus dormitory may be available.
  Further details, including application procedures, will be announced on a workshop website once arrangements are finalized.

(last update: 21 Jan. 2026)