Attending SDP Convening

Current SDP Fellows and their Supervisors

Step 1: Register

Please register for the 2024 Strategic Data Project Convening. Attendance at SDP convening, including reasonable costs related to your travel and lodging, is covered by the partnership fee for fellowship participants.

Step 2: Book Your Travel

Once you have registered to attend convening, you will receive instructions for booking your travel in your registration confirmation.

First, and most importantly, make sure to consult SDP's travel policies before you book your travel for a sense of what travel expenses and itineraries are allowable.

When you are ready to book your travel, our travel partner Milne Travel will assist you in planning your travel itinerary to Boston for Convening 2024.

  • You can book your travel via a form from Milne Travel, which will be e-mailed to you with your registration confirmation. We ask that you submit this form within 1 week after completing your registration.
  • For questions regarding your travel booking, contact Milne at harvard@milnetravel.com or kelly.garcia@altour.com.
  • For other travel-related issues and/or to get clarification on SDP's Travel Policies, contact Sabrina Correia at sabrina_correia@gse.harvard.edu.
  • Please be prepared to share your name and gender (as they appear on your travel identification), date of birth, closest transit hub(s), and cell phone.
  • Please plan for sufficient time to get from your travel hub to the conference hotel, the Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel (606 Congress St, Boston, MA 02210). Consult the draft convening agenda if needed.
  • Lodging will be at the Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel. You will receive an email with your hotel assignment and confirmation number at least one week prior to the conference.  

Your travel must be booked by February 9, 2024 and must be in compliance with all of SDP's travel booking policies.

Step 3: Your Hotel is Covered

SDP will house guests in the conference hotel, the Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel (606 Congress St, Boston, MA 02210).

  • Room and board expenses for two nights at the conference hotel are covered by SDP.
  • If you are traveling an exceptionally long itinerary and need to stay an extra night, you will receive approval to do so during the travel booking process.

You will receive confirmation of your hotel assignment within 2 weeks of Convening.

Step 4: Build Your Agenda

In March you will receive an email and link to the final agenda so that you may make your session selections.

SDP Alumni

Step 1: Register

Please register for the 2024 Strategic Data Project Convening. This event is open to the full SDP alumni network and there is no registration fee for fellowship alumni to attend. However, SDP alumni without other affiliations (e.g., current supervisor or confirmed speaker) will be responsible for their own lodging and travel if choosing to attend.

If you are looking to offset the costs of attending convening in Boston, SDP is looking for session proposals currently. Selected speakers will receive a $500 honorarium and are eligible to request a stay at the conference hotel with our discount rate ($319/night plus taxes and fees. You can read more and respond to the request for proposals (RFP) here.

Step 2: Book Your Own Travel, if Applicable

Alumni are responsible for their own travel to Boston. As you start thinking about your trip, you may consult this draft convening agenda. The details about individual sessions are subject to change, but the start and end times for the overall event are correct.

We recommend booking flexible travel arrangements where possible, in case your plans change.

Step 3: Reserve a Hotel Room, if Applicable

We recommend staying at the convening hotel, the Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel; however, other area hotels or lodging rental options may be more cost effective for individuals or groups of alumni. Other options within walking distance include:

Step 4: Build Your Agenda

In March you will receive an email and link to the final agenda so that you may make your session selections.

Invited Speakers, Alumni Advisory Board, Faculty Advisors, and Special Guests

Step 1: Register

Please register for the 2024 Strategic Data Project Convening. If you have been invited to speak at SDP convening, if you are a member of the SDP Alumni Advisory Board, or if you are a special guest, SDP will cover reasonable costs related to your travel and lodging for attending convening in Boston.

Step 2: Book Your Travel

Once you have registered to attend convening, you will receive instructions for booking your travel in your registration confirmation.

First, and most importantly, make sure to consult SDP's travel policies before you book your travel for a sense of what travel expenses and itineraries are allowable.

When you are ready to book your travel, our travel partner Milne Travel will assist you in planning your travel itinerary to Boston for Convening 2024.

  • You can book your travel via a form from Milne Travel, which will be e-mailed to you with your registration confirmation. We ask that you submit this form within 1 week after completing your registration.
  • For questions regarding your travel booking, contact Milne at harvard@milnetravel.com or kelly.garcia@altour.com.
  • For other travel-related issues and/or to get clarification on SDP's Travel Policies, contact Sabrina Correia at sabrina_correia@gse.harvard.edu.
  • Please be prepared to share your name and gender (as they appear on your travel identification), date of birth, closest transit hub(s), and cell phone.
  • Please plan for sufficient time to get from your travel hub to the conference hotel, the Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel (606 Congress St, Boston, MA 02210). Consult the draft convening agenda if needed.
  • Lodging will be at the Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel. You will receive an email with your hotel assignment and confirmation number at least one week prior to the conference.  

Your travel must be booked by March 8, 2024 and must be in compliance with all of SDP's travel booking policies.

Step 3: Your Hotel is Covered

SDP will house guests in the conference hotel, the Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel (606 Congress St, Boston, MA 02210).

  • Room and board expenses for two nights at the conference hotel are covered by SDP.
  • If you are traveling an exceptionally long itinerary and need to stay an extra night, you will receive approval to do so during the travel booking process.

You will receive confirmation of your hotel assignment within 2 weeks of Convening.

Step 4: Build Your Agenda

In March you will receive an email and link to the final agenda so that you may make your session selections. Please ask your SDP point of contact if you have questions about your role or obligations.

Prospective Speakers Submitting Session Proposals

Step 1: Submit Your Session Proposal

If you would like to present a session at the Strategic Data Project Convening 2024, please reference our request for proposals and submit your proposal by the deadline of Friday, January 12, 2024.

Selected speakers will receive a $500 honorarium with our gratitude and are eligible to request a stay at the conference hotel with our discount rate ($319/night plus taxes and fees). Selected speakers will also be able to attend the full conference free of charge.

Step 2: Register (as directed)

If you have already received a convening invitation, you may go ahead and register for the conference as directed. Reference the directions for your other affiliation(s), found elsewhere on this page.

If you have not received a formal invitation to register for convening, please do not register until you have been notified your session proposal has been accepted.

Step 3: Book Your Own Travel, if Applicable

Speakers who have accepted session proposals are responsible for their own travel to Boston (unless your travel is covered through another SDP affiliation). As you start thinking about your trip, you may consult this draft convening agenda. The details about individual sessions are subject to change, but the start and end times for the overall event are correct.

Step 4: Reserve a Hotel Room, if Applicable

Speakers who have accepted session proposals are responsible for their own lodging in Boston. These speakers are also eligible for a discounted rate at the convening hotel, the Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel. Please reach out to Regina Kinney at regina_kinney@gse.harvard.edu if you would like to request the discounted rate. However, other area hotels or lodging rental options may be more cost effective for individuals. Other options within walking distance include:

Step 5: Prepare Your Session and Build Your Agenda

In March you will receive an email and link to the final agenda so that you may make your session selections.

Be sure to add your own session to your schedule and prepare accordingly. SDP will reach out to schedule a call to discuss your session preparations.

Harvard CEPR Staff and Affiliates

Step 1: Register

Please register for the 2024 Strategic Data Project Convening. This event is open to the SDP community, and there is no registration fee for CEPR staff and affiliates, including former SDP faculty advisors.

Step 2: Plan Your Trip

The 2024 Strategic Data Project Convening will commence at 3:00PM on Monday, April 29, and adjourn by 3:00PM on Wednesday, May 1. As you start thinking about your trip, you may consult this draft convening agenda.

We encourage you to arrange accommodations at the Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel, however other area hotels may be more cost-effective. Please contact Regina Kinney at regina_kinney@gse.harvard.edu to see if you are eligible to receive our group discount.

Step 3: Build Your Agenda

In March you will receive an email and link to the final agenda so that you may make your session selections.

Other SDP Community Members

The 2024 SDP Convening is only open to invited guests from the SDP network.

If you are unsure whether you are eligible to attend, or if you believe you should be eligible to attend but have not yet received an invitation, please reach out to Regina Kinney at regina_kinney@gse.harvard.edu for clarification and confirmation.

If you register without an invitation, your registration will be canceled.

Paid Guests (by invitation only)

Step 1: Register

In 2024, SDP Convening will sell a limited number of tickets to people in our broader community, including former SDP Institute participants. These tickets are sold via invitation only, and cover your conference fee, breakfast and lunch each day, and dinner on Monday, April 28. If you’ve received an invitation and wish to attend, please register for the 2024 Strategic Data Project Convening and be sure to select the option "Paid guest" as your role at Convening. You are encouraged to select the “Paid guest” option in addition to any other roles and affiliations you hold.

Step 2: Pay for your Registration

After registering as a "Paid guest", you will receive a confirmation email providing instructions on how to pay for your ticket. Once your payment is confirmed, you are officially registered to attend SDP Convening 2024.

This registration fee will cover your conference fee, dinner on Monday, April 28, and breakfast and lunch on Tuesday, April 29 and Wednesday, May 1. Registration fee does not cover travel or lodging. You are also still responsible for booking your own travel to, and lodging in, Boston for the conference.

Complete your payment by March 13, 2024 to receive the early bird price of $925. After March 13, the price will increase to $1025.

Your registration is not confirmed until your payment is complete. If space is limited, SDP will prioritize attendees based on when they purchased their tickets. If you do not pay for your registration by March 20, your registration will be canceled. 

Cancellation Policy

Registration fees will be refunded, less a $250 processing fee, if cancellation or a change resulting in a refund is received in writing no later than April 12, 2024. After that date, fees are non-refundable (including no-shows). All refunds will be processed after the conference. All cancellations must be received in writing to Eduardo Moreira at eduardomoreira@gse.harvard.edu.

 

Step 3: Plan Your Trip

The 2024 Strategic Data Project Convening will commence at 5:00PM on Monday, April 29, and adjourn by 3:00PM on Wednesday, May 1. As you start thinking about your trip, you may consult this draft convening agenda.

We encourage you to arrange accommodations at our conference hotel, the Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel, however other area hotels may be more cost-effective. 

Step 4: Build Your Agenda

In March, registered and fully paid attendees will receive an email and link to the final agenda so that you may make your session selections.

Questions or Comments?