Hotel Waitlist Form

Thank you for your interest. The waitlist is now closed. Please see our list of other hotels within walking distance of the meeting.

2025 Sponsorship Opportunities

We are pleased to invite you to sponsor the VSS 2025 meeting! VSS will hold an in-person meeting on May 16-20, at the beautiful TradeWinds Island Resorts in St. Pete Beach, Florida.

This year marks the tenth year we have held our meeting at the Tradewinds. The City of St. Pete Beach is a barrier island community located just off the mainland of St. Petersburg, just south of Treasure Island, and 20 miles from Clearwater Beach. With miles of pristine, white sandy beaches, year-round sunshine, an abundance of recreational opportunities, restaurants, and shopping, St. Pete Beach is among the most enjoyable places to live and vacation in the world. A short 15 minute drive away, the city of St. Petersburg boasts world-class museums, including the Salvador Dali Museum.

The Vision Sciences Society is committed to progress in understanding vision and its relation to cognition, action and the brain. Our primary goal is to host a yearly meeting where both new and established investigators can present and discuss their work in a relaxed informal setting. Our interdisciplinary nature is reflected by the program committee and review board.

Between 1,500 and 2,000 international researchers will participate in this year’s VSS Annual Meeting. VSS members represent all fields related to vision science.

Sponsorship Types

There are two types of VSS sponsorship: Meeting Sponsorship and Corporate Membership. The levels for each are described below.

Meeting Sponsorship Tiers

Corporate Membership Levels

Level 2 Membership, $20,000

All benefits of Gold Sponsorship (if desired)
Up to 8 employee memberships
Registration to VSS for those 8 employees
2 job ads directed to membership per year
Guaranteed participation in ‘Connect with Industry’ event
Option to present at ‘Demo Night’
Opportunity to host satellite event at annual meeting (additional fees)

Level 1 Membership, $25,000

All benefits of Gold Sponsorship (if desired)
Up to 10 employee memberships
Registration to VSS for those 10 employees
3 job ads directed to membership mailing list per year
Guaranteed participation in ‘Connect with Industry’ event
Option to present at ‘Demo Night’
Opportunity to host satellite event at annual meeting (additional fees)

Exhibit Booths at VSS

To exhibit at VSS, you must purchase a Meeting Sponsorship or Corporate Membership.

Sponsorship/Membership applications must be received by February 20, 2025 to receive published pricing. The last day applications will be considered is April 7 (although exhibit space may sell out before that date and space is not guaranteed).

Exhibit booths are located in the Pavilion at the TradeWinds Island Resorts, adjacent to the posters, allowing for maximum visibility to VSS participants. Exhibit space is one 8’ deep by 10’ wide booth, and includes curtain side rails and backdrop, 6’ x 30’’ skirted table, two chairs, and identification sign.

Exhibit space is assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. (Silver and Gold sponsors will receive first choice/premium spaces.) Please read our Exhibitor Agreement for hotel policies, set-up and tear-down instructions, insurance requirements, and other guidelines.

Thank you for your interest. Exhibit space is now fully booked and the application is closed. Please contact us at if you are interested in customizing a sponsorship package.

Exhibit Hours

Friday, May 16
Exhibits load-in and set up	4:00 – 7:00 pm
Saturday, May 17
Exhibits load-in and set up	7:00 – 9:00 am
Exhibits open	8:00 am – 5:30 pm
Morning poster session	8:30 am – 12:30 pm
Afternoon poster session	2:45 – 6:45 pm*
Sunday, May 18
Exhibits open	8:00 – 5:30 pm
Morning poster session	8:30 – 12:30 pm
Afternoon poster session	2:45 – 6:45 pm*
Monday, May 19
Exhibits open	8:00 am – 12:30 pm
Morning Poster Session	8:30 am – 12:30 pm
Tuesday, May 20
Exhibits open	8:00 am – 5:30 pm
Morning poster session	8:30 am – 12:30 pm
Afternoon poster session	2:45 – 6:45 pm
Exhibitor Tear-down	5:30 – 8:30 pm

*Exhibit area will be stanchioned off at 5:30 pm and linens will be offered to cover exhibit tables.

Important Dates

February 20, 2025	Deadline to submit early sponsorship applications, and receive published pricing
March 3, 2025	Deadline to submit logo and company description for VSS website
April 2, 2025	Deadline to submit ads for the program
April 7, 2025	Deadline to submit late sponsorship applications
April 15, 2025	Booth assignments complete

*Applications received after February 20 will incur an additional charge of $250 for late processing.

Additional Sponsorship Opportunities

Coffee Break Sponsorship – $2000

Gain exclusive visibility with our Coffee Break Sponsorship! As the sole sponsor of a designated coffee break, your organization will be featured on event signage, ensuring high exposure. You’ll also have a dedicated table during the break to share information, engage with attendees, and make meaningful connections.

Meeting Lanyards – $3000

Place your branding around the necks of our attendees, ensuring maximum visibility throughout the entire event with our exclusive Lanyard Sponsorship! All registered attendees are required to wear badges at all times, making this a high-impact opportunity to showcase your logo. Your branding will be prominently displayed on the lanyards worn by every participant, providing continuous exposure in sessions, networking events, and throughout the venue.

If you are interested in customizing a sponsorship package please contact us at .

Meeting Registration

Registration Fees

Registration Type	Early December 16, 2024 – February 28, 2025	Standard March 1, 2025 – April 24, 2025	Late April 25, 2025 – May 20, 2025
Undergraduate Student Member	$160	$160	$250
Research Assistant/Post-Baccalaureate	$195	$245	$290
Graduate Student Member	$195	$245	$290
Postdoctoral Member	$285	$345	$410
Regular Member	$425	$500	$565
Emeritus	$195	$245	$290
Undergraduate Student Non-Member	$295	$335	$370
Graduate Student Non-Member	$355	$420	$485
Postdoctoral Non-Member	$505	$580	$670
Regular Non-Member	$785	$885	$975

Your meeting registration fee covers access to all educational sessions and networking events, along with continental breakfast, additional coffee breaks and afternoon snacks. It also includes the Opening Night Reception, Demo Night exhibits, Club Vision, Chill Vision and opportunities to attend satellite events.

Reduced Registration Policy

The Vision Sciences Society is committed to assist with costs of registration for researchers from countries with limited access to research support. As a policy, the Vision Sciences Society uses published data from the World Bank and from the Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) on countries’ Gross Domestic Expenditure in Research and Development to determine whether researchers qualify for reduced registration. Please contact the VSS administrator, Shauney Wilson, if you would like to request reduced registration on this basis.

Registration Refund Policy

Registration fees are refundable through April 1, 2025, minus a $50 handling fee. Registration fees are not refundable after April 1, 2025.

To request a registration refund, email us at .

Onsite Registration Desk

The Registration Desk is located in the Grand Palm Colonnade. The Registration Desk is open during the following times:

Thursday, May 15, 4:00 – 7:00 pm
Friday, May 16, 7:00 am – 6:00 pm
Saturday, May 17, 7:30 am – 6:45 pm
Sunday, May 18, 7:30 am – 6:45 pm
Monday, May 19, 7:45 am – 2:30 pm
Tuesday, May 20, 7:45 am – 7:30 pm

To Register

To register to attend VSS 2025, Log in to your MyVSS Account or Create a New MyVSS Account.

2025 Meet the Professors Application

Thank you for your interest in Meet the Professors. The application for VSS 2025 is now closed.

Venue Search FAQ

Update (January 2025): VSS 2027 will be held in Seattle, WA!

VSS 2025: May 16-20, St. Pete Beach, FL

VSS 2026: May 15-19, St. Pete Beach, FL

VSS 2027: May 21-25, Seattle, WA

VSS 2028 and beyond: to be determined

Why did VSS initially decide to look at alternative sites to the Tradewinds in Florida?

Due to requests from a significant proportion of our members, who expressed concerns about safety due to recent changes in Florida laws regarding education, abortion rights, race and gender expression.

What years are we considering holding VSS ‘off-site’ from the TradeWinds”?

Due to existing contractual constraints with the TradeWinds, the first potential off-site year for the conference will be 2027. If successful, we may adopt an alternating model (2027, 2029, 2031, and so on).

Is the decision to alternate sites permanent?

No, the decision is not permanent. We are exploring alternatives for 2027, 2028 and beyond, but location decisions will depend on availability of sites and feedback from the VSS community. If a strong preference emerges for staying at the TradeWinds permanently or leaving it entirely, we will reassess.

What are the main constraints for choosing a venue?

The primary constraints, in no particular order, are:

Environmental and Transportation Costs: Venues must be in close proximity to a major airport with direct national and international flights.
Conference Expenses: These include hotel room costs, food and beverage minimums, and meeting space fees.
Safety: This includes both crime statistics, and the political climate, specifically regarding inclusiveness and attendee safety.
Weather: While VSS meets outside the main hurricane season, we must consider the potential impact of hurricanes on venue availability. For example, the TradeWinds was seriously damaged following two hurricanes in Fall 2024.
Conference Size: With approximately 2,000 attendees, our conference size presents a unique challenge. Our group is too large for many hotels with meeting spaces to host comfortably. It is also too small for many convention centers, which may result in excessive costs or underutilized space. The venue must strike the right balance while providing a warmth and “personality” that aligns with VSS’s character (casual & friendly). As such, we are most likely looking at a hotel equipped with conference facilities that can accommodate our group size and needs, efficiently and cost-effectively.

What is the VSS Board doing to find an alternate venue?

After the 2024 meeting, the VSS Board formed a sub-committee to evaluate options. This sub-committee is working closely with Shauney Wilson (VSS Executive Director) to investigate sites and negotiate with potential host cities and hotels.

When will we have a clear idea about viable options?

The VSS sub-committee has thoroughly investigated over 40 potential locations and has narrowed the list to several finalists. Site visits to several locations took place in Winter 2024. We have signed a contract to host VSS 2027 in Seattle, WA. Contracts for 2028 and beyond are under investigation.

What alternative locations to the TradeWinds are currently being considered?

The current short list includes sites in Denver, Seattle, and Boston. Each of these cities was chosen based on a comprehensive evaluation of the key factors listed above (accessibility, cost, safety, inclusiveness, venue suitability, etc.).

What locations are ruled out, and why?

As mentioned earlier, over 40 potential locations have been evaluated. Below are the primary reasons for excluding some of the most notable options.

Puerto Rico

Initial Appeal: Puerto Rico was initially considered due to its tropical setting, unique cultural offerings, and the potential for an affordable venue.
Reasons for Exclusion: Concerns about inclusiveness were raised, and the Island’s infrastructure hasn’t fully recovered from the hurricanes of 2017.

Europe

Initial Appeal: Europe has numerous advantages, including excellent infrastructure, attractive venues, and ease of travel.
Reasons for Exclusion: The Board is worried that a Spring meeting in Europe could negatively impact attendance for ECVP, typically held in August. This worry was shared by some European members of VSS (note that, ECVP not being linked with a society, it could not be formally consulted).

Canada

Initial Appeal: Canada offers proximity to the U.S., a politically inclusive environment, and world-class venues in cities like Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver.
Reasons for Exclusion: Despite serious consideration, these cities were ultimately ruled out due to high costs, limited availability of suitable venues, and visa challenges for international students studying in the U.S., as well as other international attendees.

Virginia Beach

Initial Appeal: Virginia Beach was considered as a potential ‘beachy’ alternative to the TradeWinds, with the added benefit of inclusiveness.
Reasons for Exclusion: Lack of accessibility to a major international airport combined with susceptibility to hurricanes presented too great a risk for long-term planning.

California

Initial Appeal: California offers international airport hubs, good weather, and a range of cultural opportunities for attendees.
Reasons for Exclusion: All quotes received from attractive California locations (Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Fransisco) far exceeded our budget. Also, travel distance posed a challenge for a large proportion of VSS attendees, particularly those traveling from Europe or the Middle East.

How will the venue change impact registration rates and other meeting costs?

Our current research suggests that any alternative to the TradeWinds will likely result in increased hotel and food costs for both VSS and attendees. These increases could be offset by lower travel costs for some attendees. It is also worth noting that costs at the TradeWinds are expected to rise at rates exceeding inflation over the next several years.

Planning a Satellite or Social Event

VSS welcomes members to submit proposals for both satellite and social events to be held at VSS 2025.

A VSS satellite or social event is an event originated by VSS members or conference attendees that require venue facilities, publicity in VSS media, or coordination with VSS staff.

Examples of satellites include special interest groups, user groups, committee meetings, workshops, tutorials, or scientific meetings. Social events are gatherings of any of the VSS communities that are predominantly social in nature. Examples include Visibility, Canadian Social, etc.

Satellite and social events can be open to all attendees or be invitation only, but they may not overlap with any official VSS event. Time slots for satellites are listed below. Please note that your preferred slot may not necessarily be available. Scheduling is at the discretion of the VSS Board of Directors.

Day	Time Slots Available
Saturday	12:30 – 2:30 pm
Sunday	12:30 – 2:30 pm, 7:30 – 10:00 pm
Monday	2:00 – 5:30 pm
Tuesday	12:30 – 2:30 pm, 7:30 – 10:00 pm
Wednesday	Before noon

All satellites and social events must be approved by VSS. An application form must be completed and submitted by January 10, 2025.

Approved satellite and social events will be scheduled in January and organizers of accepted events will be notified thereafter. Listing of Satellite and Social Events in VSS media is at the discretion of VSS.

Satellite and Social Event Fees

Social Events

VSS members: $300
Commercial partners: $500

Satellite Events

VSS members not charging a satellite registration fee: $300
VSS members charging a satellite registration fee: $500
Commercial partners: $1,000

Organizers are responsible for the costs of food and A/V. VSS staff are solely responsible for coordinating and arranging the food, A/V, room assignment, and promotion in VSS media (program, website, and signage). Please check with VSS if you have any questions. Any changes to the arrangements or late special requests may incur additional fees.

Organizer Requirements

Organizers must be members of VSS and registered for the meeting.
Commercial companies interested in organizing a Satellite or Social Event must be a VSS 2025 sponsor. VSS welcomes sponsors. For information about sponsorship opportunities, contact .

Organizer Responsibilities

Organizers must:

Work directly with the VSS Executive Director (Shauney Wilson) and designated staff regarding all event logistics.
State clearly in all communications about the event, including written materials and emails, that the Satellite or Social Event is neither sponsored nor endorsed by VSS.
Announce at the beginning of the event that the event is not sponsored or endorsed by VSS.
Assume full financial responsibility for food/beverage services and equipment ordered (including setup and tear down labor, room rental, and reset fees, if applicable). A deposit to VSS may be required at least one week prior to the event.
Obtain additional liability insurance and/or permits (if necessary).
Order miscellaneous items, except those requested on the standard form (i.e., audiovisual, staging, etc.), from VSS vendors, unless given written permission by the VSS Executive Director.
Use services only from VSS’s official vendors, unless given written permission by the VSS Executive Director.
Remove all signage and meeting materials (e.g., handouts) from assigned rooms at the event’s conclusion and agree to pay any cleaning fee resulting from use of the space.
Adhere to the VSS Code of Conduct as established by the VSS Board of Directors.

Prohibited Actions

Demonstrations, displays, and/or marketing or distribution of commercial products is not permitted during Satellite and Social Events. Event speakers may refer to a product as a reference tool during presentations.
Promotional literature advertising the Satellite or Social Event may not be distributed as door drops in hotels, unless given written permission by the VSS Executive Director. Event organizers may not conduct drawings or award gifts to meeting attendees, unless given written permission by the VSS Executive Director.
Organizers cannot use the VSS acronym in website URLs, unless given written permission by the VSS Executive Director.
No recording without permission.

Schedule

Applications Accepted: November 22, 2024
Applications Deadline: January 10, 2025
Please use our online Satellite Event Request Form to submit the details of your satellite event.

Satellite Event applications are closed

Government Room Rate Request Form

Thank you for your interest. The hotel is fully booked and the form is now closed. Please see our list of other hotels within walking distance of the meeting.

VSS 2025 Travel Grant Application

Please Log In to your MyVSS Account to determine if you are eligible to apply for a Travel Grant.

2025 Keynote – Anne Churchland

Anne Churchland

Professor of Neurobiology in the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

Anne Churchland received her B.A. in mathematics and psychology from Wellesley College. She received her Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of California, San Francisco (2003), working with Steve Lisberger on Representations of Eye and Image Velocity in Extrastriate Cortex. She transitioned to postdoctoral training at the University of Washington (2004 – 2010) working with Mike Shadlen on perceptual decisions in the Lateral Intraparietal area. She was a principal investigator in neuroscience at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory from 2010 until she joined the UCLA faculty in May 2020.

The Churchland laboratory investigates the neural circuits that support decision-making. When making decisions, humans and animals can flexibly integrate visual signals with other sources of information before committing to action. The ability to flexibly use incoming information distinguishes decisions from reflexes, offering a tractable entry point into more complex cognitive processes defined by flexibility, such as abstract thinking, reasoning and problem-solving.

To understand the neural mechanisms that support decision-making, the Churchland lab measures and manipulates neurons in cortical and subcortical areas while animals make decisions about visual (and sometimes auditory of multisensory) signals. To connect the neural responses with behavior, her lab uses mathematical analyses aimed at understanding how information is represented at the level of neural populations, both at a given moment and over time. Recent work has demonstrated that in diverse cell types, sensory and movement signals co-modulate neural activity, even in trained experts. The timing of movement signals is informative about the animal’s internal state of engagement.

Churchland has received research awards from the McKnight Foundation, the Pew Charitable Trusts, The Merck Foundation and the Klingenstein-Simons Foundation. She received the James M and Cathleen D Stone award for significant research accomplishments (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, 2020), the Janett Rosenburg Trubatch Career Development Award (Society for Neuroscience, 2012) for demonstrating originality and creativity in research. Her mentoring efforts have been recognized by the Louise Hanson Marshall Special Recognition Award for outstanding dedication to promoting the professional development of women (Society for Neuroscience, 2017) and the UCLA Excellence in Mentoring Award (2024). To broaden the impact of her lab’s efforts, Churchland maintains a YouTube channel and a TikTok stream featuring scientific content aimed at diverse audiences.

The intersection of vision and movements in the mammalian brain

Saturday, May 17, 2025, 7:30 – 8:30 pm, Talk Room 1-2

Human and animal movements are often viewed as a nuisance that “muddies the waters” of efforts to link visual inputs to cognitive processes like decision-making. Such movements are often prevented via hardware, “regressed out” in analysis or simply ignored. However, in naturalistic circumstances, animals and humans make frequent movements during perceptual and cognitive tasks. These include large movements that optimally position the sensor (e.g., the fovea), or smaller, high frequency movements that add spectrotemporal content to a stimulus. Importantly, recent work has demonstrated that movements impact neural activity in early sensory areas, even in experts engaged making visual decisions. In mice, cell-type specific measurements have demonstrated that movements modulate not only neurons that project corticocortically, but also neurons that project to subcortical targets, suggesting that cortical neurons broadcast movement signals throughout the brain. Further, movements modulate neural activity in both head-fixed and freely moving rodents, arguing that movements shape activity in multiple contexts. These observations raise major outstanding questions about the nature of the movement signals, and they extent to which they reflect altered sensory inputs, efference copies, or underlying latent states. Emerging work using a novel, visual accumulation of evidence task that recruits and requires primary and secondary visual cortices begins to shed light on these questions. Taken together, this growing body of observations about the intersection of vision and movements calls for a new framework that acknowledges the diverse ways in which dynamic interactions with the environment can benefit both sensory processing and decision-making.