As part of VSS’s ongoing commitment to inclusivity, we are pleased to announce the launch of a new initiative for VSS 2024 to help offset costs of childcare at the annual meeting . These funds will make it easier for members with children to attend a wider range of meeting events.
Value: Up to $500 per family. In the event that the number of requests exceeds the funding available, preference will be given to applicants in the early stages of their careers.
Number: Up to 20 awards.
Use of Funds
Recipients can use funds to support childcare in the form that best serves the family. Note that due to logistical constraints, VSS will not be offering an in-house childcare program. Recipients will be responsible for organizing their own childcare solutions. VSS is set to launch a Discord server dedicated to VSS participants within the next few weeks. This forum will provide an avenue for attendees to engage with one another, fostering connections and facilitating the coordination and sharing of services like childcare.
Eligible expenses for the budget can include:
Third party dependent care services for the duration of the conference.
Travel costs for the designated caregiver.
Per diem of up to $50/day for the designated caregiver.
Recommended Childcare Services
The TradeWinds recommends both Jovie.com and Care.com for parents looking to hire babysitters or nannies during the VSS meeting.
How to Apply
The deadline for applications is March 22, 2024. Awardees will be notified by email by April 1, 2024.
Receipt of Funds
Recipients should come to the registration desk accompanied by the child(ren) to receive the subsidy on the final day of the conference (or last day of attendance).
Schedule
Applications Open: March 1, 2024 Applications Close: March 22, 2024 Announcement of Awards: April 1, 2024
The Friends & Family Pass allows your friends and family to enjoy our many fun VSS social events. Your travel companion can attend the Opening Night Reception and the Demo Night Beach BBQ, as well as enjoy all Coffee/Snack Breaks and the Daily Continental Breakfast!
Pass Pricing
$120 for each adult guest (maximum 2 adult guests per VSS attendee).
$40 for children ages 6 through 12. Children under the age of 6 are free.
To purchase a Friends & Family Pass, the registered VSS attendee should visit the VSS Registration Desk with guests to receive their passes. Passes are required for entrance to all social events and meals, including the Opening Night Reception.
Friends and Family Passes are non-refundable.
Note: The Friends & Family Pass does not cover entrance to scientific sessions. To bring a guest to a scientific session so they can see your presentation, please inquire at the VSS Registration Desk about a half-day Guest pass.
TampaInternational Airport (TPA) is about 30 miles from the TradeWinds Island Resorts. See Ground Transportation from Tampa International Airport.
St. Pete/Clearwater International Airport (PIE) is 20 miles from the TradeWinds Island Resorts, however there are very few flights servicing this airport. See Ground Transportation from St. Pete Clearwater International Airport.
Orlando International Airport (MCO) is approximately 120 miles from the TradeWinds Island Resort. See Ground Transportation from Orlando International Airport.
Airport Ground Transportation
TradeWinds Resort Shuttle
All reservations this year will be made by calling 727-343-3303 between the hours of 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
Please have the following information available for each traveler.
Traveler(s) Full Name
Airline
Flight #
Time of arrival/departure
Cell #
# of persons
Any special needs. (oversize luggage, car seats, golf clubs, etc.)
Credit card (All fees will be paid directly to Resort Transportation)
Transportation from either Tampa International Airport (TPA) or St. Pete/Clearwater Airport (PIE) directly to the TradeWinds Island Grand or TradeWinds RumFish Beach Resort is available to Vision Sciences Society 2024 meeting participants. VSS group discounts are as follows:
1-5 persons = $85.00
6-11 persons= $150.00
Shuttle Hours Arrivals: 6:00 am – 9:00 pm Departures: 4:00 am – 8:00 pm
It is recommended that reservations be made at least 2 weeks prior to the date of travel. For more information or to make a reservation, please contact Shirley DiGregorio at 727-343-3303, Monday – Friday between the hours of 10:00 am and 6:00 pm EST. International travelers may email Shirley DiGregorio at . Identify yourself as a Vision Sciences Society 2024 attendee.
TradeWinds Island Resorts 5500 Gulf Boulevard, St. Pete Beach, Florida 33706 (727) 367-6461
From the North From I-75, take I-275 to Tampa and remain on it through Tampa and across Tampa Bay. Continue south on I-275 approximately 15 miles through St. Petersburg. Proceed from * below.
From the East Take I-4 west into Tampa. Stay in the left hand lane and follow the signs for I-275 South “To St. Petersburg” past downtown Tampa and across Tampa Bay. Continue south on I-275 approximately 15 miles through St. Petersburg. Proceed from * below.
From the South From I-75 take the I-275 exit “To St. Petersburg” (not Tampa), and over the Sunshine Skyway Bridge (toll). Proceed from * below.
From Tampa International Airport Follow the signs to I-275 South “To St. Petersburg” and across Tampa Bay. Continue south on I-275 approximately 15 miles through St. Petersburg. Proceed from * below.
From St. Petersburg/Clearwater Airport Turn left out of airport onto Roosevelt and follow signs to I-275 South through St. Petersburg, approximately 13 miles. Proceed from * below.
* Exit I-275 at the St. Pete Beach/Pinellas Bayway Exit (exit 17). Proceed west across Pinellas Bayway (toll) which takes you directly to St. Pete Beach and ends at Gulf Blvd. Turn right and the TradeWinds Island Resorts is on the left side of the street, about 1.5 miles north.
Does the TradeWinds require a deposit to book a reservation? Yes, a one-night room and tax guarantee is required to secure your room.
Is the hotel deposit refundable if I have to cancel my room reservation? Yes, your hotel deposit is fully refundable until 5 days prior to arrival.
Is there a waiting list if the hotel is sold out? VSS does maintain a waiting list and if rooms become available, people on the waiting list will be contacted in order they were added to the waiting list. Contact VSS to be placed on the waiting list.
Is there a resort fee at the TradeWinds? The TradeWinds typically charges a $55 resort fee per night, but this fee is waived for VSS attendees booking through the VSS web link. To see what is included, see TradeWinds’ Resort Amenity Fee.
What if I find a better rate for the TradeWinds on a 3rd party site? VSS has done its due diligence to negotiate the lowest possible group rate at the TradeWinds. If you find a lower price during them meeting dates, please contact VSS. Keep in mind, if you book a room through a wholesaler like hotels.com, the TradeWinds will NOT waive your resort fee.
What are the contractual obligations with the TradeWinds? VSS is contractually bound to fill a certain number of guest rooms (this is called a room block) during the annual meeting. By guaranteeing these rooms, VSS receives complimentary meeting space and reduced food and beverage pricing. This ultimately helps keep registration rates down.
What happens if VSS does not meet the contractual obligations? VSS will be charged an attrition fee if we do not meet 85% of our room block and if unused rooms remain unsold prior to the meeting. Groups like ours often book three or more years in advance to secure enough hotel rooms for meeting attendees. Attrition fees are compensation to the hotel for the rooms that might have been sold had they not been held in our room block inventory. Attrition fees are a standard practice in the United States.
The 24th annual meeting of the Vision Sciences Society will be held at the Tradewinds Island Resorts in St. Pete Beach, Florida. VSS has negotiated special room rates for the TradeWinds Island Grand and the RumFish Beach Resort hotels for the 2024 meeting.
All rates are for single or double occupancy. Additional people will be charged $15 each per night. Discount rates are available May 13 – 23, 2024.
TradeWinds Island Grand
The TradeWinds Island Grand is the meeting hotel for the VSS Meeting. Booking a room here means you are only steps away from the meeting rooms, poster sessions, and social events. There are several room types available at the TradeWinds Island Grand. See below for a description of each room type available for VSS attendees.
Room Types
Standard Room: $190 Two double beds (King available upon request). (300 sq ft)
Resort View Room with Balcony: $220 View of Pirate Island and surrounding landscape. Two queen beds (King available upon request). (300 sq ft)
Gulf Front Room with Balcony: $240 Stunning view of the beach and Gulf of Mexico. Two queen beds (King available upon request). (300 sq ft)
Courtyard Studio Suite: $290 Two double beds in a separate room and a double-size sofa bed in the living area; can accommodate up to 6 people. (384 sq ft)
Resort View Villa with Balcony: $330 View of Pirate Island and surrounding landscape. Two queen beds in a separate room and a double-size sofa bed in the living area; can accommodate up to 6 people. (536 sq ft)
Resort View Villa Two Bedroom Suite with Balcony: $390 View of Pirate Island and surrounding landscape. Two bedrooms and two bathrooms, plus a living area with a double-size sofa bed; can accommodate up to 10 people. (820 sq ft)
RumFish Beach Resort
The RumFish Beach Resort is the sister hotel to the Island Grand. Located 100 yards from the Island Grand, the RumFish is just a short seven-minute walk to the meeting hotel by street or by beach.
Standard Room: $190 Each room comes with two double beds and offers a complete wet bar area with mini-fridge, microwave oven, coffee maker, toaster, and dishware, as well as a hairdryer.
Amenities at Island Grand and RumFish
All rooms include a complete wet bar area with mini-fridge, microwave oven, coffee maker, toaster, and dishware, as well as hairdryer and iron/board.
The $55.00 resort fee (waived on all VSS block rooms) provides access to overnight parking, wireless internet in guest rooms and common areas, the fitness center, an in-room safe, and the business center. Also included in the resort fee is daily use of a hooded beach cabana, two tennis courts, five swimming pools, the 3-story tall High Tide Waterslide, paddle boats along the waterway, mini-golf, and more.
Government Room Rate
Government-rate rooms are available to VSS attendees. The number of government-rate rooms is limited, and they will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
To reserve a government-rate room, send an email to and include the following information: first name, last name, # in party, arrival date, departure date.
Note: To obtain the government rate, you must present your government ID upon check-in.
Reserve a Room
To receive the VSS rate and a waived resort fee, click the button below. You must enter a group code and password:
Please check the FAQ to see if your question has already been answered. If you do not find a sufficient answer to your question, please contact us at .
The meeting registration includes an Opening Night Reception on Friday evening, which features a full buffet dinner, as well as a Demo Night Dinner on Monday evening. There will also be continental breakfasts, mid-morning coffee breaks, and afternoon coffee breaks with a light snack (popcorn, granola bar, etc.) for attendees.
Yes, VSS provides free wired and wireless internet access in the VSS Social Lounge. A limited number of laptop computers will also be available for those who did not bring their own computers. Free wireless internet access is provided in the meeting space, lobby and restaurant areas of the hotel.
The TradeWinds is a family-friendly hotel, and we hope that you will want to bring your family with you. The VSS guest policy is as follows:
Scientific Program: Guests are allowed complimentary entry into one VSS session (for the purposes of seeing the poster or talk of the person they are a guest of). For a guest pass to a scientific session, please inquire at the VSS Registration Desk onsite.
Social & Food Events: A VSS Friends and Family Pass can be purchased at the VSS Registration Desk. This pass will allow your family and friends to attend the Opening Night Reception, all coffee & snack breaks, and the daily continental breakfast. Passes are $120.00 for each adult guest (maximum of two adult guests per VSS attendee) and $40.00 for children ages 6 through 12. Children under the age of 6 are free. Passes are required for entrance to all social events and meals.
Note: The VSS Family & Friends Social Pass does not cover entrance to the scientific sessions. For a guest pass to a scientific session, please inquire at the VSS Registration Desk onsite.
Yes, you must be a current member in good standing. Please see Membership. You may become a member at the same time that you submit your abstract. If you try to submit and you are not a member, you will be directed to the membership application.
There is no longer a separate charge for submitting an abstract; the abstract submission is now rolled into the membership fee. This portion of the membership fee ($40) covers the administrative costs involved in receiving and reviewing the abstracts and the online abstract submission system. It also helps to cover the publishing of the abstracts in the Journal of Vision. Membership fees are not refundable.
Online registration opens on December 13, 2023 and is available through April 20, 2024. Early (discounted) registration runs through February 28, 2024. If you do not register online, registration is available onsite beginning Friday, May 17, 2024.
There are currently over 3,600 members of VSS, representing a wide range of vision research areas. 50% of our members come from outside the United States, representing over 30 countries.
Membership in Vision Sciences Society is on a calendar year basis. Dues are non-refundable and non-transferable.
Remember, you MUST become a 2024 member to access our Online Abstract Submission form and submit an abstract for VSS 2024. All first authors MUST be current members in good standing.
VSS Membership is open to individuals with an interest in the field of vision sciences. Regular long-standing members of VSS who have retired may petition for Emeritus status by writing to the Society’s Executive Director. Membership fees are waived for Regular Members Emeritus.
2024 Membership Fees
Undergraduate Student Member $110
Graduate Student Member $135
Research Assistant/Post-Baccalaureate $135
Postdoctoral Member $200
Regular Member $310
All fees are in US Dollars.
Membership Benefits
Eligible to submit abstracts as First Author and present research at the annual meeting (presented abstracts are published in the online Journal of Vision).
Eligible to submit proposals for VSS-sponsored symposia at the annual meeting.
Receive reduced meeting registration rates.
Undergraduate and Graduate Students, Postdocs and Early Career Scientists are eligible to apply for Travel Awards.
Postdoc and Regular members are eligible to vote in the Board of Directors election.
The Vision Sciences Society is now officially listed as an approved professional organization for the purposes of UK tax. This means that membership dues paid by UK taxpayers should be eligible for tax relief by HMRC.
Reduced Membership Policy
The Vision Sciences Society is committed to assist with costs of participating in the Society 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 membership. Please contact the VSS administrator, Shauney Wilson, if you would like to request reduced membership on this basis.
The winning image of the Website Banner Competition will also be used for the program covers, onsite signage, PowerPoint slides, bulk emails, printed materials, and other places where needed.
The winning image of the T-Shirt Design Competition will be used on the VSS 2024 T-shirt and may also be used for other purposes, such as tote bags, pens, hats, and mugs/water bottles.
You may submit more than one image for consideration and you are allowed to enter images in both competitions. You may submit the same image to both competitions as long as the file format requirements can be met.
Images may be related to scientific content, the Vision Sciences Society, or St. Pete Beach and the surrounding area. The image may include the VSS logo or be an alteration of the VSS logo.
The winner of each competition grants VSS unlimited rights to copy, publish, edit, print, and use the images for any purpose, including publishing images online and on other electronic and hard-copy media.
Winning images are chosen by a vote of the VSS Board of Directors.
Submissions for Website Banner Competition must be received no later than September 14, 2023. Submissions for the T-Shirt Design Competition must be received no later than January 10, 2024.
To submit an image for consideration, you must have participated in VSS during the last two years.
Website Banner Competition
The Website Banner Competition is a contest to select an image that will serve as the brand, or theme, of the annual meeting by providing imagery that will be used throughout the VSS meeting. Although the winning image will be used for many purposes, to enter the competition you need to submit proposed images for the primary website banner and the secondary page website banner. Other items will be created using variations of the winning image.
Your proposed primary website banner design will replace the current banner on the VSS website home page. Your secondary page website banner will replace the banner shown at the top of this page. At a minimum, your proposed banner image should include the name of the society and the dates of the meeting.
To enter the Website Banner Competition, please submit two full-color raster images in .jpg or .png format.
The primary website banner image must be 3070 pixels by 534 pixels. The secondary page website banner must be 3070 pixels by 178 pixels.
If your image is chosen as the winning design, in addition to the banner image, you will be asked to provide variations of your image for use on the printed program cover, signs, and other purposes.
The winner of the Website Banner Competition will be awarded $500 USD and will be recognized in the meeting program, on the meeting website, and at the Awards session at the VSS meeting.
Deadline to submit an image for the Website Banner Competition is September 14, 2023. You must have been active in VSS within the last two years to submit an image.
The T-Shirt Design Competition is a contest to select an image for the VSS t-shirt. The image may also be used on other items that require line art.
Two images are needed for the t-shirt: one for the back and one for the breast. The maximum print area for the back image is approximately 11 inches square; the breast image print area is 3″ square. You can submit one image for both purposes or separate images. The images will be printed on black t-shirts and white t-shirts, so the image must be usable on both black an white backgrounds.
The images should include at least the name and year of the meeting (eg: VSS 2024), but may also include other information, such as the meeting dates and location.
T-shirts are printed using a silkscreen process, so the image must be line art that uses a maximum of four spot colors (solid colors, not composite colors). Large areas of solid colors are discouraged as these are more difficult to print and result in an image with a plastic feel that is not comfortable to wear.
To enter the T-Shirt Design Competition, please submit a PDF of your proposed design showing your images as they would appear on a white background and a black background.
If your image is chosen as the winning design, you will be asked to provide your artwork in a scalable vector graphic file, such as Adobe Illustrator or compatible.
The winner of the T-Shirt Design Competition will be awarded $500 USD and will be recognized in the meeting program, on the meeting website, and at the Awards session at the VSS meeting.
Deadline to submit an image for theT-shirt Design Competition is January 10, 2024. You must have been active in VSS within the last two years to submit an image.
Email your images to as an attachment. One email per submission, please. Specify which competition you are entering in your subject line. Include a brief description of your image that the board will consider when reviewing the submitted images.
Schedule Deadline to submit an image for Website Banner Competition: September 14, 2023 Website Banner Competition image chosen: by October 3, 2023
Deadline to submit an image for T-shirt Design Competition: January 10, 2024 T-shirt image chosen: by January 31, 2024
