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[clark]

A deadline for proposing papers to panels for a large conference is coming up and I have a dilemma: there are two panels that I would like to be a part of.  It's always a crap shoot to propose papers to this particular conference.  Sometimes mine have been accepted and at other times not.  So, is it at all permissible to propose papers to two panels in case one is not accepted?  Is there a way to bow out of a panel gracefully if both papers are accepted? 

[snowbound]

Can you tweak the titles and the presentations so they are not identical?  Tackling the same issue from two different directions, or focussing on two somewhat different parts of it? That way you could do both--however, not a good idea if there's likely to be a bog overlap of audience.

[hegemony]

I'm guessing there's a rule against presenting two papers.  In which case, no, you must not propose two.  Can you imagine the chaos if many people did so?  I know it may seem more efficient from your point of view, but it's just not legit, I'm afraid. The best course of action is to practice refining your abstracts so you maximize your chances of acceptance.  And if the conference lets you present a paper plus do something else, such as presiding over a session, you can maximize your chances of an official role by putting in to do that.

[msparticularity]

I think this varies a lot by field and conference. For one of my professional conferences there is a limit of two paper submissions, while in the other two there is a limit of one. In the case of the first group--the one that will allow two submissions--the papers must be entirely distinct. If it is discovered that someone has submitted essentially the same paper to two groups, the offender is removed entirely from the submission process for that year. In this group, too, if both papers are accepted, then one is expected to present them both--not to bow out of one.

Clark, is there any guidance in the Call for Papers for this group? Or, perhaps, can you contact someone and ask whether multiple submissions are acceptable? I would be willing to bet that you cannot submit the same paper to two different panels, but you might be able to submit different papers.

[clark]

Of course I would submit proposals for two different papers (the thought never occurred to me to submit two proposals for the same paper, although that would be a definite timesaver).  At this stage, a number of people are formulating panels and putting out calls for papers, so nothing is formalized yet.  I just quickly checked the website, and there seems to be nothing about limits for proposing papers, although I suspect that when everything is firmed up (the later date of the final deadline for conference papers), participants are only supposed to contribute to a single panel.  If my two papers were accepted, I would as quickly as possible bow out of one panel.

[polly_mer]

Clark, Clark, Clark.

No. 

If multiple submissions are allowed, then people usually are expected to present on all the accepted proposals.  What you are saying as your plan, as MsP wrote, ruins the system if large numbers of people do it.  Imagine the chaos if accepting papers doesn't mean that papers are going to be presented and the programs can be printed, but instead starts the second round of calls for proposals to fill panels that already had great papers that were withdrawn as part of the game-playing but the panel has already been given the green light.

Either submit multiple things with full intention of presenting everything that is accepted or only submit one paper.

[msparticularity]

Chime to all Polly says--do NOT submit and then bow out! And before you do anything else, get in touch with someone and find out if there is an actual--or just an understood--rule against submitting multiple papers.

[systeme_d_]

My scholarly association allows dual submission of one proposal, as long as both panel review committees are notified.  The procedure is outlined on the proposal submission form.

There is absolutely no prohibition on (or rules about) submission of two different proposals.   One could conceivably submit eleven different proposals.