Presenter (Talk) Information

To accommodate as many talks as possible and allow participants to switch between sessions, all oral presentations will be 15 minutes in total, including 12 minutes for the actual talk and 2-3 minutes for questions and changing speakers, regardless of the number of presentations in the session.  Each oral presentation should take place sequentially at the start of the session.  Symposia presentations may allocate time differently.  At the time of the session if there are no-shows, the chair of the session will announce the no-show and maintain the sequence of presentations.  In other words, there should be no pauses in the session.  The chair will keep the time and take questions from the audience, and – together with a volunteer assigned to the session room – assist you with the technical equipment. You can find your session chair’s name in the program ().

IMPORTANT: Please arrive at the assigned room at least 15 to 30 minutes before the session start time (not your talk time) to introduce yourself to the chair and the session volunteer. Rooms can be found in the program (). It is the presenters responsibility to make sure their slides are transferred to the PC laptop provided. (The safest method is to use a USB memory stick/thumb drive/flash drive. If preferred, presenters may also present from their own laptop.

All session rooms are equipped with a PC computer and LCD projector. Microphones will be provided in the larger session rooms.

TIPS

• Testing: Test your presentation before the start of the session to make sure it runs smoothly.
• PDF: To prevent issues with PowerPoint, speakers are advised to convert their slides to PDF files with all fonts and videos embedded and have that with them on the thumb drive so that they have a backup if an issue with PowerPoint arises.
• Backup: Save a copy of your presentation in the cloud, in an email, or on a flash drive to avoid any last-minute issues.
• Videos: The Hotel and University Internet (Wi-Fi) are available onsite. However, we highly recommend that any videos included in your presentation be capable of playing without an internet connection.
• No-shows: In the event of speaker no-shows, the session chair can use the time for an extended question and answer period or begin the next presentation.
• Practice: Practice your presentation beforehand, preferably in front of colleagues, and encourage them to ask questions. This will help you prepare for real audience queries.
• Handouts: If you plan to distribute handouts during your presentation, ensure you bring sufficient copies for the attendees.
• Time Management: Ensure your presentation fits within the allocated time. A good rule of thumb is to plan for at least one minute per slide. The session chair will use time cards to indicate when you are nearing the end of your allotted time.
• Clear Objective: Start with a clear goal or purpose stated at the beginning of your presentation to set the context for your audience.
• Complex Information: When using equations or symbols, explain them clearly and limit the number of formulas to avoid overwhelming your audience.
  • Note: It is hard for an audience to memorize symbols and subscripts across multiple slides, so if you include equations keep them as simple as possible.
• Slide Design: Aim for minimal text on slides to keep them clear and engaging. Avoid overloading slides with technical details.
• Expertise: As the subject expert, ensure you explain your topic clearly to the audience.
• Conclusion: End with a concluding slide that includes your contact information, allowing attendees to reach out with further questions after your presentation.