Presider Guidelines

Presider Check-In

We ask all presiders to check-in 30 minutes before your session begins to ensure each session has a designated presider. We will have speaker check-in sheets to determine the talks within your session, the order in which they will be given, and the name of the person giving the presentation. These lists are to assist you in running an effective session.

General Guidelines for Presiders

I. Time Management

Introduce yourself as the presider and announce the session. The total amount of time allotted for each paper will be listed on presider sheets placed in the room, as well as in the online program and conference program book. Invited talks are allowed 25 minutes for presentation and 5 minutes for discussion. Contributed talks are allowed 12 minutes for presentation and 3 minutes for discussion. Tutorials are allotted 1 hour, with 5 minutes for discussion. A 60-minute mechanical timer will be available for your use. We recommend that the timer is set two minutes prior to the end of the presentation time in order to provide a warning to wrap up the talk and start the discussion period. Notify the authors of this warning system.

Maintaining the scheduled timing of papers is very important. In cases where the paper is withdrawn or the speaker does not show, use the time for an extended question period for authors of previously presented papers or call a break. Please do not start talks earlier than they are scheduled.

II. Facilitating Discussion

As a Presider, it is your job to ensure mediation of discussion during the Q&A period for each talk. Use the following guidelines:

1. Solicit questions from the audience.
2. Have questions prepared in case the audience doesn’t have any.
3. Speaker should repeat the audience member’s question so everyone can hear it
4. At the end of the session, wrap up the session and thank the speakers.

More guidelines on successfully presiding over a session.

The total amount of time allotted for each paper will be listed in the Advance Program.

A 60-minute mechanical timer will be available for your use. We recommend that the timer is set 5 minutes prior to the end of the presentation time in order to provide a warning to wrap up the talk and start the discussion period. Notify the authors of this warning system. It is also important to remind the speaker to repeat the questions asked from the audience.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Due to licensing restrictions, the use of music in presentations, including video presentations, is prohibited. If a speaker uses music during his presentation, please inform Meeting Management immediately.