Instructions for Conference Participants

Before the Conference

1. Use the online conference program to review the schedule and lineup for your session.
2. Email a copy of your paper to the chair, discussant(s) and all panelists for your session. You can locate the email addresses for your fellow panelists by logging in to the online conference platform, navigating to your session, and clicking on the name of an individual chair or discussant. You must be logged in to view email addresses.
3. Prepare your presentation on a USB-A flash drive formatted for a Windows-based PC. There will not be guaranteed Wi-Fi to connect your laptop or access any online presentation platforms.

The Day of the Session

1. Arrive at the conference room 10 minutes before the session begins and bring your USB-A flash drive.
2. Be prepared to speak for no more than the allotted time as determined by the chair of the panel.
3. Be courteous: set your phone to silent and turn off computer notifications.
4. When it is your turn to present:
   • Stand at the podium.
   • Project your voice, and never have your back to the the room to ensure attendees can hear you.
   • Speak clearly and look to the session chair for presentation timing cues.
   • If you notice that you, or another colleague, are not called upon at the designated time to present, speak up so no one is missed and the session stays on schedule.
5. The Chair of the session will:
   • Follow the order and timing listed for the session in the conference app or the print program to allow time for all presentations.
   • Introduce the session and all speakers.
   • Instruct presenters and discussants to go to the podium to share comments.
   • Help the speakers keep their presentations within the allotted time and signal the amount of time remaining toward the end of their presentations.
   • Chairs should also provide a two-minute warning prior to the scheduled session end time to allow participants the time to complete their remarks before the session concludes.

What should I do if my discussant doesn’t show up for the session? All discussants in the conference program have confirmed their participation and are expected to perform their roles. If there is an emergency that requires last-minute cancellation, discussants should make every effort to email the written comments that they would have given, so that the chair and panelists can read and discuss those comments during the session. In the event that the discussant(s) does not arrive for the session and has not communicated their absence to any of the panelists, panelists should still present their papers and exchange feedback with one another. After the session, please inform the SPSA of the discussant’s absence by emailing the Conference Director (spsa.conference@spsa.net).

General Presentation Tips

1. Prepare your presentation with the time limit in mind. You will not be able to present your entire paper; summarize and focus on the main points.
2. Prior to the conference, practice your presentation with a timer.
3. If you are using a PowerPoint presentation, the slides should be used to complement your talk, not to replace it. Avoid placing lengthy blocks of text in your slides, and do not read from the slides during your talk. In general, PowerPoint presentations should be limited to brief summaries of the main points, and to findings that benefit from visual display.

Simplicity over Complexity. Clear, Large Visualizations. Practice Before You Present. Read these tips provided by our associates at MPSA, “F rom Nerves to Knockout: Essential Tips for Conference Presentations” by James Steur, Ph.D. Candidate, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign!