Presentation Guidelines What to Expect as a Presenter
Are you a Session Chair?
Speaker Ready Desk
Prior to presenting, presenters must visit the Speaker Ready Desk to upload slides with assistance from a team member. Slides may be uploaded at any time before the session but must be submitted at least 1 hour prior to the presentation. Presenters will not be able to load slides in the session room. Click the button below to learn more.
Oral Regular Presentation
Oral Regular sessions are traditional research presentation sessions organized around a shared theme.
What to expect on the day
- Sessions typically include 4–5 presenters
- Each presenter gives a formal oral presentation with PowerPoint slides
- A session chair will introduce speakers, keep time, and facilitate discussion
- Time is reserved for audience questions, usually at the end of the session
Presentation timing
- Individual presentation times are set by the session chair and are typically 10–12 minutes per presenter
- Please plan to stay within your assigned time so all presenters have equal opportunity
Room setup
- Theater style seating
- Standard AV provided (screen, projector, laptop, microphone as needed)
Presenter tip
- Clear and succinct overview of your research
- Consider the time available and the multiple learning styles of attendees
Oral Flash Presentation
Oral Flash sessions feature short, focused presentations designed to highlight key findings or ideas, followed by group discussion.
What to expect on the day
- Sessions include more presenters than a regular oral session
- Each presenter gives a brief, tightly timed talk
- The session chair will strictly enforce timing
- A larger portion of the session is reserved for discussion or Q&A
Presentation timing
- Flash presentations are typically 5 minutes or less
- Slides should be concise and highly focused
Room setup
- Theater style seating
- Standard AV provided (screen, projector, laptop, microphone as needed)
Presenter tip Flash sessions work best when you focus on:
- One key finding
- A single argument
- A clear takeaway for the audience
Poster Presentation
Poster sessions provide an interactive format for sharing research, allowing presenters to engage directly with attendees in a more informal setting.
What to expect on the day
- Sessions include multiple posters displayed simultaneously within a shared space
- Presenters stand by their posters to discuss their work with attendees
- Participants may circulate freely and engage in one-on-one or small group conversations
Presentation timing
- Poster session will take place on Tuesday, July 27th from 5:00-7:00pm
- Presenters are expected to be available at their poster for the duration of the assigned session time
- There is no formal presentation time; discussions occur informally throughout the session
Room setup
- Poster set up will be Tuesday July 27th from 1:00-5:00pm
- Open layout to allow movement between posters
- Each poster board accommodates four posters, with two displayed on each side. The maximum allowable poster size is 42 inches by 42 inches.
- Push pins are provided for mounting, and poster numbers will be assigned and viewable in our Poster Directory.
Presenter tip
Poster sessions are most effective when you:
- Keep your poster visually clear and easy to read from a distance
- Prepare a brief (1–2 minute) overview of your work
- Engage attendees with questions and discussion
- Focus on key findings and takeaways rather than dense text
Need Help Designing Your Poster? We’ve Got You Covered.
Want to Take Your Poster Further? Watch the Webinar Recording
We recently hosted a webinar, Designing Effective Research Posters, led by Shannon Monnat (Syracuse University). In this session, Shannon shares practical guidance on what makes a poster truly effective—from layout and data visualization to strategies for engaging with attendees during poster sessions.
The recording is available for RSS members, and is especially helpful for those presenting at the 2026 Annual Meeting.
Roundtable Discussion
A small group format for discussing in-progress research and research proposals.
What to expect on the day
- Up to four presenters share their work informally with others seated at the table and receive feedback and suggestions for development
- Each presenter will discuss their project
- Time will be available at the end to return to any of the projects for more discussion
Presentation timing
- Each presenter will have a total of 15 mins for discussion of their project
- Time should be split between the presenter providing an overview of their project and questions and feedback from other table participants
Room setup
- Round tables with seating
- No audio/visual equipment is provided
- Authors are welcome to provide handouts for attendees or bring their own laptops if they want to share visuals on a screen
Presenter tip
Roundtable discussions work best when you:
- Focus on conversation rather than a formal presentation and encourage exchange among participants
- Come prepared with questions or discussion points to help keep the conversation moving
- Leave plenty of time for others to contribute
Author Meets Readers
A panel in which several readers discuss one recently published book
What to expect on the day
- Several readers will discuss a recently published book
- Readers will offer critical engagement with the book’s arguments, methods, and contributions
- The author(s) will have an opportunity to respond to the readers’ comments
- Audience questions will be included as part of the discussion
Room setup
- Theater style seating
- No audio/visual equipment is provided for Author Meets Readers sessions
Presenter tip
Author Meets Readers sessions work best when you:
- Focus on thoughtful discussion rather than a formal presentation
- Readers should identify key arguments, contributions, or questions they would like the author to address
- Authors should come prepared to respond to reader observations and engage in conversation
- Keep comments focused to allow plenty of time for dialogue and audience questions
Organized Invited Panel
An organized session built by a proposer around a common theme.
What to expect on the day
- Organized Invited Panels are built around a common theme and coordinated by the panel organizer
- Sessions may take the form of a short professional development workshop or a set of research presentations on a shared topic.
- Invited panels featuring research talks must include at least four presentations.
- The organizer is responsible for setting the format and coordinating with invited speakers in advance.
Presentation timing
- The specific presentation format is determined by the organizer and should be coordinated with panelists in advance.
Room setup
- Traditional theater style seating.
- Audio/visual equipment is provided only when requested by the organizer in the panel submission.
Presenter tip
Organized Invited Panels work best when you:
- Coordinate with the organizer and fellow panelists before the meeting
- Keep individual contributions focused on the panel’s shared theme
- Avoid unnecessary overlap between presentations
- Plan your remarks with the overall flow of the session in mind
- Leave room for discussion and engagement when appropriate
Pre-Meeting Workshop
An extended in-depth session organized by members
What to expect on the day
- Workshops provide an extended, hands-on learning and professional development experience
- Sessions may include instruction, demonstrations, exercises, skill-building, and facilitated discussion
- Workshops may focus on areas such as research methods, data or software, grant writing, teaching strategies, policy engagement, working with rural communities, or career development
- Advance registration is required, and workshops may have minimum and maximum enrollment limits.
Presentation timing
- Workshops are held before the main Annual Meeting program begins
- Organizers may propose workshops lasting 2–4 hours
- The longer format allows for more in-depth instruction, hands-on activities, and sustained discussion than a regular conference session.
Room setup
- Room setup and technology needs will vary based on the workshop format
- Organizers should identify any audio/visual needs as part of their workshop proposal
- Organizers should communicate any materials, software, technology, or other resources participants need to bring.
Presenter tip
Pre-Meeting Workshops work best when you:
- Build the session around clear learning objectives
- Balance instruction with opportunities for hands-on participation or discussion
- Plan activities that make good use of the extended workshop format
- Clearly communicate any materials, software, or technology participants should bring
- Allow time for questions, interaction, and application of what participants are learning