Platform Presenter Information

The placement notification email sent to each corresponding/presenting author on February 26, 2026, states the session to which your abstract is assigned, the date and time that session is scheduled, and the start time of your talk.

As a platform presenter, you must:

1. Register for the Conference within 30 days of your acceptance notification. All technical program participants are required to  register and pay the technical program registration fee. Presenter registration rates are not discounted, the listed rates, based on registration date and employer category, are the same for everyone. Registration fees are the main source of revenue for the Conference and since most attendees will participate in the technical program, we are unable to discount fees. 
2. Prepare, name, and submit the required PowerPoint file by the requested due date. Platform presenters will prepare and submit a Power Point presentation for their talk. The due date, naming instructions, and submission link will be communicated to presenters via email well before the due date.
3. Attend the in-person Conference and your required Speaker’s Meeting the morning of your presentation. Lunch will be provided for Monday presenters, breakfast will be provided for Tuesday-Thursday presenters. You will have the opportunity to meet with your Session Chairs and other presenters in your session. Conference staff will make announcements and review the equipment in the session room so you are fully prepared for what to expect for your talk.

A platform presentation is defined as an in-person, oral presentation given by one person. 

Virtual presentations and attendance are not offered, and sessions are not recorded.

While not required, most presenters find utilizing an accompanying Power Point file helpful to communicate their research and results. You may find additional recommendations for producing your Power Point presentation below.

Each platform slot is assigned precisely 25 minutes and includes:

• 18 minutes for the speaker’s prepared remarks
  
• 5 minutes for Q&A
  
• 2 minutes for transition to the next speaker

Please be courteous to the speakers that may follow your talk and carefully practice in advance to be sure you can cover all the desired material within the allotted talk time.

Please arrive to your session room at least 15 minutes in advance of your presentation time so you are prepared to go on stage precisely at your scheduled speaking time. This will also alleviate any anxiety for the Session Chairs to know that the next scheduled speaker is there and ready.

• Clock. A large digital clock with the clock time will be placed within eyesight of the stage at the Session Chair table. Please make note of your start and end time as seen in the final program.
• Speaker Timer. A speaker timer will be located on the podium. The speaker timer will have green, yellow, and red lights and a countdown timer to indicate remaining speaking time. Please see the Speaker Timer explanation and instructions under the Session Room Equipment section for details on how to best time your talk.
• Session Chairs. The Session Chairs assigned to facilitate the session will start and stop the speaker timer for each presenter and are tasked with keeping the session on time according to the final schedule.

No, due to the time limitations for each presentation, co-presenters are not permitted.

You may invite attendees to meet you outside the presentation room after your presentation for additional questions or to meet abstract co-authors.

NOTE: All Power Point files submitted for platform presentations will be included in the Conference proceedings. Please do not include confidential, sensitive or export-controlled information in your slides that you do not wish published. 

Template. The Conference does not provide or require a specific template for the file. 
Format. The format must be compatible with Microsoft Power Point 2017 or earlier. Mac versions of PowerPoint, online presentation formats (e.g., Prezi, Visme, etc.) and PDF files will not be supported. 
Video Files. We recommend that video files be embedded into the Power Point and be set to play automatically. If a video file is incompatible with Power Point you will be given instructions for naming and uploading the file with your Power Point. 
Naming Convention. The Conference Office will communicate specific naming instructions for your file in early May 2026 that must be followed carefully. They will specify your assigned session code, your 24-hour format presentation time, and your last name.

General Recommendations.

• In general, 20 slides are the maximum number that can be used effectively for an 18-minute talk. 
• Prioritize clarity and readability with one key message per slide. 
• Charts and graphs should be simple and easy to read from a distance. 
• Use a sans-serif font, like Arial, and try not to use a font size smaller than 24 points as many in the audience will be seated at a distance from the stage unable to read small font.
• Animations should be used sparingly.
• Use a consistent and organized style with well-aligned objects, proofread text, and a uniform color and layout.
• REHEARSE your presentation to ensure you are within the time limit and you can deliver your presentation smoothly and comfortably.

Session Room Appearance and Furnishings

• Audience Seating. The session room will be set with theater-style seating facing the stage.
• Stage. A stage will be positioned at the front of the room.
• Podium. A podium will be on the stage.
• Confidence Monitor. A confidence monitor will be placed on the floor in front of the podium. NOTE: Only the current slide will be seen on the confidence monitor, speaker notes will not be visible. Please print and bring your speaker notes with you, if needed.
• Session Chair Table. The table where the Session Chairs will be seated managing the session will be at the front of the room, facing the stage.
  
  

Session Room Equipment

• Internet Access. General attendee wi-fi will be available in the meeting rooms and exhibit hall, however, it should not be relied upon for access to links during your presentation as availability changes based on current usage across all attendees. 
• AV Tech/Tech Table. A professional AV tech will be present in each session room to manage lighting, sound, and the laptop that will run your Power Point presentation. A professional AV tech will be positioned at the back of the room at a table with the equipment.
• Podium Microphone. The podium will have a microphone. Lapel microphones are by request only. Please contact the Conference Office with your request. All requests for lapel mics must be received by May 25, 2026.
• Projection Screen. A screen will be positioned to the left-or-right of the stage for your Power Point presentation. 
• Projector. A projector will be positioned in front of the projection screen.
• Slide Advancer.  A slide advancer will be placed on the podium for you to manage your slides. The slide advancer may be seen below. A reminder card with the button functions will also be placed on the podium.

• Speaker Timer. A speaker timer will also be located on the podium to indicate your remaining speaking time and keep the session running on time. Your Session Chair will manage the start/stop of the timer for each speaker.

 

If you require a visa to travel to the U.S., please begin the visa application process immediately. The placement email you received with your presentation details should serve to document your scheduled appearance at the Conference. If you require an invitation letter from the Symposium Office, please email the request to  [email protected].

NOTE: For non-U.S. registrants, it is recommended that you wait until after your visa application has been approved to register. Refunds will not be granted after the “no refund” date in the event your visa application is denied. 

New/Revised Files. Please make every effort to submit your PowerPoint file by the required due date. Last-minute revisions submitted after that date may be submitted only at the Tech Support Desk onsite and must be submitted 24-hours in advance of your presentation. 

File Naming/Submission. File naming instructions and the upload link will be sent to the presenting author in early May 2026. 

If you have more than one platform presentation, please use the file names given in the email you receive for each specific presentation.

File names are specific to the session, time of presentation, abstract number, and speaker, please enter it carefully.