Helpful Hints for DOE CSG Speakers
After your presentation is selected
- Write and send in your biography as soon as possible (sample Bio:PDF).
- Have your presentation peer-reviewed in a large conference room at your site to ensure graphics and text will be easy to see in a large hotel conference room. One of the biggest problems we see is that slides are too busy or text is too small to be seen in a room that holds 50-75 people.
- Time your presentation. Allow 30 minutes for the presentation, 10 for questions and answers, and 5 minutes for you to leave and the new speaker to come in.
- If needed, have your presentation reviewed and released by your site’s information release office.
- The conference does not supply handouts. If you want to use handouts, you’ll need to bring them yourself.
- Submit your presentation to the conference committee point of contact at least 2 weeks before the conference. This gives us time to load all presentations on laptops that will be used at the conference. You do not need to bring your own laptop. We prefer you use ours preloaded with all sessions.
- If you want to share software, you can distribute CDs at the conference or have a website for this.
- Sales pitches are not allowed.
Before the Session
- Attend the speaker social Monday night. This will be announced to you via e-mail before the conference. Here you will meet your session chair and review how you like to give presentations (e.g., stationary microphone vs. wireless microphone, session chair run your presentation, etc).
- Let the conference committee and your session chair know if you have any special needs, such as DVD player, to use with your presentation.
- Work out signals with your session chair to indicated time (e.g., chair holds up 10 fingers to indicate 10 minutes left). At minimum, you should have signals to indicate 10 minutes left and 5 minutes left.
Start of Session
- Your session chair will announce your presentation as discussed at the speaker social.
During Session
- Be sure to stay close to your microphone and talk into it at all times.
- Talk slowing and succinctly.
- Repeat all questions before answering.
- Watch the session chair for time signals. Leave time for questions (finish early rather than over). Try to finish with 5 minutes remaining to transition to the next speaker.
End of Session
- Thank the audience and let them know how to contact you for more information.
- Take all discussions outside into the common area so that that the next speaker can proceed without interruption.
- Enjoy the conference!
If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact doecsg2004@pnl.gov
Thank you again for your participation this year!