FAQs for Presenters

Question: How long should my session be?

Answer:

Conversation Roundtables

• 90-minute Session
• The audience must be given 30 minutes to respond to the questions/issues raised and to introduce additional questions and comments to the panel
• Conversation Roundtable does not include PowerPoint slides. 

Paper Symposiums

• 90-minute Sessions
• At least 15 minutes MUST be set aside for discussion with the audience as part of the symposium 
   

Poster Presentations

• Research displayed in 60-minute sessions 
   

Professional Development

• 90-minute session 

Question 1: What presentation Audio-Visual (AV) equipment is provided by SRCD in each room?

Answer:

Laptops are not provided; you must bring your own. Adapters will be available; however, we strongly recommend that you travel with your device’s adapters. Please read this important information from the SRCD 2025 Biennial audio-visual equipment vendor to ensure you have the correct adapter for your device adapters for laptops. 

• For Poster Sessions, no AV is provided or needed.  All individual posters displayed in these sessions will be presented on standard 8' wide x 4' tall poster boards. ***Please see this webpage's question topic Poster Presentations for more details on poster sessions, including poster specifications and handling.
   
• All Session Rooms (Excluding Conversation Roundtables)
  One LCD projector (PC compatible; bring an adapter for a connector cord if using a Mac or have a relatively new PC), a screen, and a microphone will be available in your presentation room. As a reminder, SRCD does not provide laptops. Additional AV equipment will not be available for use in meeting roomS.
   
• Conversation Roundtables
  A head table/microphone and audience seating. A Conversation Roundtable does not include PowerPoint slides and will not have any additional AV equipment. 

Question 2: What aspect ratio should be used for PowerPoint presentations?

Answer:

Presentations should be created with a 16:9 slide ratio to ensure the best visual impact. 

Question 1: What size are the poster boards?

Answer:

SRCD will provide a poster board that is eight (8) ft. (2.4 meters) wide and four (4) ft. (1.2 meters) high, with a 2-inch (2.4 centimeters) frame all around and mounted on a four (4) ft. (1.2 meters) stand. This poster board space is devoted to one poster. 
 

Question 2: How do I hang my poster?

Answer:

Each author is responsible for the assembly and removal of their poster. SRCD will provide push pins on site to hang your poster on the poster board. Please do not use tape. Please remove your poster at the end of your session. 

 

Question 3: When should I put my poster up and take it down? 

Answer:

Please hang your poster on the designated board within the 15 minutes immediately preceding the start of the scheduled poster session. Your poster must be removed promptly at the end of the session so that the poster for the next session can be hung on the poster board.

Please take your poster and any additional items with you when you leave the poster area. Materials left after the removal deadlines will be taken down and may be disposed of. However, SRCD accepts no responsibility for material that may be lost or damaged. Please remove your materials on schedule as a favor to yourself and to those who use the board after you. 

 

Question 4: Do you have any tips or information for First-Time Poster Presenters  

Answer:

A poster presentation is a concise yet clear way of communicating your research, study findings, concepts, and ideas. The two most critical elements in any poster presentation are the poster and a brief explanation of its research. 

To help make your poster presentation session process less intimidating, here are a few tips for presenting your poster at any meeting, enabling you to make the most out of the opportunity and add enjoyment to the experience! 

Creating a poster presentation starts with analyzing and evaluating information or synthesizing ideas to present all necessary data and facts. The properties of an effective poster presentation are:

• The flow of information is well-organized and easy to follow.
• The text is easy to read, as a large font is used, and the information is not cluttered.
• Allows to convert to a mind map or a timeline diagram from the Gantt chart.
• The balanced use of visuals, text, colors, and graphics makes the poster presentation attractive without losing its functionality. 
   

Other Tips for Poster Presenters

Create a story. Once you’ve reeled in your audience and they are eager to learn more, it’s time to build the narrative of your research. Like all great stories, your research needs a beginning, a middle, and an end. Aim for this to be 10 minutes long or less. 

• Be Welcoming
• Do your best to stand at your poster for the entirety of the meeting poster session. If you do need to leave your poster for any reason, ensure you include your contact information, so you can be contacted by meeting attendees who may read your poster while you are not there.
• Engage Your Audience
• Remember to be enthusiastic - your research is exciting! Even toward the end of the poster session, it is essential to maintain your enthusiasm when your energy levels may be lower. If you find your work interesting, your audience is more likely to as well!
• The “Elevator” Pitch
• First impressions count. To pique the interest of your potential audience, you should have a concise synopsis (maximum three sentences and no longer than two minutes) of your research prepared, which contains three vital bits of information:  1) What is your research topic? 2) What have you found? 3) Why is that important?

Poster Layout Samples

Question: Does the Minneapolis Convention Center have on-site printing services? 

Answer:

The Minneapolis Convention Center does not offer on-site printing services. 

• Printing services are offered at FedEx Office Print & Ship Center in the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis, located at 1300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55403 (0.4 mile walk from the Minneapolis Convention Center).
• Phone: (612) 339-5641
• Monday-Friday: 8:00 AM-6:00 PM / Saturday-Sunday: Closed