Below is an extract from the information that is being given to session chairs. I'm providing it here so that everyone attending knows what the session procedures will be, which hopefully will also help you frame questions that are in the 'spirit of things'. Being explicit about these things I'm hoping will give the event consistency, a shape, and will help encourage and frame conversation and dialogue.
The conference committee wishes to encourage delegates to meet each other, and so we would like you to find (the authors have also been told to find you!) each of the presenters listed below to get a very brief bio so that you can introduce them.
When introducing your session please first of all introduce yourself and give yourself 30 seconds or so stating your own research or creative interests. This helps everyone else know who you are and so encourages others to talk to you through the conference too!
Please introduce speakers immediately before each speaker (not all at once), and do this quickly. Key information is who they are, where they are from, and what their general research or creative practice is. Be strict about time, and I’d perhaps give a 5 minute and 2 minute warning.
Sessions are generally not themed, in an effort to encourage people to hear work from a broad range of participants.
For your session please remind each presenter that they have only 15 minutes to speak to their papers. There are to be no questions at the end of the paper but all questions are to be held to the end of the session. This will allow approximately 15 minutes for discussion at the end of each session. Each presenter has been invited to read their co-presenters papers and to have a couple of questions or observations about what they found of value from the paper. If there are no questions from the floor then please invite a speaker to offer one of the observation–questions. If there are questions from the floor, even where they may be directed to a specific author, please try and use the question and the response in a manner that allows you to let each of the other speakers to comment or reply.Posted by amiles at May 15, 2003 01:41 PM