Presenter Guidelines

Thank you for presenting your work at ADC 2026. Below, we present tips from PAA to assist presenters in pre-conference planning and present some guidelines on presenting at the conference itself. We hope you find this helpful!


Session Format

All sessions will be hosted via Zoom.  All registered participants will receive an invite to use the ADC app through a provider called Results Direct (RDMobile). This app will have all of the session details as well as the Zoom links to join sessions.

Once you join your session, a PAA staff member will promote the chair and speakers to serve as co-hosts of the session so you can share your screen and slides as you present.

Access Sessions

Presentation Sessions

Sessions are 90 minutes.  We recommend the following timeline for each session:

  • Welcome and Introductions: 3 - 5 Minutes
  • Presentations: 15-20 minutes per presentation (depending on the number of papers).  We encourage all presenters to use slides for their presentations
  • Questions: Leave at least 10 minutes for attendees to ask questions.

The session chair is responsible for keeping the session moving along and to facilitate the question-answer time.

Flash Talks

These sessions are 90 minutes and will be broken down into five 15-minute sessions.

Presenters will be set up in Zoom ‘breakout rooms’ that attendees can join to discuss your work. PAA staff will visit each breakout room towards the end of the session to encourage attendees to wrap up their questions and move to another breakout.  We suggest that presenters briefly present work for 3 – 7 minutes and then allow the attendees in the room to ask questions.

Using slides or a singular graphic (similar to a poster) is encouraged for an engaging presentation.

Pre-Conference Tips

Prior to the conference, we suggest the following:

  1. Please note the amount of time allocated to your presentation. The chair of your session will inform you of the exact time allocated to your presentation. The time you are allotted will not include Q&A unless otherwise indicated by your chair; typically, session chairs reserve 10 or so minutes at the end of each session for questions and discussion.

  2. Plan for your presentation. A good conference presentation provides a clear and succinct overview of your paper. Consider the time available and the multiple learning styles of attendees (auditory, visual, etc.) to create a valuable presentation.

  3. Prepare visual aids. Most presenters use slides, either in PowerPoint or PDF, as visual aids for their presentation.
    • Type: Use at least 20-point type so that audience members can easily read the print on your slides.
    • Please do not include large tables in your slides: Summarize your key results rather than presenting large, dense tables.
    • Bullets: Limit yourself to 3-4 bullets per slide and 10 or fewer words per bullet.
    • Number: A rough rule of thumb is to prepare no more than one slide for every minute you will be presenting.
    • Try to avoid the use of acronyms, jargon, and abbreviations: Past conference evaluations have clearly indicated that one frustration, in particular for new and international attendees, is the use of ‘insider’ language, acronyms, and abbreviations that make it difficult to comprehend a presentation.
    • Consider livening up your slides with graphics and pictures: Graphics can be very effective in capturing the audience’s attention and focusing them on the point you want to make.
    • Contact information slide: Include a slide that you put up at the beginning with your presentation title, name, and contact information.
    • Please proofread and spell check.

  4. Practice: Practice your presentation to ensure that it highlights key points, your delivery is clear, and you finish within the time allocated.

Presentation Checklist

At the session, please:

  1. Arrive early. Arrive at the session early and connect with the other presenters and session chair so that the session may start on time.
  2. Give your presentation. You are ready!
  3. End on time. You will be warned by the chair as your time draws to a close (typically 5 minutes, 2 minutes, and stop). It is essential that you end on time to ensure that all participants have the opportunity to present their work and there is time for audience questions and comments.