Presentation and Discussion Guidelines

Learn about the expectations and structure for presentations at our academic conference. We look forward to your presentations and discussions.

Presentation format

Each participant will engage in the following:

  1. Present a paper
  2. Serve as a discussant for another participant’s paper
  3. Participate actively in open-floor discussions

Presentation details

Duration

20 minutes 

It is important to adhere strictly to the time limit. Many beginner presenters often exceed this time, so practice your presentation while timing yourself. If you go over time, the session chair may need to cut you off. 

Structure of your presentation

  1. Start with key results: A conference presenter typically begins with the introduction, presenting the motivation and significance of your research, followed by your key results. This will guide the audience on what they should focus. 
  2. Filling in the details: After presenting your results, elaborate with relevant questions, a literature survey, and additional findings. Remember, you won’t cover everything in your paper—focus on the highlights. 
  3. Conclusion: Reserve the last part of your presentation for discussing applications of your results or future research directions. You can skip these points if you are running short on time.

Tip: Consult your thesis advisor for guidance on condensing your presentation to fit within the 20-minute limit.

Visual aids

Use visual aids such as presentation slides or handouts to enhance your presentation.

Discussion led by the discussant

Duration: 5 minutes 

The role of the discussant is to generate meaningful dialogue about the paper. Typically, the discussion should include:

  1. Overview: Summarize the main points and contributions of the paper to existing literature. 
  2. Extensions: Suggest possible avenues for further research or additional work that could have been conducted. 
  3. Questions: Pose thought-provoking questions to engage the audience. 

After the discussant’s summary, the presenter will respond to questions and points raised. Presenters are encouraged to take notes during this discussion to facilitate focused responses.

Tip: Discussants should manage their time wisely and consider sharing in-depth comments with the presenter after the session to ensure the presenter has ample time to respond.

Open floor discussion (Q&A)

Duration: 5 minutes 

This is an opportunity for the audience and session chair to pose questions and provide comments. The session chair will moderate this discussion, encouraging active participation from all attendees.

Browse past Carroll Round proceedings

 The Carroll Round Proceedings compile the papers presented at each conference into a comprehensive journal volume. This volume is sent to each participant, shared at the following conference and distributed to donors. It is carefully compiled and edited by the Steering Committee of the next round.