ORAL SESSIONS

Despite award candidates, journal papers transferred to the conference and selected IROS 2024 papers have dedicated sessions, your chairing role does not change.

Oral sessions last 1 hour and have 4 presentations or, in very few cases, 3 presentations. Each presentation is allotted a 15-minute slot. Speakers are instructed to speak for 12 minutes and allow 3 minutes for questions and answers. Speakers are also instructed to be at the session room 5 minutes before the start time and, as soon as the previous session ends, introduce themselves to you and sit in the front row. Most of them will use their own laptop, tested in advance in the speakers’ preview room. In case they need to use the PC available in the room, they will upload the presentation in advance.

Please agree with your chair/co-chair on which speakers each of you will introduce. In case you are also a speaker in the session, the other chair will introduce you.

At session start time, welcome the audience and announce the session title. Then proceed with the introduction of speakers, in the order of the conference program. During each presentation, check the time and inform the speaker when 2 minutes are left. After the presentation, ask for questions from the audience. If needed, break the ice with your own question. Please ensure not to exceed the allotted 15 minutes, then thank the speaker and allow a round of applause from the audience. At the session end, please thank the speakers and the audience and declare the session closed. In the 3-presentation sessions, just close the session earlier, after 45 minutes, but please keep the synchronization with the other sessions.

ORAL PITCH (TEASER) SESSIONS

Chairing a teaser session is more challenging, given the shorter presentation time. We count on your active role and some adaptation skills to shape an effective and dynamic session! Please agree with your chair/co-chair on the best way to share speaker introduction and keep an eye on the smooth transition between presentations. In case you are also a speaker in the session, the other chair will introduce you.

Teaser sessions last 1 hour and normally contain 16 pitches. In few cases, there are 17 pitches or even 14/15 in a couple of sessions. Oral pitch presentations are 3 minute long and do not have time for questions and answers. As you see, there is a few-minute margin in the overall session.

Speakers are instructed to be at the session 15 minutes in advance of the start time and upload their presentations in the room PC, with the help of a volunteer. It is suggested that chairs are also at the session a few minutes in advance. Speakers are also instructed to introduce themselves to you and to line up in the order of presentation, directed by you with the help of volunteers.

At session start time, welcome the audience and announce the session title. Then proceed with the introduction of speakers, in the order of the conference program. During each presentation, check the time and inform the speaker when the 3 minutes are over, if needed. After the presentation, thank the speakers and proceed with the next one, checking that the next presentation is opened properly. At the session end, please thank the speakers and the audience, allow a round of applause, and declare the session closed. Do not worry if you don’t use the full hour devoted to the session. The speakers need to move to the poster area and it is good to have few spare minutes.

Volunteers and Event Staff will be available to assist you in the presentation rooms.