Present & Convene

eLightning Session Guidelines

This is your one stop for all of the information you need to participate in an oral session. Instructions differ based on your role and the way you are attending. Please select accordingly:

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In-Person

eLightning Presenter Guide

11-15 December, 8:30AM – 5:30PM PST
In-Person

eLightning Chair Guide

11-15 December, 8:30AM – 5:30PM PST
  • eLightning sessions will be 90 minutes and will take place daily from 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM PST on 11-15 December.
  • All eLightning sessions will be in-person only and presenters will deliver live presentations.
  • All presenters will participate in 3 minutes lightning presentations in designated theaters followed by one-on-one discussions at individual monitors for the remainder of the session.
  • If you are presenting multiple abstracts, we cannot guarantee that you will be free of scheduling conflicts
SESSION SCHEDULE

8 Steps for Chairing a Successful eLightning Session

1. REGISTER

  • You must register in order to chair a session at AGU23.
  • Please register at least 36 hours in advance of your session. Register by the early bird deadline of 2 November to take advantage of the early bird rate.
Register

2. GET READY TO MODERATE

  • Session chairs play an important role in making sure that session attendees feel safe, welcomed, and included.
  • Help ensure that sessions reflect diversity, inclusion, and excellence in science.
  • Review how the session will run and identify a general discussion topic based on the session.
  • Prepare to discuss the larger science questions around presentations or to explore future needs and challenges.

3. CHAIRING YOUR SESSION

  • Encourage participation and respect all presenters and attendees.
  • Introduce attendees to authors and facilitate discussion.
  • Perform “crowd control” in the aisles if needed. 
  • Be aware of aggressive questioning that borders on bullying or harassment, especially if directed towards students or early career scientists. Please speak up and intervene.
  • Reach out to an AGU staff person at the Poster Assistance Desk for assistance or please report Code of Conduct concerns to [email protected]. 

4. CHAIR TRAINING

Whether this is your first time chairing an AGU session or you are an experienced session chair, you are encouraged to review the session chair training or review the session chair tips prior to the start of the meeting.

  • Fantastic Facilitation: How to be a Successful Session Chair
    Thursday, 16 November, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM EST
    View the training recording in the "Online Program and Resources" section of the User Portal.

    This training is led by the go-to communications expert Melissa Marshall, who has traveled the world to work with Fortune 100 corporations, global institutions, and the nation’s best research universities when leaders need to boost their skills in communicating their world-changing research.

    Participants will learn the following:
    a. How to introduce a session and set expectations
    b. How to create connection between topics and tell a story across a session
    c. How to keep a session running smoothly and on topic (strategies for dealing with difficult questioners) 
         
  • Please download and view the detailed session chair tips for facilitating the best session. 

5. PROMOTE YOUR SESSION

  • Use AGU’s customizable Canva templates to promote your #AGU23 session on social media.
CANVA TEMPLATE
LEARN MORE ABOUT PROMOTING YOUR SESSION

6. FILL EMPTY SLOTS

  • Review the online program for session updates. If a presenter withdraws from an eLightning session, chairs can request a replacement from the accompanying in-person poster session by contacting the Scientific Program Team.
  • This can only be done to and from accompanying poster session.
  • This can only be done with the presenter's explicit consent.
  • New abstracts cannot be added.
  • You can access a report listing the abstracts and presenter contact information for your session in Participant's Corner, accessible via the User Portal. 
  • After receiving consent, include the following in your note to the Scientific Program Team:
    • Details of the withdrawn abstract
    • Details of the abstract that will be moved into the eLightning presentation slot
    • The email or message where the presenter gave consent to be moved.
CONTACT SCIENTIFIC PROGRAM TEAM

7. CHECK YOUR LOGISTICS

  • eLightning sessions will be in-person only and held in the eLightning theater in Moscone South.
  • Detailed logistic instructions will be provided via email prior to the meeting.
  • At least one chair must be present in person in the theater.

8. ARRIVE AT YOUR SESSION EARLY

  • Arrive at your assigned eLightning theater 20 minutes before it starts.
  • Session chairs will introduce presenters and moderate any brief Q&A and assist presenters with locating presentation monitors.
  • Technical support will be available.