Find the practical information you need to plan and deliver your workshop or symposium at ISAM 2026, including session format, timing, speaker coordination, SlideCrew, technical support and what to expect during your session.
Workshops and symposia are both scheduled for 90 minutes, but they differ in purpose and level of audience participation.
Workshop
A workshop is interactive and participant-focused. Rather than presenting a series of lectures, organisers should actively engage attendees through discussion, practical exercises, case studies, demonstrations or other forms of audience participation.
All meeting rooms will remain set up in theatre style throughout the congress. Room layouts cannot be changed before or during the session, so workshop activities must be suitable for this fixed setup.
Symposium
A symposium is generally presentation-based and provides an in-depth overview of a specific scientific topic. It usually consists of several presentations followed by a discussion or question-and-answer session.
ISAM does not appoint a chairperson or moderator for workshops or symposia. The organising team must appoint its own chairperson or moderator.
The chairperson or moderator is responsible for:
The organising team determines how the 90 minutes are divided between presentations, discussion and audience interaction. Make sure that every speaker knows their allocated presentation time and allow sufficient time for discussion where appropriate.
Please review all three sections when planning your workshop or symposium with your fellow speakers.
Define the purpose and intended outcomes of the session before deciding on its format.
For a workshop, consider interactive elements such as:
Make sure that all activities are suitable for a fixed theatre-style seating arrangement.
For a symposium, determine the order and focus of the individual presentations and reserve sufficient time for discussion and audience questions.
Agree on the session structure, speaking order and timing with all speakers well in advance of the congress.
Make sure that:
Coordinate the presentation style and timing in advance to create a coherent session.
Presentations should be prepared in Microsoft PowerPoint (.ppt or .pptx) using widescreen (16:9) format.
We recommend:
Organisers should ensure that all speakers follow the same technical requirements.
ISAM 2026 uses SlideCrew as its official presentation management system.
Around mid-August 2026, each presenting speaker will receive a personal email invitation to access their SlideCrew account. Through their account, speakers can:
Each final presentation must be uploaded no later than 30 minutes before the start of the session.
If a speaker is presenting in more than one session, each uploaded presentation will automatically be linked to the correct session.
Uploading presentations in advance is strongly recommended.
Organisers should remind all speakers to upload the correct presentation before the deadline. SlideCrew checks uploaded files for potential issues involving fonts, compatibility, video, audio and file integrity.
SlideCrew staff will be available in the Speaker Slide Centre throughout the congress.
Presenters can visit the Speaker Slide Centre to:
Even if a presentation has been uploaded in advance, presenters can visit the Speaker Slide Centre upon arrival to review their slides.
Find out what to expect in the session room and how to manage the speakers, timing and audience participation.
Please arrive at the assigned session room at least 15 minutes before the scheduled start time.
The chairperson or moderator should use this time to:
All workshop and symposium rooms are equipped with:
Presenters cannot connect their own laptops. All presentations will be delivered from the congress presentation computer through SlideCrew.
Room assignments will be communicated closer to the congress and will also be available in the speakers’ SlideCrew accounts.
During a symposium, audience questions are generally reserved for the discussion period or managed at the discretion of the chairperson.
During a workshop, questions and audience interaction may take place throughout the session, depending on the chosen format.
Each room is equipped with an audience microphone. Attendees should use this microphone when asking a question so that everyone in the room can hear the discussion clearly.
The chairperson or moderator should:
Concise presentations and well-managed transitions will help the session remain engaging and prevent delays to the sessions that follow.
Use this checklist to make sure that your session is ready for the congress.
✓ Appoint a chairperson or moderator for the session.
✓ Agree on the session objectives, format, speaking order and timing with all speakers.
✓ Ensure that any workshop activities are suitable for fixed theatre-style seating.
✓ Make sure that all presentations are prepared in PowerPoint using widescreen (16:9) format.
✓ Remind each speaker to upload their final presentation to SlideCrew no later than 30 minutes before the session.
✓ Ensure that any videos, audio and animations have been tested.
✓ Arrive at the session room at least 15 minutes before the scheduled start time and confirm that the chairperson or moderator and all speakers are present.
Thank you for contributing to the scientific program of ISAM 2026. We look forward to welcoming you and your fellow speakers to Rotterdam.