Speaker Information and Instructions

Update: We are pleased to announce more than 250 participants are expected at the symposium. To provide optimum viewing for attendees, dual screen projection will be provided in the meeting room. Please review the updated Audiovisual Equipment information and note suggestions for incorporating PowerPoint features when presenting using dual screens.

Manuscript Submission 

• All oral presenters, including invited and keynote speakers, must submit a manuscript associated with this symposium for publication in the Acta Horticulturae.
• Submission closes April 10, 2016. Click here to read more about manuscript submission.

Presentation Date and Time 

• Speakers are recognized in the tentative agenda. Please note the date and time of your session and plan to arrive a few minutes prior to the start of the session. All speakers should plan on being present for their entire session. When reviewing the agenda, please note any information that is not accurate and send revisions to: mstage@ufl.edu

Presentation Duration 

• Each speaker will receive 15 minutes. These 15 minutes include any time for Q&A as well as your moderator’s brief introduction of your talk. Depending on your topic, you may want to build in a few minutes at the end of your presentation for discussion or questions. Because time is very short, moderators will enforce the 15-minute limit. Please prepare your PowerPoint presentation accordingly.

Presentation Delivery Information

• At least 24-hours prior* to the session time, speakers should bring their PowerPoint presentation to the symposium registration area. See the tentative agenda for registration hours.
  * Wednesday speakers to bring presentation on Monday. Registration is closed on Tuesday.
• Presenters may also email their presentation in advance to mstage@ufl.edu. Please check in with the symposium registration upon arrival to view the presentation and a demonstration the Wireless Presenter.
• All PowerPoint files will be loaded in advance of the session to facilitate a smooth transition from one speaker to the next.
• NOTE: Internet will not be available for speaker presentations.

UPDATE - Audiovisual Equipment Available - UPDATE

• For participants’ optimum viewing, two screens to project dual imagery will be set, one flanking each side of the raised platform. Speakers will be on a raised platform between the two screens.
• Recommended PowerPoint slide size is widescreen (16:9).
• Important: Due to the difficulty of pointing to two screens, in the development of the presentation it is strongly recommended to incorporate PowerPoint features (such as highlighting, circling an object, or using arrows) for information you wish to emphasis. When creating, be sure to use “on mouse click” instead of “automatically after x seconds”.
• One Wireless Lapel Microphone or a Podium Microphone.
• We will use the symposium PC laptop* with Microsoft PowerPoint 2010 Application. The laptop will be located at the AV operator table and controlled by an AV operator. Speakers will not operate the laptop from the stage. An AV operator seated at a Tech Station will open each file to the first slide.
• Speakers will be provided with a Wireless Presenter to advance & reverse PowerPoint slides.
• There is no formal seating, however the first row of seats will be reserved for speakers and moderators for convenient access to the stage.
• Internet will not be available for speaker presentations.
• *We encourage you to use the laptop offered by the symposium. If you absolutely must use your own laptop, contact Mandy Stage at mstage@ufl.edu  immediately. You will need to bring all cables and test your laptop 24-hours prior to your talk to avoid disruption to sessions.

PowerPoint Presentations

• Recommended PowerPoint slide size is widescreen (16:9)
• Embed graphs or figures into file as independent objects; do not dynamically link from other programs.
• Photos for slides should be compressed and saved in a lower resolution.
• Disable any automatic advance timer on your file.
• We will accept files on jump drives or CDs. Label your jump drive or CD with your contact information.
• NOTE: Internet will not be available for speaker presentations.
• If you plan to use video in your presentation, note:
  1. Acceptable video files are: Real Player; Media Player; QuickTime.
  3. Save video files using your last name to ensure association and loading.

CLICK HERE to view Tips for Developing Your PowerPoint Presentation

Have Questions or Need Assistance? Contact:
Mandy Stage; Tel: 352-294-3578, Email: mstage@ufl.edubmt@ufl.edu

Reminder: All speakers must register and pay the applicable registration fee in order to attend and present at the symposium. The deadline to confirm speaker partipation is February 1, 2016. See registration information.