SSCR Conference 2025 – information for presenters

SUBMIT YOUR PRESENTATION (Google Form)

 

All presentations (slide decks, posters and, where applicable, accompanying files) must be submitted by 17:00 (GMT) on Friday 2 May 2025.

If you don’t have a Google Account or for any other reason you are unable to upload your presentation file(s) via the Google Form, please email them to us at sscr@york.ac.uk before the deadline. Any general questions about the conference can also be directed to the same email address.

 


Poster presentations

Your poster should be sized to A1 (width = 594mm, height = 841mm) and submitted as a PDF. Your poster can be either portrait or landscape.

Please refer to the NIHR visual identity guidelines for any NIHR funded projects.

Please consider your language use/ font sizes and ensure there is a good contrast between text colours and background colours – check accessibility for a range of audiences in whocanuse.

To make our poster presentations more accessible, we also encourage you to consider recording a brief audio description of your poster. We can add a QR code to the display board next to your poster (with your name and poster title) so that people can access this audio recording on their mobile device. Please upload your audio recording via the same Google Form as your poster file or email the file to us at sscr@york.ac.uk.

Your poster will be printed and displayed for you at the conference venue for the duration of the event. Please note that you will be required to present your poster during the poster session on Wednesday 21 May (day two of the conference) between 13:45-14:30.

 

Oral presentations and lightning talks


Lightning talks

Lightning talks can be a challenge to prepare but they offer a great opportunity to test your elevator pitches, use your imagination and be creative! For hints and tips about how to produce a successful short presentation, please watch this YouTube video – A lightning talk about giving a lightning talk

You will have five minutes to deliver your presentation, plus time for questions. We recommend producing no more than 5-10 slides. Please refer to the general  information below about practicalities and how to ensure your presentation is clear and accessible.

 

Oral presentations

Please refer to the general  information below about practicalities and how to ensure your presentation is clear and accessible. Presenters are asked to carefully consider the number of slides you will use. Having to skip through half of the deck is frustrating for the audience and suggests a lack of planning.

You will have fifteen minutes to deliver your presentation, plus five minutes for questions from the audience.

 

General information for presenters

Your oral presentation/ lightning talk will be scheduled within a themed session with an allocated Chair. More details about your specific session (timings, chair, location) will be shared with you via email. Please note that the session chairs will be keeping a close eye on timings. We have so much exciting research to hear about that it is important all presenters are respectful and stick to their allocated time.

Slides should be submitted as an MS Powerpoint file. There will be a screen and laptop in each presentation space at the venue. Your slides will be set up and ready for you to present at the venue on the day. In larger spaces, there will be microphones available (both for the presenter and for taking questions from the audience) and a wireless presentation clicker.

Presentations will be live captioned on the day. The SSCR Programme Team will be on hand to set up the AV equipment, provide support and help you keep track of timings.

 

When you’re writing the presentation

Make sure that your slides are clear and easy to read. 

  • make sure there is a good contrast between text colours and background colours – check accessibility for a range of audiences in whocanuse
  • avoid white backgrounds because of glare (a pale grey background can be used instead)
  • if you are using text over an image, make sure the image is dark enough to ensure contrast and simple enough not to distract from the text
  • use large type sizes and keep the typeface simple. We recommend Lato at 32pt or 63pt
  • ensure that acronyms are clearly defined and language is considered (use Plain English where possible)

Using videos

If you’re using a video as part of your presentation, there are a few things to think about to make sure it is as accessible as possible:

  • ensure that all videos have captions – these should be clear and large enough to see from the back of a large room
  • ensure that any visual content in the video is described in the audio – if it isn’t, then you should describe it to the audience yourself
  • check video sound levels in the room before the live presentation

Making your presentation accessible on the day

Lastly, there are a few things to think about when you’re giving your presentation. This advice will help make your presentation more accessible. It will also make it easier for everyone in the audience to follow your presentation – whether or not they have access needs.

  • if you’re using images or video in your presentation to convey essential information, make sure you also explain that information verbally
  • if you’re using a hand-held microphone, keep it close to your mouth at all times
  • if you’re using a fixed microphone, try to keep as near to it as possible, even when you’re addressing someone in the audience
  • Generally, speak at a steady pace. Leave at least a few seconds’ gap for processing at the ends of sections when you don’t say or do anything. Vary the speed, volume and pitch of voice you use.