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			 **   THE GEM MESSENGER   **
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						     Volume 16, Number 15
						     May 25, 2006

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Advice to GEM Session Chairs and Presenters for Upcoming GEM Workshop
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From: Bob Strangeway <strange at igpp.ucla.edu>

Dear GEM colleagues:

As many of you know, one of the compliments we received from the CEDAR 
community at last year's joint CEDAR-GEM workshop was that GEM operates 
as much as possible in workshop mode. I am therefore providing some 
suggestions that may help you keep the workshop atmosphere.

First of all workshop coordinators must use whatever format with which 
they feel most comfortable. If you prefer more formal 15 minute 
presentations, then so be it. But this does tend to detract from the 
workshop atmosphere. Wherever possible do not terminate discussion 
because of concerns about staying to a fixed timetable. By all means 
include a buffer in the schedule solely for the purpose of discussion. 
Encourage audience members to ask questions during the presentation, 
rather than waiting for the end of the presentation. You can set the 
tone by asking questions yourself. While a thank you from the session 
chair is appropriate, applause is not necessary.

I would advise presenters to avoid 15 minute formal presentation as 
much as possible. You do not need to start your presentation with a 
list of co-authors. You do not need to end with conclusions. You do 
not need to have enough slides to fill 15 minutes. These are all 
indicative of a formal presentation. The purpose is to engender 
discussion. Have only as many slides as you need to address your 
specific topic. Go for detail, rather than a review of relevant 
literature. End with a question or questions, rather than conclusions. 
Be willing to respond to (and encourage) questions during your 
presentation.

Last, to the audience, be engaged, ask questions, agree or disagree, 
but be vocal. A passive audience also tends to move the meeting away 
from workshop mode.

The GEM workshop is meant to be fun. It is a great venue for engendering 
excitement about the science we do. Let's keep it that way.

See you all in a month.

Bob Strangeway
GEM Steering Committee Chair 


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