AIEC Session formats

Learning and knowledge-sharing at AIEC is offered through a range of different sessions formats. Some sessions such as cafés and campfires, place more focus on peer-to-peer learning and sharing and are more interactive.  Other formats, such as panels and presentations, offer less interaction and focus more on sharing of information by experts.

Please note sessions will not be livestreamed. Selected sessions may be recorded - more details to come. 

 

Café

A café is a large group discussion technique designed to encourage small, intimate and information discussions around a central topic. There is no formal presentation or speech, but the facilitator will provide time at the end of the session for some group reporting. 

Number of facilitators: 1 to 4 facilitators
Duration: 60 minutes, including 10 minutes for group reporting

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Campfire

Just like a group of people sitting around a campfire listening to someone tell a story, a campfire session at a conference is an informal way of presenting and discussing topics with meeting attendees.

It allows for participants in the group to become 'active' participants, or just stay 'passive' participants if they just want to listen in. It encourages the audience to 'set the agenda' by posting questions and discussion topics.

There is usually a lead person who gets the conversation going, but then takes a back seat and lets the conversation continue between those present.

Campfires are usually held in foyers or hallways or similar spaces outside of meeting rooms.

Number of participants: 20
Duration: 60 minutes

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'Inspire' Session

This presentation format provides the opportunity for a speaker to present on a particular topic for exactly 14 minutes. 

Presentations will be grouped with other inspire presentations into a 60-minute session (maximum of three presentations per session), with only 1 minute changeover time in between presentations. They are designed to be fast-paced, focused and content-heavy presentations.

It's a great platform to present findings from a research project or a case study or showcase best practice.

The last 15 minutes of the session will be question time. Presenters are encouraged to network with delegates after the session in the Inspire Lounge or through Braindates.

Number of speakers: 1 or 2 presenters
Duration: 60 mins (3 presentations plus 15min Q&A)

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Panel

Panels are structured sessions with a set time for each panellist to present (approximately 8 to 12 minutes depending on how many panellists there are, followed by a 15-minute Q&A at the end of the session. Each speaker brings a different perspective or presents a different view about the same topic.  

Number of speakers: 2 to 3 speakers, plus 1 chair

Duration: 60 minutes, including 15 minutes for Q&A

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Presentation

A 60-minute presentation is usually reserved for very detailed research presentations or for expert presentations. They usually run as a panel session, but there are only one or two presenters who present on the same topic.

Number of speakers: 1 or 2 presenters
Duration: 60 minutes

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Key dates

21 March - Call for proposals opens

12 April - Call for proposals closes

30 May - Registration open

July - Program released

31 July - Super early bird registration closes

13 September - Early bird registration closes

22–25 October – AIEC 2024