FAQs for the Live Q&As

Updated 09 August

I can already watch the videos, so what will happen in the Q&A sessions?

The Live Q&A sessions are intended to provide a time for presenters to answer questions about their presentations, as would happen at an in-person Annual Meeting. In these Live Q&A sessions, no pre-recorded videos will be played, so it will be helpful to watch them in advance.

How can I ask a speaker a question about their presentation?

You can start NOW by watching videos, and then entering questions/comments in the “Discussion” window of the presentation. Try it out! Speakers can even respond to these questions in the “Discussion”, and moderators may bring unanswered questions to the Live Q&A sessions. Questions can also be asked in the Live Q&A sessions via the chat or Q&A function.

Wait? How are these Live Q&A sessions organized anyway?!?

Most Live Q&A sessions will be a combined Zoom Webinar, where speakers featured in 2 to 4 individual scientific/educational sessions will be available to answer questions from ISMRM/SMRT Annual Meeting attendees.

I totally didn’t get that… can you give me an example?

Sure! Let’s look at Monday:

Several parallel Zoom-style webinars will start at 13:45 UTC: Perfusion & Permeability, Multiple Sclerosis & Myelin, Pediatric Innovations, etc. Each of these Live Q&A sessions will comprise three individual sessions (some will have 2, others 3, and yet others 4); the Multiple Sclerosis & Myelin Live Q&A, for example, will be a single webinar including the individual sessions “Multiple Sclerosis: Brain Lesion & Cord Atrophy,” “Myelin Imaging,” and “Multiple Sclerosis: From Structure to Function.” Each of these individual sessions would last approximately 15 minutes, and if there are still additional questions the room will be available, but please note many attendees will be dropping out to attend other sessions. Those who were asked to deliver talks in the individual sessions have been asked to attend the Live Q&A session, so that attendees can ask questions, as mediated by the moderators for each individual session.

Will speakers be able to share the screen and show a slide or two in response to some pointed questions if they arise? 

Like at the in-person annual meeting, rebuttal slides during the Q&A will not be allowed. Slides can be shared through share screen by moderators and speakers but it is not advised with the limited time for questions.

Should moderators prepare slides to present?

No, moderators should prepare questions to ask of the speakers, and pose any questions that they see in the Chat/Q&A windows. Slides can be shared through share screen by moderators and speakers but it is not advised with the limited time for questions.

Will the members of audience be able to speak — to ask their questions/debate the authors of talks, or will all interactions occur via the Chat/Q&A window?

Due to time constraints and to encourage good flow of the session, it is preferred that all questions be routed to the Chat/Q&A windows.

Who will be controlling the live video and microphone?

The virtual conference vendor will be the “host” of the meeting, but speakers and moderators can control their own microphones and cameras.

Since the platform is Zoom, are there recommendations for people to keep their videos off to try and reduce bandwidth issues?

We recommend that the moderators have their video feeds on unless they received reports of poor bandwidth and that speakers only turn on their video when responding to questions.  There are options for speakers and moderators to , if necessary.

Are all session speakers going to be “present” at the Live Q&A sessions as a virtual panel? 

All session speakers have been asked to join the Live Q&A session for their individual session.  While we hope that they will all be able to make it, some may not be present due to time zone issues, vacation time, work schedules, etc.  We hope that speakers who cannot attend will let their moderators know.

There appear to be several related sessions happening at the same; are these sessions going to be recorded?

First off, all of the Live Q&A sessions will be recorded, so you can go back if you missed one.  Luckily, if the sessions you are referring to are all in the same Live Q&A session box in the PAAG, they will all be part of the same Zoom Webinar; the time for questions will be split between these sessions.

I am involved in one of these Q&A sessions, and I’ve been notified that I won’t get a link until an hour before the session starts… YIKES! Is there any way that these links can be sent earlier, in case there are email server issues, the email ends up in spam, or there’s another kind of hiccup?

You will receive a calendar notice which will be the test for server issues or end up in spam. The notifications are populated directly through zoom, and should be sent no later than two days before your live event. You will also receive a reminder notice one hour before the event.

Will attendees, speakers, or moderators need to download any software to access the Live Q&A sessions?

All live events will be through the vendor platform via web browser. No download will be necessary. Zoom will ask to download, but can be completed through browser.

I was told I’d receive a link to a zoom room – I don’t have one! HELP!

Please send an email to presenters@ismrm.org and include the session you are meant to be a part of. Someone will be in contact as soon as possible.

How long is the Q&A session in total?

Each live Q&A during the week is 45 minutes long. Weekend sessions are 30 minutes.

Is the time evenly distributed between talks, let’s say 3 minutes for each talk for a 45 minute session with 15 talks?

Each session will be unique and so will the experience of each one.

How do attendees get to the sessions?

Attendees will be able to enter the zoom room through the live platform of the conference. Login is through https://ww5.aievolution.com/ism2001/

How do attendees ask questions?

Attendees are requested to submit questions during the live session in the Q&A feature of the meeting. Attendees are not able to ask orally through the webinar platform. We suggest moderators encourage questions to the Q&A and form a system that assists.  Attendees should make it clear to which speaker the question is being asked.

In the situation that the first author cannot attend the Q&A session, can one of the other authors answer the questions? 

Yes, the first author should forward the email with log in instructions to the new presenter and when the new presenter logs on let the moderators know which abstract they are presenting for.

What happens if a speaker does not come up to the QA session? Should moderators skip that talk?

Skipping the talk may help the attendees in working out what to ask, but we also ask moderators to check in with speakers to see if they can assist with questions before the event to have ready.

How many attendees can fit in a zoom room?

Our zoom rooms are meant to have 500 attendees maximum. Because our members and registrants are from around the world, many may not be able to participate and will rely on the recording of the Q&A.

Oh, so these are recorded? When will they be posted?

Yes, all live Q&As are recorded and will be posted for attendees who cannot make it to the live session.

Will there be a host? who will open the session?

A host will be present for the session, but moderators will introduce the session. During the 20 minute practice before the event moderators and speakers should work out how to flow the session.

How will the time be monitored? Will zoom just shut down after the time defined in the program?

The host will monitor the time of the session, and will let the moderators know when the time is approaching 45 minutes. The room will continue past the 45 minute stretch, but sessions are back to back in the virtual setting so many attendees will want to end on time to make their next time.

What does the webinar platform look like? The chat, the Q&A, how do I share my screen?

Check out our guidelines here https://www.ismrm.org/20m/live-session-guidelines/ with some screen shots of the important functions of the webinar platform.

How will moderators know to whom the question is intended?
Attendees should state the intended speaker before asking their question.