FAQs for the Live Q&As
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 connect by phone, 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 and posted 48 hours after the event, 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.