Advice from Dr. Sam Reck-Peterson, an HHMI investigator at UC San Diego on how to be a great session chair.
Written by Lindsey Young
Logistical advice:
If you have a co-chair, divide the session in half between you and your co-chair. i.e. you take the first half and your co-chair takes the second half. Alternating the introductions and Q&As wouldn’t allow you to rest and re-group before your own talk (at the end of the session). This will also reduce confusion with fewer hand-offs, etc.
Keeping on time:
Have a tactic to communicate that the speaker’s time is running out and be sure to communicate that tactic to the speaker. If the speaker takes all the allotted time, just say “Unfortunately, we have to move on to the next speaker. Please ask (speaker name) your questions after the session is over.” and introduce the next speaker.
Leading the Q&A:
A good chair should have some questions ready, just in case. I always try to think of a creative question but know that I can always also fall back on an “easy” question. For example, for a biological talk, a general question would be about the evolutionary conservation and function of a particular protein. If it’s a technology related talk, I sometimes ask about how the technology could be applied to a different problem. I am also always searching for more ways to encourage trainees to ask questions, especially in a short Q&A. Calling out the trainees to line-up to the microphone first gives them a heads-up to line up to ask their question and alerts more senior people in the audience to wait.
On handling nerves:
Beforehand, in a private space, I find my Strong Pose position- it got me through my job talks, my HHMI interview, etc. Another strategy I use when I enter the session room is to go socialize. I start conversations with people before the session, which allows me to feel like the talk is a continuation of those conversations, making me feel more comfortable. So, interact as much as possible, don’t sit in the back on your computer. I have some personal comforts- namely, water and chapstick. My mouth dries out when I am nervous!
On disseminating work:
On sharing on twitter: ask the speakers ahead of time if you can, or encourage them to communicate that they do or do not want their work disseminated.
Bonus on how to write a great speaker introduction when you are hosting:
This takes me much longer than I care to admit!