Instructions for Presenters are here (virtual conferences) and here (in-person/hybrid conferences)
These instructions are for ICML and NeurIPS, but much of the content also applies to ICLR, AISTATS and MLSys.
¶ At the Start of your Session
Post the following into RocketChat at the start of the event (if you like, you can ask the volunteer to do it):
*Welcome to NAME_OF_EVENT! If you need technical help accessing this session, please ask in the HelpDesk channel:
- NeurIPS https://chat.neurips.cc/channel/HelpDesk.
- ICML https://chat.neurips.cc/channel/HelpDesk.
- AISTATS https://chat.aistats.org/channel/HelpDesk.
- ICLR https://chat.iclr.cc/channel/HelpDesk
For other kinds of help, visit the Help menu.*
If you have questions for the speaker, please enter them here stating clearly what part of the talk you are referring to and what the question is. The moderator will then read the question for you.
Enjoy!
¶ Physical Conference Specific Instructions
Moderators should be prepared to take questions from the live audience and from RocketChat. Please read any question that is asked, whether from the live audience or from RocketChat so the question is clearly stated in the live stream.
Arrive 25 minutes before the start of your event or session. Log into the conference website and open the page for your event. Questions will come in through RocketChat (remote attendees) and from the physical audience.
If you cannot make it due to illness, flight delays etc.: We rely on you, but understand that life is a bit unpredictable these days. If, for instance, you are not feeling well or your flight gets delayed and you won't reach in time, please contact the program chairs immediately, with email subject “Session chairing: need replacement”. The earlier we get your message, the more likely it is that we can reach a replacement session moderator.
¶ For Oral (Long Talk) and Spotlight (Short Talk) Sessions
There will be a volunteer assigned to all Oral sessions to manage the sequence of presenters. There will be a Windows 10 laptop with Adobe Acrobat Reader at the podium connected to the house video and audio.
Right before the session: Visit the session's page on the conference website and click the blue PDF icon to download the slide decks for the entire session. Each talk will have a title slide followed by the slides uploaded by the authors.
If an author failed to upload slides, there will only be a title slide. If the author arrives before the session, they can upload the slides (as per the presenter instructions here) and you can re-download the entire deck. Otherwise, that author will present with no slides or skip.
ICML 2022 Orals (Long Talks) are 15 minutes + 5 minutes Q&A, for a total of 20 minutes. Spotlights (Short Talks) are 5 minutes with no Q&A. Please keep track of the time and stay on schedule. Spotlight talks follow one right after the other, with no introductions or Q&A.
The moderator opens and closes the session.
Opening:
- Please remind people about RocketChat: if they want to ask a question to presenters of long talks live, they should use the RocketChat on the Session page (or, in person, use the microphone, if there is time after the talk). For all other presentations and further discussion, the QR code on the first slide takes them to the webpage for that paper, which shows the paper-specific RocketChat. The session moderator monitors only the session specific RocketChat, not the paper specific one.
- Please remind people to ask questions in a respectful manner.
¶ Inappropriate Conduct
We do not expect inappropriate conduct but you need to be ready in case it happens.
- Monitor the event's RocketChat channel throughout the event.
- Be mindful of any behavior or comments that are unprofessional, disrespectful, or can negatively impact the successful outcome of the session. This includes any harassing comments, bullying, jokes, discriminatory activity or comments, personal verbal attacks towards presenters or other attendees, offensive photos, sexual or racial innuendos. If someone begins to make inappropriate remarks during the session, please send a private chat message to the individual reminding them of the Code of Conduct and that they are violating it.
- If someone makes inappropriate comments in RocketChat, please do the following:
- In Rocket.Chat, click on the three dots near the message and choose 'Report'. This will send a copy of the message and your comments to our staff.
- Save a copy of the chat thread and/or take a screenshot or a picture of the screen with your cellphone and email it to the HR Liaison at
- NeurIPS: NeurIPShotline@gmail.com
- ICML: ICMLhotline@gmail.com
- AISTATS: aistatshotline@gmail.com
- ICLR: iclrhotline@gmail.com
- Follow up with a call to the HR Liaison immediately in order to alert her of an incident at
- ICML: +1 858-208-3810
- NeurIPS: +1 858-208-3810
- ICLR: +1 858-208-3810
- Text messages can also be sent to this same number. The HR Liaison will provide guidance as to action, if any, based on the information provided.
¶ Troubleshooting
Please visit our FAQ page for suggestions on how to resolve common issues and contacts.
¶ Virtual Conference Specific Instructions
The SlidesLive engineer will start the Zoom session and is in charge of streaming content. We ask that you join the session 30 minutes ahead of the scheduled start to leave sufficient time to resolve any technical problems.
During the talks, the audience can enter questions in RocketChat. After the talk, you will lead the live Q&A, by selecting a diverse and interesting set of questions from RocketChat to ask the speaker. The speaker will be present on Zoom and will answer the questions live. Please keep track of the time and stay on schedule.
You are encouraged to have several questions/comments ready to break the ice in case audience participation is low on RocketChat.
Zoom conference background images are available.
¶ How to Log in as Moderator/Session Chair
Please log into the session 30 minutes before it is scheduled to start to check in with with the SlidesLive engineer and the speakers. The Zoom login information is located at the top of the page for that session (the Zoom link is only visible to Authors and Session Chairs and volunteers).** If you do not see the Zoom link it is likely that you have multiple NeurIPS/ICML/ICLR accounts and you should try your other account.
The Zoom link is for your use only and needs to be kept private, please do not share or post the link.
From the conference home page icml.cc / neurips.cc / virtual.aistats.org, iclr.cc click on the Virtual Site or Conference Site button, then click Schedule in the top menu, and finally on your Session in the schedule. Join the Zoom session by clicking the Join Zoom link at the top of the page (the link is only visible to Authors, Moderators and volunteers). The SlidesLive engineer is the one who will start the Zoom Session. In the unlikely event that the SlidesLive engineer is not there 30 minutes ahead of the scheduled start, please contact SlidesLive immediately by emailing Jan Fischer (jan.fischer@slideslive.com).
Check the event page ahead of time to confirm that you can log in and that see the Join Zoom link for your session. If you do not see the link, please contact
- ICML Help here.
- NeurIPS Help here. ("Technical support" should be selected.)
- AISTATS Help here. ("Technical support" should be selected.)
- ICLR Help here.
Many sessions will have a volunteer. The volunteer will join the Zoom session and will monitor RocketChat for inappropriate conduct and to provide basic technical support.