top of page
NSS Logo New 01_edited.png
Screenshot 2026-02-18 at 11.00.17 AM.png

NSS
3rd Annual
Conference

Spur-Building-3.jpg

Session and Speaker Guidelines

POSTER PRESENTERS

 

SET-UP AND PRESENTATION

  • Location: Hydro Building, main floor

  • Set up: Between 9:00 - 4:00 on Monday. NSS volunteers will be available to assist.

  • Poster session(s): Tuesday, August 18th and/or Wednesday August 19th during the morning coffee social hour, between 8:15 - 9:15 a.m. 

  • The poster will remain displayed through Wednesday, August 19th, 5pm.

 

SIZE

  • 48 x 36 inches  

  • Landscape orientation is typical

  • A foam core board (also 48 x 36 inches), clips or mounting putty, and an easel will be provided.

​

STYLE TIPS Keep it Simple!

 

  • Arrange your material in a logical progression, ideally in columns

  • Do not try to squeeze too much on the poster.

  • Use only 2 or 3 colors in the poster: too many colors can be distracting.

  • Select font colors and background colors to maximize contrast:  A dark font on a light background is more easily read than vice versa.

  • To emphasize a point, use bold or italics rather than underlining

  • Upper and lower case type (rather than ALL CAPS) is easier to read, even in headings.

 

SUGGESTED SECTIONS and FORMATTING

  • Logos & Photo: Relevant organizational logos and recent photo of presenter

  • Title & Authors: Use 80-100 pt. font for the title and 36-48 pt. font for the authors. 

  • Introduction/Objectives: 18-24 pt. font. What are the specific aims of the project? What is the “big picture?” 

  • Methods: 18-24 pt. font. Describe the methods, materials, techniques, and models that were employed in the project. 

  • Results or Expected Results: Use 18-24 pt. font for text, figures, graphics, and graphs. What was the outcome of the project? If the project is on-going, what do preliminary results seem to indicate? Use tables, figures, and/or graphs to summarize data. Label your figures (Table 1, Figure 2, etc.) and  refer to them in the poster text. 

  • Discussion and Conclusions: 18-24 pt. font. Were your aims met? What are the implications of the work for future investigation? If your data are inconclusive or flawed, discuss that here.

  • Acknowledgements: 18-20 pt. font. Acknowledge people who helped with the project or research as well as the sources of funding.

  • Contact information: 18-20 pt. font. Include presenter name and email address

​

Poster presenters
Session speakers
Session chairs
Roundtable sessions

All speakers should reiterate the connection to the theme of the conference - courage, credibility, and collective action in sustainability - in their presentation, regardless of format.

ROUNDTABLE SESSIONS

 

Pre-organized panels offer the opportunity for a panel of sustainability thought and action leaders to showcase a collection of ideas, projects, collaborations, solutions, and other elements that would benefit from a shared, organized discussion and an in-depth exchange with the audience. 

 

To this end, your panel should be an active, flowing, moderated discussion, not a series of speakers/presentations. Powerpoint slides are not required for your panel, but if you think they will add to the conversation please submit them to your panel folder on the NSS Conference Presentation Submission Page [To be added in August]. You will need to know your session title and track ID. If you do not know your session title and track ID, please check the latest version of the conference program.

 

During the session, the panel moderator will introduce the session and panelists, guide the conversation, and keep time. There will also be an NSS conference volunteer in the room who can access slides if you have them and help keep time. 

 

We suggest the following format: The panel moderator provides a set of questions to the panelists in advance, assigning each panelist a question to respond to in 2-3 minutes, and then offers the other panelists a minute or so to follow up or add-on. Then, move on to the next question, presented to another panelist, and follow the same structure.

 

The number of questions will depend on the number of panelists: 

 

2 panelists: 10-12 questions total; 5-6 questions for each panelist 

3 panelists: 8-10 questions total; 4-5 questions for each panelist 

4 panelists: 6-8 questions total; 3-4 questions for each panelist 

5 panelists: 4-6 questions total; 2-3 questions for each panelist 

 

Definitely leave time at the end of your panel for audience questions and comments! We suggest 10-20 minutes out of the 75 minute session for audience engagement. Please let us know if you need any further guidance or support for your panel.

​

​

The National Sustainability Society (NSS) is pleased to announce its call for nominations to recognize the outstanding contributions of members advancing transformative change in sustainability. These awards honor the people, programs, and teams who exemplify the NSS mission by driving just, resilient, and collaborative solutions across disciplines, sectors, and knowledge systems. Rooted in our values—elevating diverse voices, fostering just transitions, and embracing creativity, intersectionality, and multiple ways of knowing—these recognitions celebrate the essential yet often difficult work of systems change. By highlighting exemplary efforts in sustainability research, practice, and leadership, the awards advance the NSS vision of a thriving, healthy, and equitable future.

​

To recognize the diversity of ways in which our members are advancing sustainability, we seek nominations for the following awards:

SESSION SPEAKERS

 

ADVANCED PRESENTATION SUBMISSION

  • Slide submission link will be added here by August 1st.

  • While the submission link will remain open, slides submitted prior to August 15th will be checked by NSS to ensure they are in the right folder and open correctly. 

  • Slides submitted after the 15th will not be checked by NSS.

 

  1. Title your presentation using the file name LastnameFirstname (e.g., WillisJoseph) If you need to re-upload, please use the file name LastnameFirstname1 (e.g., WillisJoseph1).

  2.  Acceptable file types: pdf, .ppt, or .pptx

  3. You will need to know your session title This will become available on June 19, when the conference program is released.

  4. Bring a copy of your presentation to the conference on a USB.

 

Please note:

  • A Google account (free) is required to submit with this form. If your country has firewall constraints, please contact NSS organizers for assistance

  • The maximum file size per presentation is 50 MB. Presenter notes may not be viewable on venue computers. Please save notes separately and bring a copy.

  • No presentations will be accepted by email (unless approved by NSS organizers).

  • Poster presenters need not submit their poster file (see separate poster guidelines above).

 

STRICT PRESENTATION LENGTH POLICY

  • ALL sessions (roundtable or symposia) are 75 minutes in length.

    • Individual presentations within symposia sessions

      • 5 talks: up to 10 minutes each

      • 4 talks: up to 12 minutes each

      • 3 talks: up to 15 minutes each 

 

  • Flash talks are 4-5 minutes.

 

  • An NSS Resource Team Member will hold up a time card when 2 minutes remain, when 30 seconds remain, and when you absolutely must STOP. 

  • Remember your presentation is time limited and questions will be taken after all presentations are complete.

​

THANK YOU for adhering to your allotted time so that each presenter has equal time to share their work.

 

FORMATTING GUIDELINES

  1. PPT, PPTX, or PDF format.

  2. Standard 4:3 ratio (change in Slide Size in PowerPoint Design Ribbon)

  3. Prepare your presentation as a single file to run on a PC with Windows operating system.  Apple computers are not available and personal computers cannot be used. 

  4. Presentations will be stored in Password-protected Google Folders, accessible on conference computers, by NSS resource team members only. 

Production of Presentations

  1. As a general rule, we suggest 1 slide per minute. Structure is up to you, but consider for a 10-12 minute presentation: 

    1. Title slide - Name, affiliation, presentation title

    2. 1 slide with the hypothesis or question you will talk about

    3. 3-4 slides covering the “meat” of your work

    4. 1 or 2 slides that summarize the work and offer points of discussion

    5. 1 conclusion slide

    6. 1 thank you/acknowledgements/contact slide

  2. Keep visual aids simple. Convey only one idea per table, figure, or title slide. Figures from publications, theses, or dissertations normally do not make good PowerPoint slides. Too much detail detracts from the primary message. Use appropriate blank space.

  3. Text on title slides should be restricted to 6 lines. Go for big and easy to read.

  4. Use Arial or Times New Roman fonts for all slides. Bold type may be effective on title slides. This is to prevent problems with incorrect font/character substitution that occurs when presentations are prepared in fonts not available on the conference computers. Saving a presentation with embedded fonts increases the file size of your presentation.

  5. Use appropriate and compatible colors. Avoid white backgrounds. Color combinations with pleasing contrasts are preferable (e.g. white or yellow type on a blue background, and yellow type on a green background). Avoid dark slides and overly dark backgrounds. Color blind people cannot distinguish between red and green.

  6. To reduce the size of your file, consider:

    1. cropping images in an image processing package, not in PowerPoint, and then inserting them into your presentation

    2. saving images in Portable Network Graphics (PNG) format

    3. reducing picture resolution. Resolutions greater than 120 dpi do not improve the projected image, but do bloat file size and slow presentation loading time. In your PowerPoint, right click on a picture and select Format Picture→ Compress, then check the boxes to select “ALL pictures in document” and for “Web/Screen display.” This will allow easier upload and good resolution.

  7. Try not to read from a text, but if you must, make sure the text is written in spoken English (which is different, and less formal, than written English). 

  8. Practice your talk beforehand to make sure you’ve got the timing right.  

 

AT THE CONFERENCE

 

  1. Arrive at your session 10 minutes prior to the beginning of the session (not your presentation). Check-in with the session chair and NSS resource team member. Each session room will be equipped with a PC computer and a projector. You will advance your own slides.

​

Additional Guidance

In addition to the award-specific merit criteria, the following limitations apply:

  • Accomplishments must have occurred within the last five years.

  • Team awards must be inclusive of a U.S. location or at least one U.S.-based partner organization.

Timeline:

  • Through July 31: Call for nominations is open

  • By August 30: Awardees selected and notified

  • October 20-23: Awardees announced and recognized at the Second Annual NSS Conference in South Bend, IN

  • Award winners/team representatives are expected to attend the conference, supported by the NSS up to $1000 for travel and accommodation.

  • Contacts: Elena Irwin, Awards Committee Chair, irwin.78@osu.edu, and Cristy Watkins, cristy@thenss.org

SESSION CHAIRS

 

BEFORE THE SESSION

  • An NSS Resource Team member will queue up the presentations.

  • Explain to the presenters that the NSS Resource Team member will keep time. They will hold up a sign when 2 minutes remain, and again when 30 seconds remain. Explain that with the second sign, they MUST wrap up within 30 seconds. If you stand up, they have exceeded their time and will be cut off.

  • Encourage the presenters to remain in the room after the session in case audience members have additional questions or comments.

 

DURING THE SESSION

  • Start the session on time, even if people are still coming in.

  • Explain to the audience that there will be a 15-25 minute question and answer session only after all presentations have been given.

  • Introduce each presenter with their name, affiliation, and presentation title.

  • Resource team members will manage timing by holding up signs. You will facilitate the transitions between presentations.

  •  During the Q&A session, aim to:

    • Encourage broad questions that can be addressed by multiple presenters.

    • Find commonalities and differences amongst the presentations.

    • Avoid long questions and/or extensive comments from the audience

    • Conclude the session on time and give a round of thanks!

 

AFTER THE SESSION

Please write two bullet points that succinctly summarize the main messages and conclusions of the session. You may consult with the presenters if you wish, or you may write these independently. Send the bullets to info@thenss.org immediately following the session (so they are fresh! They will be collated and used for meeting reporting). Send them in an email with the header: ‘NSS session key messages.’  Thank you!

​

​

bottom of page