General Information: New Presentation Format “Flash Talk”
SSWR is excited to announce a new presentation format “Flash Talk” for SSWR 2026. The Flash Talk presentation format was first introduced at the SSWR 2025 Annual Conference in Seattle, WA, and was available to accepted individual oral papers. Starting in 2026, this format is now an available format to which submitters can submit their abstracts directly.
For more details on this new presentation format, here are Flash-Talk resources:
- Watch this Flash-Talk Orientation Video (YouTube)
- Download Flash-Talk Orientation PowerPoint Slides (PDF)
- Read Flash-Talk Orientation Video Transcript (PDF)
Here’s a brief overview:
- In the same manner that cluster chairs create the grouped paper sessions of 4 to 5 oral papers, the cluster chairs created Flash-Talk sessions with 6 to 7 oral papers.
- Flash-talk sessions will be 90 minutes long and will run concurrently with abstract-based sessions and posters.
- Each 90 minute Flash-talk session includes:
- 5 minute introduction by volunteer moderator
- will feature seven (7) individual oral presentations, with each presentation lasting up to eight (8) minutes
- 20 minute Q & A
- 2 minutes closing remarks by volunteer moderator
The Flash-Talks provide a dynamic alternative to traditional presentations:
- Increased opportunities for researchers to share their work
- Diversifies presentation options
- Increased opportunities to engage scholarly ideas
- Develop clear succinct communication tailored to diverse audiences
- Fostering vibrant exchange of ideas
- Enhance academic discourse
Additionally, a webinar Q&A session will be available for Flash-Talk presenting authors and session moderators early November.
FLASH TALK PRESENTATION SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Abstracts of individual research papers may be submitted for a 8-minute oral presentation. A minimum of six (6) to a maximum of seven (7) individual papers will be grouped together based a broad connecting theme within a 90-minute concurrent session. A flash talk is a concise and brief presentation of your research, including background and purpose (2 minutes), methods (1 minute), results (2 minutes) and conclusions/implications (2 minutes). A moderator will facilitate each 90-minute flash talk session. Flash talk sessions include: a 5-minute introduction by the moderator; 6-7 individual oral presentations, with each presentation lasting up to eight (8) minutes; a 20-minute Q & A and 2 minute closing remarks facilitated by a moderator. Each presenter will be allowed to include 3 PPT slides and will be held to adhere to the maximum of 8 minutes for your presentation.
When submitting an individual flash talk presentation, your abstract will be reviewed as an individual oral paper. However, authors are encouraged during the abstract submission process to indicate their willingness to present an individual poster, if your submission cannot be scheduled as an individual paper in a flash talk session with 5-6 other individual papers due to the limitations of meeting time and space.
Requirement(s):
• Title
• Research Method/Type
• Cluster/Topical Area
• Authors: there is no minimum/maximum of how many individuals may be listed as authors. However, only one (1) individual/author may be designated as the presenting author and all
other authors will be listed as co-authors. Please note that the role of “presenting author”
may be designated to only one of the authors, e.g. first author, second author, third author,
etc.
• An abstract of 500-word or less
For any questions, please contact A. DeeJay Hastings, IOM, CAE, SSWR Program Director, at dj@sswr.org.