2026 Version
Above all, thank you for agreeing to participate in our program. The quality of the presentations is critical to the success of the ISTA Forum. Our goal is to ensure all content is high‑quality, technically sound, easy to understand, and directly applicable to the topic.
Please review the following information carefully, as it outlines expectations for speakers, and presentations. Refer to these requirements while preparing your PowerPoint® presentation. Your attention to these details helps us deliver a high‑quality educational experience for our attendees.
Presentation Details & Deadline: March 16, 2026
VERY IMPORTANT:
- Presentations must be non‑commercial. No sales pitches, competitive marketing, or promotional content of any kind. A brief, one‑time mention of a product source is acceptable. Violations may result in moderator interruption or cancellation of the presentation. No confidential information may be included.
- Microsoft PowerPoint (16:9 aspect ratio) is required for all presentations.
- UPDATE: The first slide of your presentation must include the presentation title, the speaker’s name, and the speaker’s company.
- All presentations will be reviewed by ISTA staff, and speakers will be contacted if changes are required.
- Do not email or upload revised presentations after April 5. If changes are made after the deadline, bring the final version on a USB flash drive to the ISTA Forum for on‑site upload.
- If your presentation includes video, you must bring both the PowerPoint file and the original video files.
- Required: Speakers must visit the Audio Visual area in the general session room at least 4 hours before their session to upload changes and test files, including a walk‑through of the stage, confidence monitor, presentation controls, and wireless microphone.
- Questions or support: Contact Lisa Bonsignore (517‑325‑0434) or Kathy Joneson (517‑325‑0426). We are here to help.
Timing
All presentations should fit comfortably into the assigned time, with some allocation for questions. For example, if the assigned time is 30 minutes, the material should be presented to allow at least 5 minutes for questions at the end, or during the presentation, and still end on time. While no speaker should be expected to present in less time than allocated, the moderator will interrupt a speaker who has gone past the time by more than a few minutes.
Presentation Technique
Speakers differ in their presentation style and these differences help keep the audience interested and are encouraged. However, some styles are more appreciated than others:
- The speaker must always be heard clearly, even in the back of the room. This will require the use of the microphone provided.
- Reading a paper is NEVER allowed. You may refer to notes or read short sections when exact wording is important.
- A.U.A. (Avoid the Use of Acronyms). Many forum attendees will be new to the world of packaging, or may not understand the terminology used by some presenters, so please be sure to explain any organization or group acronym that you use. We suggest you try to avoid the use of acronyms altogether.
Audio-Visuals
We are requiring the use of the Microsoft PowerPoint application for your presentation.
IMPORTANT:
- In order to take full advantage of the widescreen display that we will be providing, you should create your presentation in 16:9 aspect ratio.
- The first slide of your presentation must include the presentation title, the speaker’s name, and the speaker’s company.
We will be using high definition projectors and two 10‘x18‘ screens that will provide a bright and clear display of your presentation in the general session room.
Changing your PowerPoint aspect ratio:
From within PowerPoint, click on the Design tab. Click Page Setup. PowerPoint will default to Slides sized for: On-screen Show (4:3). Change the setting to On-screen Show (16:9) and click OK. Please also note in PowerPoint 2010 you cannot simply convert your existing presentation to 16:9.
Color:
Please be aware of how the colors used in the slides will appear to the audience – contrast is VERY important! Dark lettering on a Light background is preferred. Red, Blue and Yellow lettering often gets lost when projected on a large screen, so don‘t use those colors for fonts on a dark background. We may ask that you edit your font or background if we feel the contrast isn‘t strong enough. Submitting your template on time will be crucial so that changes can be made if necessary.
Target Results:
Please remember that the content of every presentation should provide the Forum attendee with information, techniques and ideas that can be applied, in the short term, to their protective packaging problems. The emphasis should be on proven, applicable information. Our research has shown that when attendees return to their organizations with tools they can apply immediately, they see the educational event as a success.
Laser Pointers:
Please note that laser pointers will not be available during your presentation.
Submitting Your PowerPoint Presentation
We reserve the right to decline publication or suggest modification of abstracts, PowerPoint Presentation by the speaker and the right to proofread and edit the format to be in accordance with the ISTA requirements. All approvals for publication are the responsibility of the author(s). See the Speaker Agreement regarding your responsibility.
Presentations Upload:
Please email your presentation to Lisa Bonsignore at lisa@ista.org. If your presentation includes video, please request a link from Lisa Bonsignore at lisa@ista.org for a link to upload your file.