The International Conference on Night Studies (ICNS) brings together researchers, scholars, and professionals from different countries, disciplines, and time zones. To ensure a welcoming, productive, and intellectually stimulating environment, we kindly ask all participants to follow a few simple guidelines.
Be on Time and Plan Your Participation
Please join your virtual session a few minutes before its scheduled starting time, particularly if you are presenting a paper.
We strongly recommend consulting the final conference programme shortly before the event, as minor adjustments to the schedule may occasionally be necessary.
You are also encouraged to explore the Book of Abstracts in advance. Familiarising yourself with the presentations and speakers will help you plan your participation and contribute to more engaging discussions.
If you arrive after a session has started, please enter quietly, with your microphone muted, to avoid interrupting the ongoing presentation.
Respect Your Presentation Time: 15 Minutes per Speaker
Each speaker has a maximum of 15 minutes to deliver their presentation. Respecting this time limit is essential to ensure that all participants have an equal opportunity to present their research and that sufficient time remains for discussion.
Please rehearse your presentation beforehand and adjust the number of slides and the amount of information accordingly.
To help presenters manage their time, the Organising Committee will provide written reminders through the Zoom chat and Zoom reactions:
- 5 minutes remaining: Begin moving towards your concluding remarks (⏰).
- 1 minute remaining: Please conclude your presentation (🚨).
- Time is up: Your allocated presentation time has ended (🙅🏻).
These reminders are intended to help speakers remain on schedule without interrupting the flow of their presentations.
We strongly encourage all presenters to monitor the Zoom chat and conclude their presentations within the allocated time, without requiring session chairs or members of the Organising Committee to intervene verbally.
Exceeding the time limit affects other speakers, reduces opportunities for discussion, and may delay subsequent sessions.
Session chairs and the Organising Committee reserve the right to end presentations that substantially exceed their allocated time.
Please remember that respecting your colleagues’ time is an essential part of academic courtesy.
Keep Your Microphone Muted When Not Speaking
Please keep your microphone muted whenever you are not presenting or participating in a discussion.
Background noises, including conversations, keyboard typing, notifications, or other unexpected sounds, can distract speakers and participants.
The Organising Committee may mute participants’ microphones when necessary to preserve the quality of the session.
When invited to speak, remember to activate your microphone and mute it again once you have finished.
Create a Suitable Environment
Although ICNS takes place online, we encourage participants to approach the conference with the same professionalism and consideration expected at an onsite academic event.
Whenever possible, choose a quiet location with a stable internet connection, appropriate lighting, and minimal background distractions.
Position your camera at eye level and ensure that your face is clearly visible. A neutral or professional virtual background is perfectly acceptable.
We encourage presenters to keep their cameras on during their interventions whenever their technical circumstances allow.
We understand that participants connect from different environments and that occasional interruptions may be unavoidable.
Test Your Internet Connection and Equipment
Before your session, please check that your internet connection, microphone, camera, and speakers are working correctly.
A wired connection is recommended whenever possible, as it generally provides greater stability than Wi-Fi.
If you are presenting slides, ensure that your files are ready and that you know how to share your screen.
We recommend keeping a backup copy of your presentation readily accessible.
Should you experience technical difficulties, please inform the Organising Committee as soon as possible through the available communication channels.
Become Familiar with Zoom
ICNS uses Zoom for its online sessions. We encourage participants, particularly presenters, to familiarise themselves with the platform before the conference.
Make sure you know how to mute and unmute your microphone, activate your camera, share your screen, use the chat, and raise your hand.
You can consult the Zoom Learning Resources for guidance.
Presenters should keep an eye on the Zoom chat throughout their presentations, as the Organising Committee will use it to communicate time reminders and, when necessary, technical or organisational instructions.
Dress Comfortably and Professionally
ICNS does not impose a formal dress code.
We recommend comfortable, appropriate attire consistent with a professional academic environment.
The most important consideration is to ensure that your appearance and surroundings do not unnecessarily distract from your presentation or participation.
Respect Speaking Turns and Encourage Constructive Discussion
Academic exchange lies at the heart of ICNS. We encourage questions, constructive criticism, and open interdisciplinary dialogue.
To ensure that everyone has an opportunity to contribute, please respect speaking turns and avoid interrupting others.
If you wish to ask a question or participate in a discussion, use Zoom’s Raise Hand function and wait for the session chair to invite you to speak.
Please keep questions and comments reasonably concise, allowing other participants to contribute.
Disagreements are a natural and valuable part of scholarly debate, but all interactions must remain respectful and professional.
If there is insufficient time to address your question during the session, we encourage you to continue the conversation with the speaker through appropriate channels.
Help Us Keep the Conference on Schedule
ICNS is an international conference with a carefully coordinated programme involving multiple speakers, sessions, and time zones.
Starting and finishing sessions on time is therefore particularly important.
We kindly ask speakers, chairs, and attendees to cooperate with the Organising Committee in maintaining the announced schedule.
Good time management is a shared responsibility. By respecting presentation limits, following the session chairs’ instructions, and being considerate of other participants, we can ensure a more enjoyable and productive conference for everyone.
Thank you for helping us make ICNS an inclusive, respectful, and stimulating space for international academic exchange.
