Panel Chair

You may submit multiple proposals, but individuals may perform the function of Section Chair, Panel Chair and Discussant only once. If approved, Paper presenters can present no more than two Papers. All proposals must be submitted in English. Panel Chairs, Co-Chairs and Discussants do not need to be from an ECPR member institution.

There are two ways to participate as a Panel Chair:

1. Propose a Panel
2. Volunteer to Chair a Panel put together by the Section Chairs, made up of Papers on a similar theme

You must submit 3-5 Papers with the Panel to a Section before the deadline. Papers submitted as part of a Panel do not need to be resubmitted individually. To make a proposal, you, your Discussant and your Paper presenters must have a MyECPR profile. If you don't already have one, it takes just a few clicks to create.

To propose a Panel, you will need to know:

• The Section number and/or title you wish to propose to, as listed in the Academic Programme
• The title of your Panel (no more than 20 words)
• 3–8 keywords, selected from a predetermined list, indicating the Panel’s subject, theme and scope. Keywords are used to publically categorise Sections, Panels and Papers, enabling users to search the online programme.
• The abstract (no more than 500 words)
• The email address of the Panel Co-Chair (if you have one), as registered in MyECPR
• The email address of the Discussant as registered in MyECPR
• The title of each Paper (no more than 20 words each)
• The abstract of each Paper (no more than 500 words each)
• 3-8 keywords for each Paper, selected from a predetermined list, indicating the Paper's subject, theme and scope. Keywords are used to publically categorise Sections, Panels and Papers, enabling users to search the online programme
• Each Paper presenter's email address, as registered in MyECPR
• Each Paper Co-author's email address, as registered in MyECPR (if applicable)

After the deadline, Section Chairs approve/decline/reserve all Panels and Papers proposed. Approved Papers not submitted as part of a Panel will be allocated by the Section Chairs to an appropriate Panel. Alternatively, Section Chairs will form additional Panels from individual Papers on a similar subject. Once this has been done, we will email all proposers to let them know the outcome. At this point, we may need volunteer Panel Chairs. If you would like to volunteer to Chair a Panel, email the Events Team.

Panel Chairs are expected to attend the Conference. 

The role of a Panel Chair:

• If a panellist tells you they can't attend, email ECPR straight away so we can amend our online updates page.
• Prior to the Conference, Paper presenters will upload their Paper to the ECPR website or email them to you and the Panel Discussant. You must read each Paper in preparation, taking time to understand their contributions, strengths and weaknesses, and what the audience needs to know about them.
• There is no need to introduce yourself or anyone else at length, unless they are a special invited guest from outside academia. At most, say people’s names and institutional affiliations. Let them introduce their Papers themselves.
• Start the Panel on time wherever possible.
• Let the Paper presenters speak in the order of the programme unless they request differently – for technical reasons, for example.
• Allocate sufficient time to each Paper presenter, and be prepared to adjust presentation timings at the last moment in case a Presenter does not attend. You may then be able to allow slightly longer for each presentation.
• Keep each Paper presenter to time. This is the most important part of the role of Panel Chair. Allow the final third of the session for questions and divide the remaining time evenly between the number of panellists. If one person goes over, they are eating directly out of the time of the other panellists, and that isn’t fair. Give people a subtle warning when they are close to time (a raised eyebrow may suffice, otherwise passing them a piece of paper saying ‘2 minutes’ in big letters will do the trick!). Pass them another note saying ‘please conclude’ or similar once they are out of time. If they don’t stop, you will need to be bold and ask them out loud to wrap up. Even if they are much more senior than you, it is your professional obligation as well as theirs to keep to time, and people will respect you more for being strict than being weak.
• Once all Papers have been given, take questions from the audience. If there are lots of questions, try to avoid asking any yourself, but try to think of some just in case the audience take a while to warm up (or go silent very quickly).
• If any of the audience goes off on a lengthy tangent, you may need to interrupt them to refocus the discussion.
• Make sure the session finishes on time. People want their cup of coffee/toilet break, etc and they can always continue the debate over coffee.
• Always end the session by inviting the audience to thank the presenters (round of applause).

If you have any questions please email the Events Team.