We've assembled some frequently asked questions from general event participants on Symposium events. Please don't hesitate to reach out to our support team at [email protected] or via the chat feature on our website if you have any further questions.
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General Event Questions
Q: Where do I find my event?
A: The event organizer of the event may have shared the event URL, but you can also locate the desired event by going to Symposium's Discover Events page. You can choose to search for the event by the institution in the dropdown bar or search by the event name using the search bar. Once you locate your event, you will be able to see if the event has launched, whether you can view the presentations directly, or if you have to register for the event.
Q: How do I register for an event?
A: Please note that if you would like to register for an event, you will first need to sign up or log into your Symposium account.
If the event is private, you will be able to select "Register" on the bottom right corner of the event card after locating it in Symposium's Discover Events page, as seen in the attached image.
If the event is public, you will be able to view the event page and the Presentations main page. To register, you can select a random presentation, and scroll to the comment section where you will then be asked to register for the event. Once you select the word "register" in the blue font, you will be directed to the event's Registration Page.
Q: How can I donate to an event?
A: If the event organizer has set up donations on their Symposium event site, you will see a Donation widget in the bottom left corner of each event page (Welcome Page, Presentations, and Live Sessions), as seen below:
Once you select the widget, you will be able to pick a fund you would like to designate your gift to, select your gift amount, choose to cover the ~3% transaction fee, make your gift anonymous or not, and then insert your personal information. After you finish inputting your card information, you will automatically receive a receipt with your donation amount from Stripe.
If your event organizer has not set up donations on the event page but you would like to support the event financially, please reach out to your event organizer for more information.
Presentation Questions
Q: Where can I see the event's presentations?
A: If the event has already launched, you can view your presentation by finding your event through the event URL or going to Symposium's Discover Events page. If the event is public, you can then go to the main Presentations page, and search for presentations with the search bar or any of the search filters. If the event is private, please make sure you are logged into your Symposium account and then successfully registered for the event. You will be directed to the event's Registration Page if you have not successfully registered.
If the event hasn't yet launched, you will have to wait until the event launch date to view the event's presentations.
Q: Why can't I comment on a presentation?
A: As a security feature, we require everyone who would like to leave a comment to successfully register for the event. Please either sign up or log in to your Symposium account, find your event's registration page, and fill out and submit the Registration Form to gain access to commenting. Once you have registered, you will be able to comment on any presentations.
You will see the following messages based on your account status:
- If you have not signed up or are not logged into your Symposium account:
- If you are logged in, but have not registered for the event:
If you are having trouble locating the event's Registration Form, please select the word "register" in the blue font to access the desired form.
Live Session Questions
Q: Why can't I join any Live Sessions?
A: If the event has not yet launched, you will not be able to join any Live Sessions until after the launch date. However, if the event has already launched, and it is a private event, please make sure you are signed up or logged into your Symposium account, and successfully registered for the event. You will be directed to either log in or register for the event if you have not done so.
If you have already registered for the event, or if the Live Sessions do not require you to register, and you are still having trouble joining any Live Sessions, please reach out to us at [email protected] or send us a message via the chatbox in the bottom right corner.
Q: How do I join a Live Session?
A: If the event you are attending is private, once you have logged in to your Symposium account and successfully registered for the event, you will be able to view the event's Live Sessions page. If the event is public, you will be able to view the event's Live Sessions page without logging in or registering. Please first locate the Time Slot where the Live Session you are intending on joining is located, and then find the Live Session you would like to join. Select "Join Live Session" or the meeting link to open the synchronous meeting. Some event organizers may also ask you to watch an embedded video instead of a synchronous meeting.
If you are able to find the Live Session you intend on attending, but the button to join the meeting is grayed out, this means that the meeting has either reached maximum capacity, or the meeting has already concluded. 
Q: Where do I find Presentation Video Rooms? Why can't I join a Presentation Video Room?
A: When you have reached the time of the specified Presentation Video Rooms, you will be able to find the link by opening any presentation through the main Presentations page and then locating the link "Join Presentation Video Room", as seen below. You will not see the link to join a Presentation Video Room if it is not the correct time, if you are not logged into your account and successfully registered for the event, or if the room has reached maximum capacity. Even if the event is public, as a security feature, all event participants that would like to join a Presentation Video Room are required to register for the event.
Please don't hesitate to reach out to our support team at [email protected] or via the chat feature on our website if you have any further questions!