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[larryc]

So. I am chairing a session at an upcoming conference. I am trying to model chairing best practices: pronounce the presenters names correctly, make sure they don't go over, and otherwise STFU.

I just got an email from one person on the panel telling me that she has changed the subject of her paper to something completely different (though still related to the theme of the session). This strikes me as irregular. The session was accepted by the organization on the strength and details of the original proposal. On the other hand, the new topic fits the theme quite nicely, and what is the point in saying anything? This is a history conference where the would-be presenters submit only abstracts of proposed papers to the organizers. Clearly she never did write the paper she proposed, but has written (is writing?) on the new topic.

My instinct is to say "Oh that is nice" and let it go. What would the forum do?

[crowie]

If it's still related to the theme I would let it go.  You may want to check whether she has run the change by the conference organizers or just you, however, and I think it would be reasonable to ask that she do that if she has not.

[ab_grp]

This sounds shady to me, but it's hard to know what's really going on.  I would alert the conference chairs.  If there is a program that is to be distributed online or in person, I would guess that title (or at least the abstract!) would need to be changed.  As a conference chair, I would have appreciated a heads up about this.

[tuxedo_cat]

I guess it depends on the professional standing of the presenter.  If it's a clueless grad student, I imagine she would benefit from a friendly note from someone more senior like you about what is clearly not professional behavior, and then let her present on whatever material she is actually ready to present.

But I guess if it's, like, Natalie Zemon Davis or whatever, I suppose she could show up and juggle butternut squash and there wouldn't really be any point in finger-wagging.

[sugaree]

This seems to happen a lot at history conferences. One proposes what one never actually gets around to writing and so one presents a recycled paper. As chair, I wouldn't say anything. What might happen if you do? probably nothing, so why bother? Plus, karmically I wouldn't want to call anyone out when I know that it could also happen to me some day (and no, it hasn't yet).

Just be thankful they're probably recycling an old paper, rather than trying to carve a 20 minute presentation out of a 50 page chapter.

[bibliothecula]

This sounds a bit sketchy to me as well. If it was even tangentially related to the original abstract, I could understand how the author thought of something cool, then in the course of research found something better, and switched, but a totally different topic, even if it relates to the theme? I think I'd go with what ab_grp says and run it by the organizers. They may want a different abstract from the author for the conference booklet/site, if nothing else.

And if it is a grad student, a gentle comment that this isn't done would be appropriate, too.

[kaysixteen]

The problem with letting Prof. Senior Bigshot do something like this, whilst preventing Clueless Gradstudent from doing so, is that it sets exactly the wrong example, allowing Bigshot to get away with less professionalism and honesty than a grad student.  I am curious, further-- is this conference the kind of conference where would-be presenters had to apply to present, present abstracts, compete with other wannabes for limited presenter space?  If so, then this presenter has essentially pulled off a bait-and-switch scam, and has thus unjustly taken up a conference space from a rejected wannabe who would have presented a (presumably competent) paper on the topic he actually abstracted.

[marlborough]

I'll admit that I have actually done this for a conference to which I had submitted an abstract almost a year in advance--I was gambling that the abstract would be supported by what I was about to go dig around in on a major research trip and it turned out that what I found was a lot better and changed the paper significantly.  I asked the chair a couple of months in advance (I guess the only real problem would be the program needing time to change the printing) and it was no big deal, since the paper was improved from the spitballing I had done back in the mists of time.

[larryc]

I am curious, further-- is this conference the kind of conference where would-be presenters had to apply to present, present abstracts, compete with other wannabes for limited presenter space? 

Yes.

If so, then this presenter has essentially pulled off a bait-and-switch scam, and has thus unjustly taken up a conference space from a rejected wannabe who would have presented a (presumably competent) paper on the topic he actually abstracted.

Yes and no--scam is a bit harsh, I am sure the presenter submitted to proposal in good faith.

I have emailed the presenter asking if the conference organizers have approved the change.

[polly_mer]

You people play harsh.  As I just wrote on another thread, our abstracts are basically "I wanna come talk on something vaguely related to my current research project in salt-soaked reeds" that are banged out in about ten minutes.  Of course, we pretty much let everyone talk and, if we must, we make special sessions that are purposely not labeled "Crackpots here, You Have Been Warned", but experienced conference goers can read the scratchings.  Consequently, I seldom see talks that bear more than a passing resemblance to the abstracts, so I vote to let it go and enjoy a good talk.

[busyslinky]

No biggy.  I wouldn't say anything and enjoy the talk.  If it had been full papers with all the details that are to be evaluated, that would be a different story.  If the abstract of the new paper is more interesting and fits in better, I would actually thank the presenter.

[untenured]

My instinct is to say "Oh that is nice" and let it go. What would the forum do?

I'd say "Oh that is nice" and let it go.

[glowdart]

My instinct is to say "Oh that is nice" and let it go. What would the forum do?

I'd say "Oh that is nice" and let it go.

Likewise, since the paper still fits with the panel.

It doesn't feel like a real conference to me unless I hear at least one person preface a paper with something to the effect of: "My paper title in the program is Basket Weaving Voltage Technologies in Twenty-First Century Scottish Police Cars, but I will instead be presenting on Representations of Reeds in Etruscan Pottery."

[marlborough]

And seriously, the conferences I go to in special obtuse subfield (18th century plaid basket weaving), aren't exactly competitive about submissions.  We're just happy to see each other after a year apart.  The big national ones, which I will never willingly attend again since I am not on the market, are pretty obviously about who knows who and whose Ivy League grad students need a line on the c.v. 

[mended_drum]

Actually, in my field the surprise would be that the presenter let you know ahead of time.  Whenever I chair a session, at least one presenter inevitably begins his or her talk with, "Actually, I have a title change...." and then presents something pretty far away from the original abstract.