Each speaker does not have to have the same amount of time. Be sure to allow time for questions and discussion in your planning. Normal oral paper length is 20 minutes including discussion. Unless you have received funding from external sources, do not promise any of your speakers any kind of support. Possible symposium formats to consider.
Oral sessions emphasize the teaching process and are very efficient.
However, they are less interactive. Poster sessions emphasize interaction, discussion, and targeting of mutual interests. Poster sessions are strongly encouraged. You may choose a poster symposium and still group your posters, and let your presenters have a specified few minutes to talk to everyone. We will schedule specific times for presenters to be with their posters so they can interact with presentations in concurrent sessions.