Abstract Submission Guidelines

Eligibility

Abstract submission is open to undergraduate students from ALL disciplines and recent graduates including Honours students (within 12 months of Graduation at Bachelor’s level) to present research conducted during or before undergraduate studies including extra-curricular research.

Presentation Formats

  • Oral presentation: 10 minutes with 5 minutes for Q&A with audience, including judges.

  • Poster presentation: 10 minutes, including question time, to pitch to audience and judging panel.

Abstract Guidelines

Your abstract must be no more than 250 words long. Please use follow the following tips

  • Make sure you orient your abstract topic to address the Conference Theme

  • What is the research question or problem? Contextualise your topic.

  • Relevant background information to understand the importance of the research question.

  • A clear statement of the research methodology.

  • A summary of your key findings and an indication of their significance.

 

Additional Tips

With a 250-word limit, write only what is necessary, avoiding wordiness. Use active voice and pay attention to excessive prepositional phrasing.

  • Revise, proofread, and edit your abstract to ensure that it’s final presentation is error free.

  • Your language should be professional, and your style should adhere to academic standards.

  • Do not include in-text citations and references.

  • The final draft should be linear and clear, and it should read smoothly.

 

Abstract Keywords

In the abstract submission form, you will be asked to identify keywords that relate to your abstract. Keywords should follow these guidelines:

  • Keywords should represent key concepts.

  • Keywords should be descriptive.

  • Avoid using words that are too general, vague, or ambiguous.

  • Do not use words already in your title.

  • Keywords should be in their basic form (e.g. singular nouns or infinitive verbs).

  • Keywords accurately identify the most important topics covered in the abstract.

 

Peer Review Rubric

Your abstract will be peer reviewed by university academics in accordance with the following rubric:

  • Contains terminology and content that can be understood by a general university audience.

  • Provides a clear statement of the research question, problem or issue being investigated.

  • Provides relevant context/background information needed to understand the importance of the research topic/issue.

  • Includes a clear statement of relevant methodology.

  • Indicates what was found and why it matters.

  • Is written clearly and concisely.

 

Please contact vicky.tzioumis@sydney.edu.au for any further information.

 

Guidelines for Poster Presentations

General instructions

Size: Posters to be submitted in either A1 size (594 x 841 mm) or A0 size (840mm x 1100mm)

We recommend A0 as a maximum, in portrait orientation. Nothing larger can be accommodated.

Title: The title should be the same as in the submitted abstract. Your name and Institution should also be displayed on the poster.

Content: All text lettering should be large enough to be legible from 1.5m away. The text should be concise and easy to read. The message that your poster contains should be clear and self-explanatory. In preparing your poster, you should not attempt to detail your entire research history. Present only enough data to support conclusions or to explain the point(s) you wish to make. Data should be kept to a minimum in favour of diagrams and images. If relevant, methods should be presented simply and concisely. Use pictures, symbols and colour. Figure legends are essential and should be short but informative. If using graphs, they should have a short heading. Results should be in line with those originally submitted in your abstract. Include acknowledgements and references (if cited).

We encourage you to print off some A4 copies/handouts of your poster (including contact details) and place them with your poster for delegates to take.

Poster presentations will be showcased throughout the conference in a designated display area. We recommend preparing a brief overview of your poster (3-5 minutes) and being ready to answer questions during the designated poster sessions, as well as during morning tea and lunch. Prizes will be awarded for the best posters!


Download our Guidelines for Oral Presentations by clicking on the image below:

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