ASP's 2011 Annual Meeting

Abstract Guidelines	Registration	Connecting People to Science: EPO Conference	Workshop and Short Courses for Teachers
Conference Schedule	Become an Exhibitor or Sponsor	Lodging	Transportation
Committees	Sponsors	FAQ	Proceedings
Scholarships for Teachers	Past meeting programs	Communication	Program Preview

Abstract Submission Guidelines

While the regular deadline for submitting abstracts for this conference has now passed, the ASP still welcomes late abstracts for poster papers. The deadline for late abstracts is June 13, 2011. We welcome abstracts on all aspects of space-science, earth-science, and physical-science education and outreach. Abstracts will be reviewed by the Program Committee only as long as poster space is available; thus, the sooner you get an abstract in, the better.

Proposals for abstracts must be submitted via the web and cannot be sent by mail or e-mail. Please fill out the abstract form carefully since the program committee will be rating the proposals based only on the information you provide. Note the word limits for abstracts (300 words) and outcomes (100 words). Many abstract submitters are more comfortable composing the text for these in a word-processing program in advance and then copying it onto the web form.

Anyone who submits an abstract (as lead author) is expected to register for and attend the full conference. At these meetings, where ongoing networking and discussion is so large a part of the benefit, we strongly encourage people to be present for the entire program.

Limits on the Number of Abstracts Submitted

For the Connecting People to Science EPO conference, you may be the lead author on a second abstract only if one abstract is for a poster paper (i.e. one oral abstract plus one poster). For oral sessions, you must choose between a ten-minute oral presentation or a workshop or a special interest session proposal. While the opportunity to be a first author is limited to one or two abstracts as described, you can be a second or third author on any number of sessions or papers. (However, the first author must register for the conference, so you cannot just put a "ghost author" into the first position.)

We expect more good proposals for sessions than we can accommodate. If this happens, the Program Committee may have to reject some proposals or suggest that oral sessions be presented as posters instead.

Poster Papers

Posters should fit within an area of 4 feet by 4 feet. Electrical power is not available, and there are no tables below your poster, so you will want to arrange everything to fit within the area of the poster itself.

There will be special oral sessions where poster paper authors will have the option of introducing the topic of their poster for one minute to whet the audience’s appetite. Please practice so you can fit your remarks into one minute (we will have a merciless master of ceremonies!)

Each day there will be some time set aside for poster papers only, and authors will be asked to stand by their posters during that time.

What Kind of Session Should I Submit an Abstract for?

The program committees for ASP Meetings recognize that “show and tell” is an important reason people come to conferences. It is natural to want to share the good work we are doing with others in the field. However, the committees feel that poster papers are generally the best way to do straightforward show-and-tell. (In Baltimore, we expect posters to be up and available for reading for three days and to make time available during the conference when there is nothing scheduled except poster papers. Poster presenters will also be part of a fun “one-minute abstract session,” where each lead author on a poster is given a minute to say something to draw attendees to the poster.) So if you simply want to describe your program or materials, please give strong consideration to doing a well-designed poster.

If, on the other hand, you:

have developed an innovative program, set of materials, or technique for which a longer hands-on participatory session is appropriate
are part of a consortium of institutions doing a national program for which you are seeking other participants or whose materials you want to train others to use
have a multi-institutional panel that illustrates different approaches to the same issue or technique

then we encourage you to propose a one-hour workshop.

Finally, if you would like to see a facilitated discussion of an issue which affects a significant group of people in the field and for which many individuals may have found a different solution, we suggest you propose a one-hour special interest group (SIG) session.

For the Connecting People to Science EPO National Conference, SIG sessions can be about a research area, new audiences, responding to some grant agency requirements, etc. Since we have very limited time for special interest group meetings, please make your abstract as clear and general as possible.

How To Write an Effective Abstract and Outcomes Statement

Your abstract should give a concise summary of what you propose to do or say in your session or paper. It should be written so people not familiar with your work can understand it. It may contain a web site URL for more information, although you should not rely on a reader actually visiting that web site before the meeting. The software being used for abstracts will truncate your text after the limit is reached, so please take the word limit seriously.

Your outcomes statement should not be a continuation of your abstract. You should instead explain what skills or information the participants in your session or readers of your paper will take away from the experience. You can use bullet points instead of complete sentences. For oral sessions, you may want to discuss how your contribution will move us forward as professionals and what activities in our community of practice will result.

NOTE: When you submit an abstract, you will receive a receipt and a separate registration number for that abstract. Registering an abstract is NOT the same as registering for the conference. You will still need to register for the conference.

Proceedings

The Connecting People to Science EPO Conference will have its proceedings published through the ASP Conference Series as it has in past years, to provide a record of the conference and a ready reference for both those attending and those unable to attend. It also provides a publishing opportunity to all those submitting an abstract and making a presentation during the conference. (A special complimentary copy will be sent to all registered conference participants.)

Please go the proceedings page for submission and editorial details. Note the paper submission deadline of September 1, 2011, approximately four weeks after the conference.