Abstract Submission Guidelines

Who Can Submit?

Undergraduate students and recent graduates (within 12 months of finishing a Bachelor’s) from any discipline can submit. This includes Honours and extra-curricular research.

How Can You Present?

  • Oral presentation: 10-minute talk plus 5 minutes for questions.
  • Poster presentation: 10-minute pitch with questions.

Abstract Rules

  • Max 250 words.
  • Link your topic to the Conference Theme.
  • Clearly state your research question and why it matters.
  • Briefly describe your methods.
  • Summarise key findings and why they are important.

Writing Tips

  • Keep it short and clear. Avoid extra words.
  • Use an active voice.
  • No citations or references.
  • Proofread carefully for errors.
  • Write in a professional academic style.

Key Words

  • Choose keywords that clearly describe your main ideas.
  • Avoid very general or vague words.
  • Don’t repeat words from your title.
  • Use simple forms (singular nouns or verbs).

Review Process

Experts will check that your abstract is:

  • Is easy to understand for all university students.
  • Clearly explains your research question and background.
  • Describes your methods.
  • Shows what you found and why it matters.
  • Is clear and concise.

Guidelines for Oral Presentations

Presentation Time and Schedule

Each presenter has a total of 15 minutes: 10 minutes for the presentation and 5 minutes for questions from the audience. This time also includes the transition between presenters. It is essential that all presenters are ready and on time. Introductions by the moderator will be brief. To keep the schedule on track, presentations will start at their scheduled time even if the previous presenter finishes early. Microsoft PowerPoint is the recommended software.

Organising Your Presentation

Aim for about one slide per minute, but adjust based on your speaking style and content. Rehearse to find the right pace. A suggested structure is:

  • Title, author(s), and affiliation (1 slide)
  • Outline, background, motivation, objective, research problem, limitations (1-2 slides)
  • Methods, approaches, experimental design (3-4 slides)
  • Results, data analysis, interpretation (3-4 slides)
  • Summary and future work (1-2 slides)
  • Acknowledgements and references (1 slide)

Use no more than 15 slides for a 10-minute presentation. Practice your talk, ideally in front of someone or by recording yourself. Have your final version reviewed by your supervisor or an experienced colleague.

Slide Design and Layout

  • Keep slides clear and concise with one message per slide. Use bullet points (maximum five per slide) instead of paragraphs. Check spelling and grammar.
  • Use large, readable fonts (18pt or larger). Avoid mixing fonts and all caps. Captions on images and graphs should also be large enough to read from the back.
  • Avoid clutter and unnecessary information. Use simple backgrounds and limit animations and sound effects. Avoid videos unless essential.
  • Maintain a consistent design throughout your slides. Using your institution’s template is recommended for a professional look.
  • Use color thoughtfully to highlight key points, but avoid using many colors on one slide.
  • Use graphics such as pictures, graphs, or charts only if they support your message and are easily visible to the audience.

Delivery Tips

Speak clearly at a moderate pace. Practice difficult words and speak loudly enough for everyone to hear. Pause occasionally to let your points sink in. Maintain positive body language and eye contact. Be aware of filler words like “uh” or “um.” Use natural gestures and comfortable hand positions.

Do not read your slides or notes word for word. If you receive a question you don’t understand, ask for clarification. It is acceptable to say, “This is outside the scope of my presentation,” or “That is a great question, but we did not explore it.”