Submitting an abstract doesn’t need to be stressful – particularly when you know what to include and how to present it. This article contains tips and resources to help you to feel confident writing an abstract to present at an ASHM-run conference.
Make sure your abstract aligns with the conference themes and topics.
The next step in writing your abstract submission is to choose your presentation format. There is a submission format to suit everyone – depending on the work you’d like to share, and how confident you feel presenting to an audience. Typically, abstracts can be submitted for:
Depending on the conference guidelines, oral presentations can often be presented as either a 10+ minute presentation, or five minute rapid-fire presentation with a Q&A component.
Recently, ASHM has introduced new types of presentations to make conference sessions even more accessible and interactive. These include:
Think carefully about which type of presentation best suits the work you want to present. For example, a case study video on how you delivered a program in-community might be best suited to a multi-media presentation. Meanwhile, findings from academic research may work best as a research-based oral presentation.
The types of presentations and abstracts accepted vary by conference and are being updated all the time – make sure to check the ‘Abstract Submission’ page of each conference before starting your submission.
An abstract is typically a short, stand-alone document which concisely summarises the work you wish to present. When submitting an abstract for an ASHM conference, you can download an abstract template for your type of presentation outlining everything you need to include.
Depending on the type of presentation you are hoping to give, the abstract requirements, guidelines, and template may vary. Below are some general tips – make sure to read and abide by the appropriate guidelines and use the most recent template when submitting your abstract.
Always consult the abstract guidelines for the conference you are submitting to! Make sure to follow any formatting instructions and word limits.
For research-based abstracts, you will need to include:
While data should be included in your results section, tables, figures and references should not be included in the abstract.
More information on what to include in your abstract and examples of good research-based abstracts can be seen in the video below.
For practice-based abstracts, you will need to include:
Spend most of your attention and word limit on your outcomes and impact.
1. Create a catchy title!
Stand out from other submissions by coming up with a catchy and memorable abstract title. Choose something that would make you want to engage with your presentation. Is there a surprising statistic, or standout quote that would grab people’s attention?
2. Assume that the audience has no previous knowledge on your topic
While it can be easy to rely on acronyms and sector-specific terminology, not everyone who reads your abstract or attends your presentation may know these terms. Assume the reader has no previous knowledge and improve the readability of your abstract by avoiding acronyms where possible (and expanding when included), explaining topic-specific terminology, and only including information related to your presentation.
Who knows – maybe your presentation will be the gateway for an audience member to pursue a new area!
Use the right language in your submission
When submitting an abstract and writing a presentation for an ASHM conference, it is encouraged that you use person-centred language. Putting the person first in your presentation is vital for combating stigma and respecting the dignity of all people.
To make sure your abstract and presentation is using person-centred language, we recommend consulting these helpful language guides:
Once you’ve written your abstract using the template and made sure it follows the guidelines, it’s time to submit. The video below gives a general overview of how to submit your abstract online – depending on the conference this process may differ.
If you have any questions about abstract requirements or submissions, contact ASHM’s Conference and Events team using the enquiry form at the bottom of our Conference and Event Management page.
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