Presentation/workshop on how to write a conference abstract, October, 2011

1. Writing a Conference Abstract

2. O VERVIEW
 What is a conference abstract?
 What are the functions of a conference
abstract?
 How do I write a conference abstract?
 General tips
 Conference-specific information for the SU UGR
Symposium

3. W HAT IS A CONFERENCE
ABSTRACT ?
 Mini version of the conference
presentation
 Components
1. Title
2. Introduction
3. Technical parts (body)
4. Deliverable and conclusion

4. Undergraduate Research at the University of Alberta 1. Title
The University of Alberta offers many opportunities for undergraduate students to learn
about and engage in research, creative works, and community service through courses and
individual studies; formal and informal student groups and volunteer opportunities; open
talks, seminars, and workshops; honors, internship, externship, work-experience, and co-
2. Introduction
operative activities programs; and undergraduate student research awards. These
opportunities and experiences are administered by individual faculty and researchers,
departments, Faculties, the Students’ Union, student groups, the Libraries, the Office of
the Dean of Students, the Office of the Vice-President (Research), the Office of Student
Awards, and many other units and groups across campus. Although there are many
opportunities for students, many students do not know about these opportunities.
The Undergraduate Research Initiative (URI) brings students and opportunities together,
supporting undergraduate students as they develop discipline-specific and interdisciplinary
research skills and scholarly attitudes that prove useful for employment, research, and
service in the community. The URI has four main functions: (1) To raise students’ 3. Technical parts
awareness of and interest in undergraduate research; (2) To support students in developing
the knowledge and skills needed for participation in undergraduate research; (3) To
facilitate opportunities for students to engage in undergraduate research; and (4) To assist
students in disseminating and celebrating undergraduate research results and
achievements.
This poster will describe different initiatives developed as part of URI, namely, an inventory 4. Deliverable
f undergraduate research opportunities, workshops on how to engage in undergraduate
research, and funding to support undergraduate research and researchers.

5. W HAT ARE THE F UNCTIONS OF
A C ONFERENCE A BSTRACT ?
 Inform
 Clear and concise description of the
research or creative work
 Outline of the
poster, presentation, display, paper
 Persuade
 The readers to be interested
 The conference organizers to accept

6. Undergraduate Research at the University of Alberta Title
The University of Alberta offers many opportunities for undergraduate students to learn
about and engage in research, creative works, and community service through courses and
individual studies; formal and informal student groups and volunteer opportunities; open
talks, seminars, and workshops; honors, internship, externship, work-experience, and co-
Introduction
operative activities programs; and undergraduate student research awards. These
opportunities and experiences are administered by individual faculty and researchers,
departments, Faculties, the Students’ Union, student groups, the Libraries, the Office of
the Dean of Students, the Office of the Vice-President (Research), the Office of Student
Awards, and many other units and groups across campus. Although there are many
opportunities for students, many students do not know about these opportunities.
The Undergraduate Research Initiative (URI) brings students and opportunities together,
supporting undergraduate students as they develop discipline-specific and interdisciplinary
research skills and scholarly attitudes that prove useful for employment, research, and
service in the community. The URI has four main functions: (1) To raise students’ Technical parts
awareness of and interest in undergraduate research; (2) To support students in developing
the knowledge and skills needed for participation in undergraduate research; (3) To
facilitate opportunities for students to engage in undergraduate research; and (4) To assist
students in disseminating and celebrating undergraduate research results and
achievements.
This poster will describe different initiatives developed as part of URI, namely, an inventory Deliverable
f undergraduate research opportunities, workshops on how to engage in undergraduate
research, and funding to support undergraduate research and researchers.

7. H OW DO I WRITE A
C ONFERENCE A BSTRACT ?
I MPORTANT C ONSIDERATIONS
 Audience
 Reviewers
 Conference
 Goals of conference presentation
 Inform
 Persuade
 Demonstrate
 Always look at what the Call for
Proposals requires!

8. W HAT A BOUT O UR E XAMPLE ?
 Audience
 Reviewers
 Conference
 Goals of conference presentation
 Inform
 Persuade
 Demonstrate

9. G ENERAL T IPS
1. Title
 Informative
 Interesting
2. Introduction
 Appropriate background
 Persuasive
 Interesting

10. G ENERAL T IPS
3. Technical parts
 Minimal jargon
 Clear
 Interesting and persuasive
4. Deliverable and conclusion

11. W HAT A BOUT O UR E XAMPLE ?
1. Title
 Informative
 Interesting
From:
Undergraduate Research at the University of Alberta
To:

12. W HAT A BOUT O UR E XAMPLE ?
2. Introduction
 Appropriate background
 Persuasive
 Interesting

13. W HAT A BOUT O UR E XAMPLE ?
The University of Alberta offers many opportunities for undergraduate students to
learn about and engage in research, creative works, and community service through
courses and individual studies; formal and informal student groups and volunteer
opportunities; open talks, seminars, and workshops;
honors, internship, externship, work-experience, and co-operative activities
programs; and undergraduate student research awards. These opportunities and
experiences are administered by individual faculty and
researchers, departments, Faculties, the Students’ Union, student groups, the
Libraries, the Office of the Dean of Students, the Office of the Vice-President
(Research), the Office of Student Awards, and many other units and groups across
campus. Although there are many opportunities for students, many students do

14. W HAT A BOUT O UR E XAMPLE ?
3. Technical parts
 Minimal jargon
 Clear
 Interesting and persuasive

15. W HAT A BOUT O UR E XAMPLE ?
The Undergraduate Research Initiative (URI) brings students and opportunities
together, supporting undergraduate students as they develop discipline-specific and
interdisciplinary research skills and scholarly attitudes that prove useful for
employment, research, and service in the community. The URI has four main
functions: (1) To raise students’ awareness of and interest in undergraduate
research; (2) To support students in developing the knowledge and skills needed for
participation in undergraduate research; (3) To facilitate opportunities for students
to engage in undergraduate research; and (4) To assist students in disseminating
and celebrating undergraduate research results and achievements.

16. W HAT A BOUT O UR E XAMPLE ?
4. Deliverable and conclusion
This poster will describe different initiatives developed as part of URI, namely, an
inventory of undergraduate research opportunities, workshops on how to
engage in undergraduate research, and funding to support undergraduate
research and researchers.

17. Learning, Discovery and Student Engagement: The Undergraduate Research Initiative
At the University of Alberta, we value learning, discovery, and citizenship in partnership with
one of our greatest sources of diversity and strength, undergraduate students. We offer many
opportunities for undergraduate students to learn about and engage in research, creative
works, and community service through courses and individual studies; formal and informal
student groups and volunteer opportunities; open talks, seminars, and workshops;
honors, internship, externship, work-experience, and co-operative activities programs; and
undergraduate student research awards. These opportunities and experiences are
administered by a wide range of units, many of which are not accessible to students.
The Undergraduate Research Initiative brings students and opportunities together, supporting
undergraduate students as they develop discipline-specific and interdisciplinary research skills
and scholarly attitudes that prove useful for employment, research, and service in the
community. We have developed a searchable inventory of undergraduate research
opportunities, workshops for developing research and professional skills, and funding to
support undergraduate research and researchers.
Through our interactive poster, we will elaborate some of these new initiatives and collect
ideas about additional initiatives. Our goal is to raise awareness of this important new
initiative and become more responsive to undergraduate student needs. Undergraduate
students are our future leaders in research and creative arts and the Undergraduate Research
Initiative supports and celebrates students in their great discoveries and creative
contributions.

18. SU UGDR S YMPOSIUM
I NFORMATION
 Deadline: October 28, 5 p.m.
 250 words for the symposium abstract
 150 words for research project
(can get a little more technical)
 100 words on background
 General review panel
 Be clear an concise!
 Avoid jargon!

19. W HERE C AN I G ET
A SSISTANCE ?
 Your supervisor(s)
 Student colleagues
 SU
(http://www.su.ualberta.ca/governance/executives/proje
cts/urs)
 URI (http://uri.ualberta.ca)
 Libraries
(http://guides.library.ualberta.ca/undergraduateresearch)
 Centre for Writers
(http://www.c4w.arts.ualberta.ca)