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Abstract Submission

Online Schedule

Call for Abstracts

Overview

On Thursday, April 18, 2024, Truman State University will convene the 37th annual Student Research Conference, a University-wide Celebration of Student Research, Scholarship, and Creative Achievement. Undergraduate and graduate students from all academic disciplines are invited and encouraged to present their scholarly or creative work.

Scheduled classes will not meet during the day on April 18, and it is hoped that faculty will formally integrate the event into course schedules and syllabi by incorporating relevant assignments. Some suggested ways of doing this are listed on the Info for Faculty page.

Presentation Types

Presentations will be grouped into disciplinary and interdisciplinary sessions based on the overall distribution of abstracts submitted. Authors select the scholarly area and the presentation type that is most appropriate for their project. The presentation options are listed below.

• Oral presentation　- Oral presentations are scheduled for 15 minutes each including time for questions. A computer and projector will be available in each session room. Presenters who wish to deliver computer-based presentations should use software packages that are standardly available on campus computers. Presenters should indicate on their online submission form if additional audio-visual equipment is needed.
• Poster presentation　- Posters should fit onto bulletin boards that are 40 inches tall and 52 inches wide. Push-pins for securing presentation material to the bulletin boards will be available on-site.
• Studio art　- Studio art presentations are examples of creative work from the fields of painting, photography, printmaking, ceramics, sculpture, fibers, or visual communications. Students will present a body of work to encompass no more than 8 sq ft. Studio art displays will need to be matted, mounted, framed, or otherwise presented in a professional manner. Display needs should be indicated on the online submission form.
• Performing art　- Performing art presentations are examples of theatrical or musical performances, or a combination of the two. The performances are scheduled for 15 minutes each including time for discussion, questions, setup and teardown. Presenters should indicate equipment needs on the online submission form.
• Technology showcase　- Technology presentations will be displayed on one-half of a standard, 8 ft long folding table. Space can be used to display computer graphics, continuous (looped) video presentations, and/or other technology demonstrations. Presenters should indicate additional equipment needs on the online submission form.
• Roundtable discussion　- Discussion sessions provide the opportunity for individuals or groups to moderate sessions that are focused on timely, controversial, or perennial topics. Session topics might include a wide range of scholarly issues, with some being student-oriented (e.g., how to get started on a scholarly project; tips for delivering excellent presentations) and others being faculty-oriented (e.g., how to mentor student work; the value of collaborative, interdisciplinary research; faculty showcases). The roundtable sessions are scheduled for one-hour. There will be a maximum number of such sessions that the program can accept.

Posters, technology displays, and studio art will be on display throughout the day, with the author(s) available at a scheduled time for discussion and questions.

Submission Guidelines (Deadline: March  24, 2024)

1. Eligible work　- An eligible presentation will report, perform or represent the outcome of substantial work by a student or group of students. While the project may have its origin in an assignment for a class, the presentation should show it has been developed above and beyond a class requirement. It is a paper, artifact or performance that can truly be called a creative achievement.
2. Faculty mentor required　- Each presentation should be sponsored or co-sponsored by a Truman faculty mentor(s); non-sponsored abstracts will not be accepted. If students wish to present scholarly work that has been conducted during an off-campus research internship-type experience, and the faculty mentor is from a different institution, the student should identify a Truman faculty member to be a co-sponsor of the presentation and to help with planning the presentation.
3. Abstract requirement　- Each presentation requires an abstract. An abstract is a summary of the project, and should reflect the professional format normally associated with scholarly work in the discipline (e.g., an abstract of an artistic performance may be similar to the program notes that typically accompany such a performance; scientific abstracts typically include background information, methods, results, and a brief discussion). All abstracts will appear on the conference website.
4. Student authorship　- The same student should not be a first author on more than two abstracts. Both single- and multiple-author presentations are welcome. The student submitting the abstract will be listed as the first author.
5. Abstract preparation　- Student authors should adhere to professional submission standards when preparing abstracts and should work with their faculty mentors to ensure that their abstract is correct, complete, and that all guidelines are followed. The body of the abstract should not exceed 150 words, and it can be composed and edited using standard word processing software. The final abstract, along with other information, will need to be submitted via the online submission form. Examples of past abstracts can be viewed on the web site ([sample abstracts]).
6. Online submission　- Submission of abstracts, titles, and other relevant information for all presentations should be carried out online at the Conference website (Abstract Submissions). Copies of the information submitted will be sent electronically to the student presenter(s) and the faculty mentor. The submission site will open in January 2024, and the deadline for receiving abstracts is　March 24, 2024 (5:00 pm CST)).

Faculty Mentors

The size and scope of the Conference preclude any type of peer review of abstracts, and virtually all student submissions are accepted for presentation. Consequently, each student presentation must be sponsored by a faculty mentor, and the Program Committee will rely on faculty mentors to work with their student(s) to ensure that abstracts are correct, complete and the result of eligible work (see submission guidelines above). While the primary goal of the conference is to encourage and reward student research, scholarship and creative activity, faculty mentors should remember that their student's presentation also reflects upon themselves and their academic discipline and division. At the very minimum, faculty mentors should: 1) ensure that the student(s) have complied with the submission guidelines, 2) proof-read the abstract prior to submission and give the student(s) appropriate feedback and editing, 3) formally approve the abstract submission, and 4) preview the presentation prior to the Conference and give appropriate feedback to enhance the quality of the presentation.

Program & Schedule

The abstracts and final program will be available online at the Conference website prior to the event and printed copies will be available on-site the day of the Conference. Questions about the program for the Conference should be directed to the Office of Student Research at 660-785-4597 or email　osr@truman.edu.