Student abstract submissions were accepted from February 12 to April 5, 2024.

For further details and questions not answered below please contact us at hydrosymposium@colorado.edu.   

Abstract submission guidelines

Do you have advice on how to write a good abstract?

Here is advice from the Geological Society of America:

"If you’ve never been to a [Hydrological Sciences Symposium] or read a bunch of abstracts, start by reading  5 to 10 abstracts from previous meetings.  These can be accessed here.

 

The purpose of an abstract is not to tell the reader the topic of the study, but rather it is to deliver the findings of the study.  In other words, a good abstract should have all the elements found in a good peer‐reviewed published paper.  This includes background/introduction, methods, results, discussion, and conclusions. The following is a general formula, although of course deviations may be necessary:

  • 1 sentence:  Summary statement to place your study in context, define the overall purpose or problem being addressed.
  • 1 sentence:  Summary statement of your approach to the problem – mapping done,  analyses performed, methods, etc.
  • 3‐5 sentences:  Meat of the abstract.  Results/Data.
  • 3‐5 sentences:   Interpretive discussion.
  • 1 sentence:  Summary statement listing the conclusions of your study.
  • 1 sentence:  Statement relating your study back to the “big picture” – why does this  work matter? How will it impact science and society?"
May I see previous years' student abstracts?

Yes! There is an archive of student abstracts going back to 2006.

How long is an abstract?

The abstract title should be less than 300 characters including spaces.

The abstract limit is 3000 characters of main text including spaces (about 400 words) and up to 3 figures. This character limit excludes references, which should be included in a bibliography at the end of the abstract. References can be in any format. Complex mathematical equations should be submitted as figures. All text, figures, and references should fit within 2-2.5 pages (8.5 x 11 inch), using single-spaced, 12-pt Times New Roman font. If you have large figures you may have to submit less text.

What figures do I submit?

Figures are encouraged, but optional. We particularly encourage participants to include up to 3 figures to illustrate their abstract. Figures might include data plots, data tables, maps, equations, or photographs (ie. fieldwork, lab work). All figures must be submitted in gif, jpg, or png image format (use .gif, .jpg, or .png file endings). If you have problems outputting to one of these formats, you may want to enlarge your figure and then use screen capture. When possible, figures should be at high resolution with the longest dimension at least 1000 pixels long (so the printed version looks good).

Do I need to submit my poster file?

Only an abstract is required for submission, but please provide your poster (as a figure in the application) if you would like it to be available as an e-poster during the symposium.

May I use previously presented research?

Submitting a talk that you have already presented at another conference is fine, as long as it does not violate an agreement you made with the other conference.

May I present collaborative work?

Making a presentation of a collaborative study for which you are not the first author is fine too, as long as you made a substantial contribution and are familiar with all aspects of the study.

What is the link for abstract submissions?

Abstracts were accepted from February 12 to April 5, 2024.

Abstracts may be submitted for 10-minute presentations, Lightning Talks, or Posters.

Presentation guidelines

What is the format for presentations?

Presentations will be organized in the conventional format of a 10-minute talk, including time for questions. 

How will I present my slides?

Your presentation will be loaded on the Symposium laptop.

Be sure to practice with a friend before you present!

Lightning Talk guidelines

What is a Lightning Talk?

In lieu of a poster session, the Symposium will hold lunch-hour Lightning Talks. Each talk is four minutes long.

What is the format for Lightning Talks?

Lightning Talks are 4 minutes long, presenting 4 slides.

  1. Introduction
  2. Research question
  3. Results
  4. Conclusions 
Will there be time for questions at the end of a Lightning Talk?

At the end of the hour of talks, questions will be invited on all the Lightning Talks. There will be no time for questions at the end of each Lightning Talk.

Poster guidelines

How do I make a good poster?

Common tools that are used are: Powerpoint, Google Slides, LibreOffice Impress, Adobe In-Design, Adobe Illustrator, Inkscape, and LaTeX. 

Additionally, some best practices for poster design can be found here: https://www.agu.org/fall-meeting/pages/present/presenter-resources#poster

Where will posters be presented?

Posters were in SEEC C120D on both April 11 and April 12.

What size should my poster be?

No more than 1.8 meters W x 1.2 meters H (6 feet W x 4 feet H)

General Questions about student presentations

May I attend the symposium if I am not presenting?

The symposium is open to anyone interested in the hydrologic sciences. 

Registration to attend was open on February 12 to April 12, 2024.

Is the Symposium hybrid?

Yes.

What is the Zoom link for the Symposium?

Please register. The Zoom link will be emailed the day before the conference.