Student Paper and Poster Guidelines

I. ABSTRACTS

All abstracts must conform to the LAS Abstract Format spelled out on the LAS website.

The first author of the Abstract MUST be a student and that student MUST present the paper or poster. Faculty and other students are allowed as junior authors, but they are not allowed to present the paper or poster nor to win prize money.

Students enter the competition by clicking the “Student Paper or Poster Competition” button of the electronic abstract form. Beginning at the 2006 meeting there will be separate competitions for Graduate Students and Undergraduate Students for the Poster Competition if there are sufficient entries in each category--please be sure to click the “Undergraduate” or “Graduate” button when you submit your abstract. The abstract will then be sent to the appropriate Student Paper Competition Screening Committee (one Committee for Papers (Oral Presentations), one for Posters). The Screening Committees will consist of one individual from each of the five Divisions of LAS (Agriculture, Forestry and Wildlife; Life Sciences; Physical Sciences; Social Sciences; and Science Education) plus one member of the LAS Executive Committee. The Screening Committees will evaluate the abstracts and choose the best 4-6 to be entered into the Oral Presentation competition, and the best 6-12 to be entered into the Poster competition (the number will depend in part on the number of submissions and the Screening Committee). Entrants will be informed if their presentation is chosen and scheduled for a “Competition Session”. Unsuccessful applicants will be scheduled in the appropriate Sections so they may still give their presentations, but will not be in the competition.

Suggestions for preparation of Abstracts: Since most of the members of the Screening Committees are scientists in disciplines other than your own, it is important to keep jargon to a minimum and to define the terms you do use. Emphasize the importance of your work (ie., how it improves knowledge in your field). Also it is a good idea to proofread your abstract for typos and grammatical errors as these will negatively impact the Screening Committee’s assessment of your abstract.

II. Best Student Paper (Oral Presentations)

Oral Presentations: All Oral Presentations in the Best Student Paper Competition will be presented during special Best Student Paper Competition Sessions (scheduled by the LAS Local Committee). Each presentation is strictly limited to 20 minutes. This time should be divided into 15-16 minutes for the presentation with the remaining time for questions (it is very important to allow time for questions as “Answering Questions” is one of the criteria for judging, see below).

Judging: The judging panel for the Best Student paper competition will be appointed by the LAS Coordinator of Student Paper Competition (with input from the LAS Executive Committee) and will consist of one individual from each of the five divisions of LAS plus one member of the LAS Executive Committee. The Judges will attend each paper in the Best Student Paper Competition Session. After the session, judges will meet to compare notes and decide on a First, Second, and Third Place winners (and Honorable Mentions, if appropriate).

The Judging Criteria are as follows:

1. Originality- to what extent does the work presented add to the existing body of knowledge?
2. Purpose- is the purpose clearly stated and is its importance discussed?
3. Methods- are the methods and statistical analyses sound?
4. Conclusions- do the conclusions follow from the results presented?
5. Presentation- did the presenter speak clearly and effectively? Were the audio visual aid of high quality?
6. Answering Questions- how well did the presenter answer questions from the audience?

III. Best Student Poster

Posters: Since posters will be displayed on easels, they must have a self-supporting back (ex. foam core), regular poster board and laminates will not stand up by themselves. The poster may not exceed 5 pounds in weight. The Posters entered in the Best Student Poster Competitions will be set up in a special area in the Poster Room (or in a separate room as designated by the LAS Local Committee) and must be left up for a designated Best Student Poster Session for judging. Beginning in 2006, separate competitions will be held for Undergraduates and Graduate students.

Judging: The judging panel for the Best Student Poster competitions will be appointed by the LAS Coordinator of Student Paper Competition (with input from the LAS Executive Committee) and will also consist of one individual from each of the five divisions of LAS plus one member of the LAS Executive Committee. The judges will visit each poster during the designated Best Student Poster session and evaluate them according to the criteria below. After the session, the judges will meet to compare notes and decide on a First, Second, and Third Place winners (and Honorable Mentions, if appropriate).

The Judging Criteria are as follows:

1. Originality- to what extent does the work presented add to the existing body of knowledge?
2. Purpose- is the purpose clearly stated and is its importance discussed?
3. Methods- are the methods sound?
4. Conclusions- do the conclusions follow from the results presented?
5. Presentation-is the poster clear and well-executed?

IV. Prizes

Winners of both the Student Paper and Student Poster Competitions will be announced at the Membership Meeting following the luncheon. Award amounts for both competitions:

First Prize: $TBD; Second Prize: $TBD; Third Prize: $TBD.

If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, please contact the academy's president at Moustapha Diack.