Call for Abstracts

2013 CSTE Annual Conference

Abstracts must be received no later than Monday, January 7, 2013 by 11:59 PM EST through the online CSTE abstract submission site. The Program Planning Committee will review abstracts for timeliness, relevance of topic, and potential to contribute to a well-balanced program. Formal letters of invitation are sent by e-mail from the CSTE National Office during the first week in March 2013.

Guidelines for abstract submission and topics selected by the Program Planning Committee are available below.

Click here to view the Guidelines for Abstract Submission

Click here to view the 2013 committee topics

Steps and Instructions:

1. Presentation Formats

   While the Program Planning Committee will attempt to schedule selected abstracts for the requested presentation format, this will not always be possible. An option is available to select a secondary format if the Program Planning Committee cannot accommodate your preferred format.

   Breakout Presentation

   Findings are presented on a specific topic within a breakout session with the opportunity for audience Q&A. Presentations are approximately 20 minutes, with only one (1) presenting author slot available for the submitted abstract.

   Poster Presentation

   A visual illustration of findings displayed through graphics, photographs, diagrams and limited text on a poster board. Presentations are limited to only one (1) presenting author slot available for the submitted abstract. Poster sessions will not have audiovisual equipment available.

   Roundtable Presentation

   Informative presentation focusing on recent findings or innovative topics, with substantial opportunity for discussion among attendees. Presentations are limited to two (2) presenting author slots available for the submitted abstract. Roundtable sessions will not have audiovisual equipment available.

   Software Demonstration

   state, local, territorial, tribal or federal agency for public health. For profit agencies are not eligible and should consider becoming an exhibitor to demonstrate their product. Presentations are limited to two (2) presenting author slots available for the submitted abstract.

2. General Instructions

   • There is a preferred limit of 400 words for the body of your abstract not including the title. Please limit the use of all caps to acronyms of organization names, and please spell out organization names on first reference.
   • Submit each individual abstract to the appropriate Committee. Review the list of Committees carefully to determine which one might be most appropriate for your subject area. Abstract topics are available on the CSTE website at www.csteconference.org.
   • Software Demonstrations do not require selection of a Committee.
   • Duplicate abstracts will not be considered.
   • Concluding statements such as "to be completed" may not be accepted.
   • Review all information to ensure it is complete. Revisions to your abstract may be made at any time until the abstract submission deadline.
   • Submission of an abstract implies that you (or a substitute presenting author or author) are committed to making the presentation at the meeting if your abstract is accepted. All presenting author or author are required to register for the conference and pay related fees. CSTE does not provide a travel allowance, honorarium or reimbursement for presenting author or authors attending the conference.
   • CSTE membership is not required to submit an abstract.
   • There are no restrictions on the number of abstracts you may submit or on the number of submissions you may be selected to present.

3. Title

   • The title is not included in the abstract word count; however, titles should not exceed 185 characters.
   • Title case should be used where the first word and all other major words (nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs) and some conjunctions are capitalized.
     • Lowercase the articles the, a, an, and, but, for, or and nor
     • Lowercase the part of a proper name that would be lowercased in text
   • Do not begin paper titles with "The".
   • Do not end title with a period.
   • Use a concise title that summarizes the content of the abstract.
   • Do not use abbreviations.

4. Committee

   Abstracts will be divided into Committees for review and programming purposes based on topic areas. Committee selection is not required for Software Demonstrations.

   Available Committees:

   • Chronic Disease / MCH / Oral Health
   • Cross-Cutting
   • Environmental Health
   • Infectious Disease
   • Injury Control and Prevention
   • Occupational Health
   • Student
   • Surveillance / Informatics

   The Program Planning Committee reserves the right to reassign your abstract within Committees.

5. Authors

   • A presenting author is defined as the person who will actually present at the conference.
   • The primary contact for communication should be identified as the first presenting author when a second presenting author is allowed.
   • Abstracts should include all pertinent presenting author contact information.
   • Co-Authors who are not presenting but contributed substantially to the study design, statistical analysis or interpretation may be listed under the Author step as a (non-presenting) author.
   • Formal letters of invitation are sent by e-mail from the CSTE National Office during the first week of March 2013. All first presenting authors receive a formal communication regarding the Program Planning Committee�s determination. Any second presenting authors or co-authors do not receive communications from CSTE.
   • It is the responsibility of the first presenting author to communicate with any presenting co-authors for the presentation. For breakout presentations, the first presenting author is responsible for coordinating the presentation with the moderator selected by the Program Planning Committee for the session.
   • Only the presenting author(s) will be printed in the final program.

6. Abstract Text

   Required Body for Breakout and Poster Presentations

   • Background: Study objectives, hypothesis, or a description of the program.
   • Methods: Study design and appropriate statistical analysis.
   • Results: Specific results in summary form.
   • Conclusions: Description of the main outcome of the study.

7. Confirmation

   You will have a chance to look over the submission to make sure all is complete.

Begin a submission to the following: