Call for Abstracts

2025 CSTE Annual Conference (June 8 - 12, 2025)

Abstracts must be received no later than Tuesday, January 7, 2025 by 11:59 PM EST through the online CSTE abstract submission site. The Program Planning Committee will evaluate abstracts based on a number of criteria, including timeliness, relevance, design, clarity, outcomes and potential impact. Formal letters of invitation are sent by e-mail from the CSTE National Office by Thursday, March 6, 2025.

Guidelines for abstract submission and topics selected by the Program Planning Committee are available below. A list of frequently asked questions and the abstract review rubric will be available soon!

1. Presentation Formats

   The Program Planning Committee reserves the right to reassign your abstract within topics and/or corresponding committees.

   BREAKOUT PRESENTATION

   Findings are presented on a specific topic within a breakout session with the opportunity for audience Q&A. Presentations are all 10 minutes with only one (1) presenting author slot available for the submitted abstract. Some committees may select abstracts for presentations that are less than 10 minutes.

   POSTER PRESENTATION

   A visual illustration on a poster board that summaries finding by way of limited text, graphics, and photographs. Presentations are limited to only one (1) presenting author per submitted abstract. Poster presentations will not have audiovisual equipment available

   DISCUSSION PRESENTATION (previously titled Roundtable Presentation)

   Informative presentation focusing on recent findings or innovative topics, with substantial opportunity for discussion among attendees. Presentations are limited to up to two (2) presenting author slots available for the submitted abstract. Abstracts submitted for discussion presentation will not be considered for other presentation types. Discussion sessions will not have projectors, screens, notetaking materials (e.g. notepads, etc.), or notetaking by CSTE staff but will have adequate audio equipment for the meeting room.

2. General Instructions

   • Abstracts must be the work of the authors listed and appropriately referenced.
   • Abstracts are limited to 400 words, not including the title and speaker bio.
   • The use of "all caps" should be limited to acronyms generally accepted in the field and names of organizations; the full organization name should be used on first reference.
   • Submit each individual abstract to the appropriate topic. Review the list of topics carefully to determine which one might be the most appropriate for your subject area.
   • Duplicate abstracts will not be considered.
   • Concluding statements such as "to be completed" should be avoided.
   • All information should be reviewed prior to submission to ensure completeness; abstract revisions are permitted at any time before the abstract submission deadline.
   • Abstracts may not be modified after the submission deadline during the review period. Presenting authors may make minor changes after an abstract is accepted until the invitation response deadline.
   • By submitting an abstract, please make sure you (or an alternate presenting author) are committing to attend the conference and giving the presentation if the abstract is accepted. All presenting authors are required to register for the conference and pay the related fees. CSTE does not provide a travel allowance, honorarium, or reimbursement for attending the conference.
   • There are no restrictions on the number of abstracts you may submit or the number of submissions you may be selected to present. Abstracts submitted to another conference may be submitted to the CSTE Annual Conference for consideration.
   • CSTE membership is not required to submit an abstract.
   • Work created in the course and scope of employment by an author is the copyright of the agency should the author leave employment prior to presentation and therefore at the agency’s discretion of presentation at the conference.
   • CSTE does not accept abstracts for promotion of services and/or goods. All abstracts should be scientifically based.

3. Topic

   Abstracts will be divided into topics for review and programming purposes based on topic areas. The Program Planning Committee reserves the right to reassign your abstract within topics and/or corresponding committees.

   All abstracts will be submitted directly into abstract topics, which will be reviewed by committees. A complete list of abstract topics and corresponding committees can be found here. All sessions will still be planned and facilitated by conference committees. The committee list aligns with CSTE’s revised Steering Committee structure. Learn more at www.cste.org.

4. Title/Permissions/Disclosures

   • 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.
     • Articles such as the, a, an, and, but, for, or and nor should be in lowercase.
     • 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, unless they are widely accepted by the field (for example, HIV/AIDS is acceptable in place of Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome).

5. Authors

   • A presenting author is defined as an individual person who will actually present at the conference.
   • The submitting author is the author that completes the online abstract submission process. This person is usually involved with the abstract as a presenting author or co-author.
   • By submitting an abstract, please make sure you or an alternate presenting author are committed to attending the in-person conference and giving the presentation if the abstract is accepted. All presenting authors are required to register for the conference and pay related fees. CSTE does not provide a travel allowance, honorarium, or reimbursement for presenting authors.
   • Work created in the course and scope of employment by an author is the copyright of the agency should the author leave employment prior to presentation and therefore at the agency’s discretion of presentation at the conference.
   • The primary contact for communication should be identified as the first presenting author when other presenting authors are allowed.
   • Presenting author(s) must complete brief bio information on their background experience that should not exceed 100 words. If selected for oral presentation, this information will be utilized by the session moderator to properly introduce you. This information may be shortened by the moderator to ensure presentations stay on time.
   • 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 as a non-presenting author. Up to fifteen (15) co-authors may be included.
   • When adding a Presenting or Co-Author, please search for, update, and use existing records, where applicable, instead of creating a new record.
   • Formal letters of invitation are sent by email from the CSTE National Office by Thursday, March 6, 2025. All authors receive a formal communication regarding the Program Planning Committee's determination. However, only presenting authors have system access to accept or decline and invitation.
   • It is the responsibility of the first presenting author to communicate with any presenting co-authors prior to the presentation. For breakout presentations, the presenting author is responsible for coordinating the presentation with the moderator selected by the Program Planning Committee in that session.

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.

   Required Body for Discussion Presentations

   • Key Objectives or Discussion Points: Learning objective(s) for the discussion.
   • Brief Summary: Description of the discussion.

7. Confirmation

   After you have completed all steps in the process and are ready to submit an abstract for consideration, please carefully proofread your abstract on the final step "Confirmation". To complete your submission, select "Conclude Submission" on the last step. You must correct all errors or omissions before the abstract can be submitted as final. Once you have completed the abstract, you will receive an email confirmation that the abstract has been received. If you exit the system without completing all steps, your abstract will be considered incomplete and you will not receive a confirmation email.