What does the conference logo represent?
Click on this link for an explanation.
How many presentations can I give?
Just one. Speaking & poster slots are at a premium. But we distinguish between presenting authors (registered conference delegates who either give a talk or explain their poster) & co-authors, who may or may not be conference delegates. You can be a co-author on several talks or posters, as long as each of the presentations is given by a different presenting author.
What is a Speed Talk?
This is something new to ESA conferences. Speed talks are short 4 minute talks intended for people wishing to float an idea, present some interim results that won't stretch to a full length talk, or simply practise their verbal delivery skills. An opportunity to be provocative or controversial while ducking that intense post-talk cross-examination from the audience. Sort of a scientific haiku, if you like.
I can see where to enter my talk's title & the author details, but where does the abstract go?
Keep going. If you scroll to the bottom of that first page, you will see the button that you need to click to proceed to the next page. We have many questions to ask you, & those questions are spread across several pages. If you logout before you reach the last page, you will not have completed your submission. Read the directions that appear on your screen.
What is the word limit for the abstract?
The word limit for the abstract is approx. 250 words. The exact number will depend on your average word length, the number of special characters in your abstract, the number of italics that you use, & whether or not you cut & paste from a word processor. To maximize your word count, type directly into the online text editor on the abstract submission page. Text composed on word processors often includes extra code invisibly inserted by the software. When you cut & paste text from your word processor, the extra code is often copied too, & will be included in the word count.
Is there a word limit for the title?
Yes, there is. The title can be up to about 130 characters long. Blank spaces count as characters, and the inclusion of italicised text will also reduce the length of the title you can enter.
What will happen if I exceed the word limit?
Attempting to insert too much text into the text box will trigger an error message. Delete text until the error message disappears.
How should I format my abstract?
Please do not format your abstract. We much prefer plain text, which makes it far easier to apply a uniform formatting when we prepare the conference programme. Just use the editing facilities provided on the online submission pages to italicise any Latin binomials, and to insert any special characters.
Do I have to submit my abstract before registering for the conference?
No, you can register and submit your abstract in any order. You may even do so on different days. However, your abstract will not be accepted if your nominated presenting author has not registered by 30th September. Early abstract submission assists conference planning by indicating the likely number of delegates.
I'm from a Co-operative Research Centre at a Centre For Excellence in a Department of Environmental & Ecological Studies within a School of Biological & Earth Sciences at a university. How should I describe my institutional affiliation?
Use whomever's name appears as your employer on your group certificate, unless other considerations prevail! We want to avoid having multi-authored papers where the list of affiliations is longer than the abstract. When indicating institutional affiliation, provide only your primary affiliation in abbreviated form. Contract state names to their usual abbreviations, Department to Dept, Co-operative Research Centre to CRC, University to U or Uni etc. Your contact details (as indicated on your conference registration form) will be provided elsewhere in the programme.
Where do I book for the fieldtrips, the workshops or the conference dinner?
Go to the conference registration pages. You will be able to book for these conference activities when you register for the conference.
Should I wait until 30th September before submitting my abstract?
No! Website availability is likely to be problematic if many delegates are simultaneously attempting to upload abstracts. And if you run into difficulties, we won't be able to assist you before submissions close.
I'm really stuck. I've re-read these instructions & followed the online directions, but nothing works. What can I do?
You can email for help from within the abstract management system by clicking on the highlighted 'email' link. We will attempt to respond ASAP, but during peak times that may be 24 hours or more.
Can I change my abstract after it's been submitted?
Yes, abstracts can be edited until October 31st. Simply re-enter your ESA2008 account and click on the 'View papers' menu at the top of the screen. This will open the 'View Papers' page, where you can access your abstract by clicking on 'Edit' in the right hand column labelled 'Edit Details'. Please do not use the 'Withdraw Paper' function unless you do not want to present your paper at this conference.
