• Abstracts should be no more than 200 words and should fill a space no larger than half an A4 page.
• Single spacing, Arial font, 10 point.
• First line: title in bold sentence case.
• Second line: the author(s)' name(s) in upper case. Underline the name of the author presenting the work. First and middle names denoted by initials followed by last names in full.
• Third line: Full address of the lead author’s institution.
• Leave a single line space after the address.
• Main text: provide concise details of the background and objective(s) of the investigation, methods used, results and conclusions (200 words max).
• Saved as a Microsoft Word .docx document to upload with your application.

Applications to attend in person closed 26 February 2023, with shortlisted applicants being informed at the end of March / early April.

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Example abstract:

The origin of Helianthus deserticola: survival and selection in a desert habitat

B. L. GROSS, N. C. KANE, C. LEXER, L. H. RIESEBERG

Department of Biology, Indiana University, Jordan Hall 142, 1001 East Third Street, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA

The diploid hybrid species Helianthus deserticola inhabits an extreme environment relative to its parental species H. annuus and H. petiolaris. Adaptation to the arid desert floor may have occurred via the acquisition of novel phenotypes resulting from transgressive segregation in early hybrids. We have explored this possibility through a field experiment designed to test the direction and intensity of phenotypic selection, using crosses between the parental species as proxies for the ancestral genotype of the ancient hybrid species. Helianthus deserticola, H. annuus, H. petiolaris, and early-generation hybrids between H. annuus and H. petiolaris were all grown in native H. deserticola habitat, and a selection analysis revealed that several traits were subject to strong selective pressures. Several of the traits under selection were also extreme or transgressive in H. deserticola, and the range of variation present in BC2 hybrids suggests that many aspects of the H. deserticola phenotype are easily recreated. Thus, transgressive segregation may have contributed to the adaptation of H. deserticola to the desert habitat.

Delegates should bring their printed poster with them. Posters will be displayed from the first day of the symposium

Posters should be portrait, no larger than A0, or 92cm by 122cm. 

A poster competition will be held, with prizes for winning posters.

Good posters should present complex information in a clear and concise way. Posters that present information well will have graphics with large, clear fonts and images, and attractive backgrounds.

The text and figures should be readable from a short distance of at least one metre. The text presented should be precise and structured with a logical flow to the information. Posters that are considered to be strong for novelty and quality of the research should concentrate on focused problems, innovative solutions, rigorous methodologies, and should be significant contributions to the meeting.

At the symposium, posters will be peer-judged by delegates, and a voting form will be issued to delegates. When assessing posters, we ask delegates to consider the quality of the information displayed and if the research is novel and significant.