Poster abstract submission guidelines
We're delighted you are submitting an abstract to present a poster at BNA2021. We strongly recommend you carefully read all guidance on this page before preparing and submitting your poster abstract!
- General information
- 'Traditional' or Preregistration poster abstract - key differences
- Abstract submission portal
- Required information for poster abstract submission
- Declaration statement
- Ethical standards statement
- Conflict of Interest and Disclosure Statement
- Selection process
- Presentation information
General information
Only registered delegates can submit an abstract. If you have not registered yet, please register here. Once you have registered you will be sent a link to access the abstract submission portal.
Abstracts must describe:
- an empirical piece of research (or, for preregistration posters, plans for empirical research; or
- a theoretical piece of research, where the subject of the poster is modelling/simulation and is based on empirical data (or, for preregistration posters, plans for such research).
The submitted abstract and its corresponding poster presentation must discuss the same piece of work.
You may submit as many abstracts as you wish.
All accepted abstracts will be published in the Gold open access journal, Brain and Neuroscience Advances.
Only individuals who can attend and present at the online BNA2021 Festival of Neuroscience can have their abstract/s accepted; you must be available to present your poster 'live' during the Festival, taking place 12-15th April 2021.
Each abstract submission incurs a handling fee of just £3.00 (prior to 23:59 GMT 18th December 2020) or £4.50 (after 23:59 GMT on 18th December 2020).
If you have any questions regarding your submission or registration, please contact [email protected].
'Traditional' or Preregistration poster abstracts - key differences
You will be given the choice to select 'Traditional' or 'Preregistration' when submitting your abstract. The key differences between these two types of poster are as follows:
| Traditional poster abstract | Preregistration poster abstract |
|---|---|
| Describes work that has already been completed. | Describes plans for work that has yet to be carried out. |
| Includes results/data and conclusions. | Does NOT include results/data or conclusions |
| Describes the statistical approach that was used for assessing data | Describes the statistical approach that will be used to assess data |
If you're not sure which type is right for you, please contact [email protected].
About the abstract submission portal
Once you have registered you will be sent a link to access the online abstract submission portal.
Complete the required fields in the form (see below).
Editing your abstract: You may return to edit abstracts at any time before the submission deadline; once you have completed the first draft of your abstract then select SAVE at the end of the form. If you select SAVE a link will be sent to you by email which will take you back to the submission page, allowing you to make changes and then either save again or submit.
Submitting your abstract: Once you are happy that your submission is complete, select SUBMIT at the end of the form. You are not able to make any further changes once the abstract is submitted.
**DO NOT FORGET TO SUBMIT** the final version of your abstract!! Your submission will be deleted if the deadline date is reached and you have not clicked 'submit'!
Required information for your poster abstract submission
Submission type: Please select whether you are submitting a traditional or pregistration poster abstract. Read more about preregistration posters.
Abstract title: You can use up to 150 characters including spaces.
Abstract category (topic): Select the topic from the drop down box that best reflects the topic of the abstract. This information will be used to allocate your poster to an appropriate poster session. However, final allocation of your abstract to the topic cannot be guaranteed and is at the discretion of the programme committee.
The topics from which to choose are:
- Ageing and dementia
- Circuit dynamics and oscillations
- Cognition and behaviour
- Computational and theoretical neuroscience
- Disorders, treatments and translational neuroscience
- Internal states and homeostasis
- Methods and technology development
- Neurodevelopment and stem cells
- Neurons and glia: intrinsic properties, cell biology and cell types
- Psychiatry and mental health
- Sensory and motor systems
- Synapses and plasticity
- Other (this includes but is not limited to cross-topic initiatives, reproducibility or credibility in neuroscience projects, teaching, history of neurosicence, public engagement, policy, outreach, animals in research, or any other communication relevant to neuroscience and neuroscientists)
Author details: Author details must be entered as you wish them to appear in the abstract book. The first author is also the primary contact and the presenting author. The first author must be registered for the meeting and present in their allocated poster session. If extenuating circumstances prevent the first author from attending, presentation by a co-author is acceptable but only if they are also a registered delegate at the meeting.
Please tick the box to indicate all co-authors have been contacted and agree to the submission. The first author/primary contact has responsibility for the content on behalf of co-authors.
Abstract content: Enter your abstract text in the text box. Please note: symbols, sub- and superscript will not display if typed directly into the box (the box is plain text to reduce the likelihood of hacking). However, they will be reproduced correctly if copied from a Word document and then pasted into the box. We therefore recommend that you write your abstract in Word, and then copy and paste in to the abstract submission form.
Make check to make sure that any symbols (µ, β etc) have been entered and displayed correctly.
You can use up to 2,300 characters including spaces. If references are included these are counted in the character count.
1. Introduction
2. Methods
3. Approach for statistical analysis (e.g. ANOVA, confidence intervals, t-test etc)
4. Results and conclusions
If your traditional abstract does not include cover all four of these points, including your approach for statistical analysis (or a clear explanation for why it is impossible or inappropriate to include this) your abstract will not be accepted.
1. Introduction
2. Methods
3. Approach for statistical analysis (e.g. ANOVA, confidence intervals, t-test etc)
If your preregistration abstract does not include cover all three of these points, including your approach for statistical analysis (or a clear explanation for why it is impossible or inappropriate to include this) your abstract will not be accepted.
You can upload one image/figure. Images should be standard image format of jpg, pict, tiff, etc (not a PowerPoint slide, Word document, pdf or similar). Files must have resolution of 300 DPI or more. Please make sure the legend is part of the image, and is at a suitable size to read when displayed at around 10 cm x 10cm. If you wish to include a graph or table, please upload this as an image format.
Poster Prizes: This is open to PhD students and early career scientists (up to five years since graduating from highest qualification level; permanent faculty members are not eligible). Only presenting authors are eligible (presenting at the poster session, and first author on the abstract). Please tick the box if you meet the eligibility criteria and wish to be considered for a poster prize.
Oral presentations: You have the option to put forward your abstract to the Programme Committee for a short oral presentation. These are scheduled to take place in a rapid-fire session on during the Festival, giving you the chance to raise awareness of your research and invite people to visit your poster. Please note that poster talks are only 2 or 3 MINUTES long!!
If your abstract is selected for oral presentation, the presenting author will be permitted a maximum of one oral presentation in the program. Any authors selected to give an oral presentation will also give a poster presentation as well.
Declaration statement
During abstract submission you will be asked to tick that you comply with the declaration statement as follows:
I confirm that I have previewed this abstract and that all information is correct. I accept that the content of this abstract cannot be modified or corrected after final submission and I am aware that it will be published as submitted.
Submission of the abstract constitutes the consent of all authors to publication (e.g. Conference website, programs, other promotions, etc.)
I understand that I must select a specific topic for my abstract allocation. Although the Programme Committee will work hard to honour this selection, this cannot be guaranteed. The Programme Committee reserves the right to change the topic under which the abstract was originally submitted.
I warrant that no part of the information and content provided to the British Neuroscience Association (the BNA), nor the publication of any such content by the BNA, on the internet or otherwise, infringes any third party rights, including but not limited to privacy rights and/or intellectual property rights.
I grant the BNA the right to reproduce, publish, translate, distribute, and display the text of the Content on a royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable nonexclusive basis.
I understand that my abstract, if accepted, will be published in Brain and Neuroscience Advances journal.
I confirm that the contact details saved in this system are those of the presenting author, who will be notified about the status of the abstract. The presenting author is responsible for informing the other authors about the status of the abstract.
I understand that the presenting author must be a registered participant.
I understand that the BNA reserves the right to remove from publication and/or presentation an abstract which does not comply with the above.
Ethical standards statement
Where relevant, all abstracts submitted must have received ethical approval for the study. Ethical requirements for poster submissions to BNA2021 are stated below. During abstract submission you will be asked to declare that you comply with the following:
Experiments on animals and animal tissues -
I confirm that:
For work conducted in the UK, all procedures accorded with current UK legislation.
For work conducted elsewhere, all procedures accorded with current national legislation/guidelines or, in their absence, with current local guidelines.
Experiments on humans or human tissue -
I confirm that all procedures accorded with the ethical standards of the relevant national, institutional or other body responsible for human research and experimentation, and with the principles of the World Medical Association's Declaration of Helsinki.
Conflict of Interest and Disclosure Statement
In order for the BNA to properly evaluate the information, analysis and opinions presented in your abstract, it is important that they be informed of potential conflicts of interest pertinent to the research submitted.
Abstracts will not be reviewed without proper completion of the conflict of interest/disclosure section on the abstract submission form. The disclosure information you provide will not jeopardise proper review of your abstract.
In submitting your abstract you are also agreeing to declare any conflict of interests in your presentation at the Festival. During abstract submission you will be asked to state any conflicts of interest and give details on the online abstract form. Any disclosure information will then be stated in the scientific programme and the abstract volume.
If neither you nor any co-authors have anything to disclose, leave the tick-box blank on the online abstract submission form.
Please ensure all authors provide relevant information concerning personal or professional circumstances and relationships that might reasonably be expected to affect the author’s view on the subject. Examples include but are not limited to:
- Stock options or bond holdings in a for-profit corporation or self-directed pension plan
- Research grants
- Employment (full-time or part-time)
- Ownership or partnership
- Consulting fees or other remuneration (payment)
- Non-remunerative positions of influence such as officer, board member, trustee or public spokesperson
- Receipt of royalties
- Speaker’s bureau
The BNA welcomes abstract submissions by commercial organisations engaged in research, and encourages the reporting of research relevant to the meeting. In such instances, abstract content should not appear to promote commercial products (specific products should be referred to generically; brand names must not be referred to in the abstract content). Authors must disclose commercial interests during the submission process, as described above.
Selection process
The Programme Committee will review all submitted abstracts. Notification regarding abstract acceptance and scheduling will be sent to the submitting author.
Please note, if your abstract is accepted for oral presentation, the presenting author will be permitted a maximum of one oral presentation in the program.
In the unlikely event that your abstract is not accepted for presentation, and you no longer wish to attend the festival, you may request to cancel your registration. The abstract handling fee is non-refundable and there is a £10 administration charge to refund your registration fee. If your poster abstract is rejected and you wish to request a refund, please contact o[email protected].
Presenting your poster
Poster presenters will have the chance to enagage with visitors, and there will be many incentives in place to ensure delegates attend poster sessions.
We will keep you fully informed about what to expect on the online platform, what you need for your online poster, and we will also hold at least one poster presentation masterclass prior to the Festival where you can find out how to make the most of your poster to share your work, network, reach out to delegates, and to ask us any questions you may have.
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The Festival of Neuroscience is run by BNA Events Ltd (Company number 07784689), a wholly owned subsidiary of the British Neuroscience Association (Company Number: 04307833, Registered Charity No: 1103852).