2013 Annual Conference Call for Abstracts: Student Research ...

American Public Gardens Association: 2013 Annual ConferenceCall for Abstracts: Student Research Presentation SessionThe American Public Gardens Association is accepting abstracts for the Student Research PresentationSession at its 2013 Annual Conference, to be held May 20-24 in Phoenix, AZ.Session Description:The Student Research Presentation Session is devoted exclusively to research findings presented byundergraduate and/or graduate students, and will consist of six (6) 15-minute oral presentations. Thesession is intended to encourage discussion and facilitate the exchange of current, research-basedinformation pertaining to public horticulture. It also provides an opportunity for students at universitiesand public horticulture institutions to gain public speaking experience in a professional environment, andpresents a forum in which existing professionals may meet their rising peers.Topic Areas:Research abstracts addressing diverse topics within the field of public horticulture are welcome.Examples of such topics are as follows:• Horticultural exhibition and display• Plant collections policy and development• Plant-based science (Applied science that has potential value to public horticulture)• Conservation initiatives• Development and fundraising• Education, interpretation, and public programming• Institutional relationships and outreach• Marketing and promotionRequirements:In order for abstracts to be considered, the following requirements must be met:• The author must be a current undergraduate or graduate student, a student intern, or a recentlygraduated student (within the past year) who conducted their work prior to graduation. Studentsmust be from accredited institutions of higher education.• The person presenting the abstract must be the author or a co-author of the abstract.• Accepted presenters must be registered and paid in full for the APGA Annual Conferencepreferably by April 12, 2013. Late registrations could lead APGA to remove the abstract from theprogram.• Oral or display/poster presentations are not required, but are strongly preferred as a prerequisiteto receive a student travel award for the APGA 2013 Conference.Submission Deadline:Abstracts will be accepted for review through March 1, 2013.Selection Process:All abstract submissions will be considered independently from other 2013 APGA Conference sessions.The Abstract Review and Selection Committee have full authority to accept or reject an abstract uponevaluation of the title and abstract. Rejection of an abstract by this Committee will be considered final.Authors will be notified of acceptance into the Student Research Presentation Session by March 16, 2013.Authors not accepted into the Student Research Presentation Session are encouraged to present a poster

on their topics. These authors are not required to complete the poster submission form, but must confirmtheir participation by the deadline of April 5, 2013.Submission Details and More Information:To submit an abstract, download and complete the Abstract Submission Form, which is available at theAPGA 2013 Conference Website: http://publicgardens.org/content/conference-2012.Tips for Abstract ConstructionAbstract Structure• Use strong writing skills (grammar, punctuation, spelling, and word use) to contributeto a clear understanding of the abstract.Completeness and Clarity of Research• Match the subject of your title to the project described in the abstract.• Describe your objectives and the research methodologies used.• Ensure that there is evidence of substantial results presented in the abstract.Applicability to the Profession• Ensure that the research and proposed content of the presentation, as articulated bythe abstract, are applicable to the field of public horticulture.For more information, contact Rebecca Pledger at pledgerrl@gmail.com.