AOC 2026

Abstract Guidelines for Posters & Talks

Abstracts should be submitted in English following registration through the submission portal. Abstracts should follow standard scientific practice, clearly summarising your contribution. Each abstract should provide enough context for adjudication by the conference’s Scientific Programme Committee and for delegates to understand your contribution’s significance.

Structure

Title – Abstract titles should preferably not exceed 20 words. Titles must reflect those printed on the final poster or opening slide of the oral presentation. Titles should be concise but informative, allowing the reader to easily identify the topic of the poster/presentation.

Author/Contributor names and affiliations – On the submission portal, please clearly indicate the given name(s) and family name(s), institutional affiliations and email addresses of each author/contributor and check that all names are accurately spelled. All authors or contributors should be listed in an order that is in line with standard journal conventions (e.g. see Journal of Asian Ornithology, Avian Research, etc). Consent should be sought from all authors/contributors prior to submission.

Body - The body of the abstract, submitted through the submission portal, should not exceed a maximum of 200 words. Abstract bodies should be written in the past tense (for completed studies) or present tense (for ongoing or conceptual work).

Spelling and grammar may follow British (International) or American English conventions, but combination of both should be avoided.
Write in plain, concise English, using full sentences (no bullet points).
Do not include figures or tables in abstracts.
References should be avoided, but if essential, only in-text references citing the author(s)’ last names and year(s) are required.
Non-standard or uncommon abbreviations should be avoided, but if essential they must be defined at their first mention in the abstract itself.
Abstracts may not contain any jargon or acronyms.

Keywords – On the submission portal, up to 6 keywords, linked with the research, should be given.

Tips for a Strong Abstract

Focus on clarity, not detail. Think of the abstract as a brief “story” of your research.
Highlight what makes your work novel, important or applicable.
When in doubt, follow the guidelines Journal of Avian Ornithology or Avian Research for specific formatting.
See Nature summary paragraph guidelines for further useful abstract writing tips: https://www.nature.com/documents/nature-summary-paragraph.pdf

Poster Guidelines

Poster Size Requirements:

Poster size should be A0 (841 x 1189 mm).
Posters should be printed in portrait orientation.

Layout & Content:

Include the title, author names and affiliations at the top.
The specific layout is otherwise flexible. However, contributors are encouraged to adhere to the following guidelines:

Use large, readable fonts with clear colour contrasts to the backing and consistent formatting.
Spelling and grammar may follow British (International) or American English conventions, but combination of both should be avoided.
Organise content in clear sections (e.g. Introduction / Objectives, Methods, Results, Conclusions / Implications, etc.).
Keep text concise.
Include high-quality visuals (i.e. figures, maps and photos). Ensure graphics are visible from a reasonable standing distance.
Include your contact email or QR code for follow-up discussions.

Presentation Session:

Presenters should be available at their posters during the designated poster session to discuss their work with delegates.
Posters should be set up before the session and removed after the conference organisers' indicated time. See the conference programme in due course for further information.

Oral Presentation Guidelines

Standard oral presentations are to be delivered in English and are 15 minutes, including time for questions (typically 10-12 minutes for the talk and 3-5 minutes for discussion). Session chairs will keep all sessions on schedule, so please ensure your presentation fits within the allotted time.

Format & Setup:

Prepare your slides in PowerPoint (.ppt/.pptx) or PDF format, using a 16:9 widescreen layout.
Where text is used, high-contrast colours for readability are encouraged.
Inclusion of your talk's title, author names and affiliations on the opening slide are encouraged.
Presentations will be run from a conference computer. Please follow the conference programme or seek the assistance of conference organisers about the process of uploading and/or testing your slides in advance of your presentation.