Association for Materials & Methods in Paleontology

Abstract Submission Guidelines

Abstract Deadline

The 2021 abstract deadline has not been announced.

Adherence to AMMP Ethics Guidelines

By submitting your abstract, you are agreeing to abide by AMMP Ethics Guidelines as set forth in the Charter.

Author submission policy

The first listed author of the abstract is automatically the presenting author. There can be up to five co-authors.
TWO (2) first-authored abstracts can be submitted for consideration: one in each category (poster and oral).
If you have questions about your abstract, please email abstracts@paleomethods.org

Title and Abstract Text

Title and text must be in English, and in formal writing style.
The Title is limited to 255 characters including spaces and punctuation.
Abstract text is limited to 2,200 characters (approximately 314 words) including spaces and punctuation.
The abstract must describe completed work in detail (e.g. scope, purpose, methods, results).
If you are describing work that is completed, write in the past tense. If you are describing principles and procedures in general (e.g. Conservation of Waterlogged Wood or Proper Use of Consolidants, etc.) then present tense is appropriate.
Abstracts stating, "results will be discussed" are not acceptable. Standard abstract content includes results.
An abstract is not meant to be an advertisement, notification, pulp, or lure with cliffhangers.

Abstract Review Process

The Abstract Review Committee consists of members of AMMP who are experienced in all aspects of fossil preparation. Every abstract is judged blindly; the reviewers do not know the author of the abstract. In this way, each abstract is judged solely on its own merits and whether or not it conforms to AMMP standards and meets the Abstract Guidelines.

Submitters will be notified by email of acceptance or rejection. If there are any suggested or required edits, authors will be given time to submit updated abstracts.

Please note: The Abstract Review Committee reserves the right to reject any submission that does not meet AMMP standards of best practices in preparation and conservation.

Additional Guidelines and Recommendations

Have colleagues read your abstract; if it is not clear to them it will not be clear to a wider audience.

Use spelling and grammar check.

Italicize genus and species designations throughout your title and text.

Font style and size formatting is not important. All abstracts will be standardized to the same font style and size for publication in the Annual Meeting Abstract Booklet.

A good abstract contains the following elements:

What is the problem you are trying to solve, what is the project?
Why is it important?
Clearly explain the project, or the question you are attempting to answer.
Describe the experiments, methods and materials that you used to solve the problem or complete the project.
Describe the results of your work, and then present your conclusions.
What is the impact of this work?

The abstract should contain as much information as possible. Unless you publish elsewhere (and you should), the published abstract is all that may be available about your work.

Be specific about products and methods. For example, you could say that the specimen was molded, but you should say that the specimen was molded with a layered mold using Silicones, Inc., GI 1000, backed by a mother mold of FGR-95 and fiberglass. This is not just important in terms of the abstract but as a written record of what has happened to particular specimens.

You can mention products in your abstract and in the presentation, but the AMMP meeting is not a forum for a sales pitch of your product. Be accurate as to how a product was used. For example: Paraloid B-72 at 50/50 w/w in acetone was used as an adhesive.

2021 Host Committee

Shawn Haugrud, Chair Eastern Tennessee State University and Gray Fossil Site

Abstract Submission Guidelines

Additional Guidelines and Recommendations

Suggested Topics