Abstract Submission Instructions

Abstract Deadline — Tuesday, January 6, 2015, 5:00 p.m. U.S. Central Standard Time (GMT -6)

  • Late abstracts will NOT be accepted, regardless of the reason.
  • Abstracts are limited to two pages, and must be submitted in PDF format.
  • Abstracts must be submitted in U.S. letter-sized format (8.5" × 11")
  • Abstract file sizes are limited to 1.0 MB
  • NOTE — Remember that speakers must be one of the first five authors listed, and brief abstract summaries are limited to 160 characters
  • NOTE — Replacement files will NOT be accepted under any circumstances after the deadline has passed. Make sure you read your abstract CAREFULLY before submitting, and allow sufficient time to have your abstract approved by your institutional review process, your advisor, etc. If you notice after the deadline that you left off an author, or have a typo in one of your data points, or any other careless error, your abstract will be published as is. (Authors are able to replace their own submissions up until the time of the deadline, but not after.)

Authors are encouraged to start the submission process early so the USRA staff will have time to provide assistance in the event of technical problems. For technical assistance, contact Linda Tanner (281-486-2142) or Renée Dotson (281-486-2188), or send an e-mail message to [email protected].

Unable to Produce PDF Files?   Authors who are unable to produce a PDF file may send their source files (must be in Word or PostScript format) to USRA no later than December 30, 2014. A PDF file will be created and returned to the author, but it is the author’s responsibility to submit that PDF file by the time of the abstract deadline. Source files should be sent to [email protected].

Topics —

The topic selections emphasize planetary processes, rather than planetary bodies. As you select the appropriate topic for your abstract, keep in mind an important objective of the conference:   fresh, interesting, and informative sessions.

Authors are strongly encouraged to choose a primary AND secondary topic in order to help the program committee construct compelling topical session themes.

Topics available on this year’s submission form are:

  • Impacts
  • Planetary Dynamics/Tectonics
  • Planetary Differentiation
  • Planetary Atmospheres
  • Planetary Aeolian Processes
  • Planetary Fluvial Processes
  • Planetary Polar Processes and/or Cryospheres
  • Planetary Volcanism and Igneous Processes
  • Exobiology
  • Cosmochemical Origins (disk evolution including accretion)
  • Early Solar System Chronology
  • Presolar Grains and Interplanetary Dust Particles (including Stardust)
  • Small Bodies (including comets, asteroids, and near-Earth objects)
  • Outer Planets/Satellites/Rings
  • Differentiated Meteorites and Bodies
  • Chondrites and Their Components:   Solar Nebular and Asteroidal Processes
  • Martian Geomorphology
  • Martian Geochemistry and Petrology
  • Moon:   From Core to Crust
  • Moon:   From Crust to Space
  • Venus
  • Mercury
  • Education and Public Outreach
  • Material Analogs (including both physical and chemical)
  • Environmental Analogs (including terrestrial operational analogs)
  • Planetary Mission Concepts
  • Instrument and Payload Concepts
  • Special Session:  MAVEN First Results
  • Special Session:  The Rosetta Mission So Far
  • Special Session:  How Young is Young?
  • Special Session:  Tracing the Evolution of the Ancient Martian Atmosphere
    and Climate
  • Other

Note that the “Other” category should only be used for unusual cases for which NONE of the other categories seem to be appropriate. All abstracts must be categorized in order to be reviewed for placement in a session, so if you don’t pick a specific topic, someone else will pick one for you.

Abstract Submission Policies —

First authors are limited to TWO abstracts for oral or poster presentation requests. Authors may request any combination of two — but no more than two — oral and poster presentation formats (i.e., two orals, two posters, or one oral and one poster).

The only exception to this rule is for invited abstracts. If one of your abstracts is for an invited presentation, put a note to that effect in the comments box.

All authors requesting oral presentation must indicate their second choice for presentation mode (poster or print only).

Authors submitting two abstracts for oral presentation will be asked to rank them in order of preference.

Authors requesting a print-only abstract cannot submit an abstract for an oral or a poster presentation, and are limited to ONE print-only request. Print-only abstracts are allowed only under the following conditions:  (1) from members of the community who will not be able to attend the meeting or (2) from authors who are NOT submitting an abstract for oral or poster presentation.

Use of Meteorite Names —

All meteorites that are cited in abstracts must have official names approved by the Nomenclature Committee. Authors can use the Meteoritical Bulletin Database to check the status of a meteorite name. New meteorites not yet approved by the Nomenclature Committee must be submitted by December 20 in order to be considered in time for the abstract submission deadline. The instructions for submitting new meteorite names can be found on the Meteoritical Society website.

The full names of meteorites should be used in titles, subheadings, and at first mention in the text. Abbreviations, including those published in the Antarctic Meteorite Newsletter and the Meteoritical Bulletin, may be used in tables and elsewhere. Note that in the abbreviated form, there should be a space between the place name and the number. In addition, Antarctic meteorites recovered prior to 1981 may have an A after the blank space. Please see the list of standard abbreviations and examples of their proper usage.

All meteorite names included in LPSC abstracts must be listed on the abstract submission form. A representative of the Meteorite Nomenclature Committee will be reviewing the abstracts to make certain that all authors are in compliance with the policies stated above. The program committee reserves the right to reject any abstract found to be in violation of these rules.

Preparation and Submission of Abstracts —

Step 1:  Download the appropriate template

Step 2:  Write the abstract (no more than two pages) using the format shown in the template

Step 3:  Create a PDF file (no larger than 1 MB)

Step 4:  Fill out the electronic abstract submission form