Presentations come in three primary formats: iPoster presentations, Oral presentations, and Dissertation presentations.
In addition, submitted abstracts typically fall into five categories: Plenary presentations, Research Contributed presentations, History Contributed presentations, Education Contributed presentations, and Community and Profession presentations.
Read on for descriptions and tips for each.
Presentation Formats
iPoster Presentations
Video Tutorial
Description:
iPoster presentations can be submitted by attendees. With the iPoster system, you will be able to create an visual+oral presentation using the iPoster interactive presentation that includes high-resolution images, high-definition videos, narration, interviews, viewer surveys, and more.
- You will be scheduled to present your iPoster during the morning or evening poster session in the Exhibit Hall.
- You will create your iPoster online using easy-to-use, web-based templates.
- You can add as much text and media content as you need to present your research with all the detail it deserves.
- Your iPoster will be displayed at an in-person meeting on large-format HD touch screens and will be downloadable to smartphones, tablets, and desktop computers during the meeting and for six months after it concludes.
- Following your presentation, you may stand at an available terminal and answer additional questions from attendees.
- iPoster screens are available at all other times to display the iPosters in the gallery.
Tips:
- After your abstract is scheduled, you will receive a username and password to log in and author your iPoster.
- Viewers can reach out to you via the "Contact Author" button at the bottom of your poster.
- You may wish to include narration so attendees can listen to your presentation (while they scroll through your iPoster) even when you're not there.
- If you are a student, you may wish to enter your iPoster as a candidate for the Chambliss Astronomy Achievement Student Award. Please visit the link for eligibility requirements.
Oral Presentations
Video Tutorial
Description:
Oral presentations can be submitted by both attendees. To avoid too many oral sessions running simultaneously, the number of oral presentation time slots is limited. Oral presentations can be changed to posters if there are no remaining slots. All authors whose abstracts are changed will be notified.
- Five minutes are allowed for the normal oral presentation.
- Three minutes are allotted after each presentation for questions and open discussion.
Tips:
- When preparing your presentation, we suggest a maximum of three slides for a five-minute talk. Slides should be uncluttered and easy to read.
- Practice a few times so the presentation fits comfortably into the five-minute slot.
- Read the AV instructions.
Dissertation Presentations
Dissertation presentations can be submitted by attendees. If you would like to present a dissertation abstract, select the "Research Contributed/Dissertation" option in the abstract submission form.
- Dissertation presentations are 15-minute oral presentations plus 3 minutes for discussion. They should be based on the author’s dissertation material and will be presented within regular oral sessions of appropriate topics.
- Only students or graduates within one year (as measured from the regular abstract deadline date, not the date of the meeting) of having a Ph.D. conferred by their university or college are eligible; the author’s advisor must attest to this fact in writing. The author must submit a copy of the thesis advisor’s letter in PDF format through the abstract submission website by the abstract deadline. A PDF copy of an email message is sufficient as long as the advisor’s email address is legible. If the advisor letter is not received, the dissertation will automatically be treated as a regular abstract.
- Students or graduates wishing to submit dissertation abstracts must be accepted for membership in the AAS by the abstract deadline.
- These abstracts are subject to the same rules of preparation and submission as regular abstracts, but they will be specially marked with a “D” in the program materials.
- If you are attending a winter meeting, you may wish to be considered for the Rodger Doxsey Travel Prize. Please review the background and rules for application.
Presentation Categories
Plenary Presentations
- Prize Lectures
- Invited Lectures
Plenary sessions are 50 minutes long; no other sessions or events are scheduled in parallel with them. To allow time for introductions, prize presentations, and question-and-answer (Q&A) periods, prize and invited lecturers should plan to speak for at most 40 minutes. Plenary speakers will receive special abstract and presentation instructions from the AAS Executive Office.
Research Contributed Presentations
- Research Contributed Oral & iPoster Presentations
- Dissertation Oral Presentations
History Contributed Presentations
- History Oral Presentations & iPoster Presentations
Education Contributed Presentations
- Education Oral & iPoster Presentations
- Community & Profession Presentations
Research, History, Education, and Community & Profession oral presentations, as well as Dissertation oral presentations, are arranged by topic and are scheduled in 90-minute sessions of five to nine talks each. For a Research, History, or Education oral presentation, allow 5 minutes for the talk, 3 minutes for Q&A, and 2 minutes for change-over. For a Dissertation oral presentation, allow 15 minutes for the talk, 3 minutes for Q&A, and 2 minutes for change-over.
Research, History, Education, and Community & Profession iPosters allow far more time and flexibility than the corresponding oral presentations. iPosters will be arranged by topic and are created online using easy-to-use, web-based templates. Your iPoster will be displayed in the iPoster Gallery and will be downloadable to smartphones, tablets, and desktop computers during the meeting and for at least one year after it concludes. You can add as much text, media content, and recorded narration as you need to present your research with all the detail it deserves.
Other Types of Abstracts
- Division prize & invited presentations
- Division contributed oral and iPoster presentations
- Special Session invited presentations
- Special Session contributed oral and iPoster presentations
When AAS Divisions meet with the AAS, they organize oral and poster sessions and sometimes, prize and/or invited lectures. The latter are sometimes scheduled into regular oral sessions and may have time limits different from those associated with plenary presentations or contributed oral presentations; Division prize and invited lecturers will receive special abstract and presentation instructions from the AAS Executive Office or their respective Division leaders.
The format of Special Sessions and Meetings-in-a-Meeting are at the discretion of the organizer, who may choose to include invited presentations and/or contributed oral and/or iPoster presentations. Invited lecturers will receive special abstract and presentation instructions from the AAS Executive Office or their respective session organizers. If contributed presentations are welcome, suitable categories will be included on the abstract submission form. Acceptance of such abstracts is at the discretion of the relevant session organizer, but if a paper is not accepted into the requested Special Session, it will be scheduled in another appropriate session of contributed presentations. If enough iPoster abstracts are received, an associated poster session will be scheduled on the same day(s) as the Special Session.