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Writing an Abstract:

The purpose of an abstract is to summarize the major aspects of your project in a single paragraph. For the SRC, your abstract should not exceed 100 words.

Here's a guideline to walk through as you write your abstract:

Choose your abstract title

The title should make it clear what your project is about and spark interest. Keep it concise. If you can’t read it in one breath, it’s probably too long!

Define the background and motivation

This section answers the “why” of your research. Start with one or two sentences stating what is known in your field of study. Then, point out the gap that your research addresses or what question(s) you’re trying to answer. You need to convey what is the purpose of your project and its relevance. You can also outline your goals and/or hypothesis here.

Briefly describe your methodology

Answer the “how” of your project. Outline the tools, study design, sample characteristics. There’s no need to be overly detailed here. For example, you don’t need to get into the specifics of the statistic tests you used if your project goals are not related to statistics.

Main results and findings

This is the “what” section, as in “what did you find”? Ideally, the results should be the longest section of the abstract, say 40-50% of the total word count. This gives you some leeway in how many sentences you can use. State the main findings of your work in accordance with what you wrote in the background section.

Conclusions and relevance

Clearly state the main conclusion(s) that arise from your results. This is the moment to express the significance of your findings. Contrast them to existing literature; are they in accordance or opposition to previous studies? Highlight any novelty in your discoveries. Express the implications of your findings within the field and what new research avenues they open.

We want to make it as easy as possible for you to encourage students to participate in the SRC. FOUR is happy to send you the following items (digitally or through campus mail):​

• Registration save-the-date cards
• Posters
• Pre-formatted emails

If you are in need of another resource, please feel free to contact the SRC Coordinator at uvmsrc@uvm.edu. 

Classes at the 200-level are allowed to present their work at the SRC. There are two ways that a class can present their work:

1. Individual Presentations: The faculty member must provide the SRC Coordinator with a roster prior to registration. Individual students are treated much like general presenters. If the class will be presenting posters and is comprised of undergraduates, Fellowships, Opportunities, & Undergraduate Research will split the poster-printing costs with the presenting department. Each student will be required to register individually. The SRC Coordinator will use the roster to contact the faculty member close to the deadline about those not yet registered. The instructing professor will be the "faculty sponsor" on each project and will therefore receive a copy of each student's registration. If you would like for all individual class presentations to be categorized as a special session, please contact the SRC Coordinator at uvmsrc@uvm.edu with your session title and description. 
2. Group Presentations: One presenter from each group will register with the necessary information for co-presenters on hand. The faculty member must provide the SRC Coordinator with a roster prior to registration. Each group will be treated similarly to any other individual who registers with co-presenters. If the class will be doing posters and is comprised of undergraduates, Fellowships, Opportunities, & Undergraduate Research will split the poster-printing costs with the presenting department. Each group will be required to register individually. The SRC Coordinator will use the roster to contact the faculty member close to the deadline about those not yet registered. The instructing professor will be the "faculty sponsor" on each project and will therefore receive a copy of each group's registration. If you would like for all class presentations to be categorized as a special session, please contact the SRC Coordinator at uvmsrc@uvm.edu with your session title and description.

Formally there are very few responsibilities. When your student submits their registration form, you will be notified. We ask that you check the notification to ensure that the submitted abstract and project is on par with the level (quality, substance, and independence-based) at which research is expected to be for participation.

The SRC Coordinator collects lists from departments and programs at the start of the spring semester and will happily track which students do and do not register. You will be alerted of which registrations are still incomplete one week prior to registration closing.

The SRC is a place to highlight the work that you are currently doing or an avenue you may wish to pursue. Do you want to focus on your research group, a class you are teaching (or interested in developing), or even a current event that you would like to see presented (just some ideas)?  Start by Proposing a Special Session. Then you may bring students you already know OR we will provide you with a list of students who are presenting at this year's SRC and you may choose 4-6 to participate in your session.