Who should submit:  Anyone wishing to give a presentation (oral or poster) at the ERF 2007 Conference, Providence, RI, November 4-8, 2007.  You do not need to be a member of ERF to submit!  If not a member, we encourage you to consider joining ERF and save with the member discount.

Deadline:  All abstracts must be RECEIVED (not postmarked) by May 23, 2007 11:59PM EST/May 24, 2007 04:59GMT (more info)

• Abstracts will not be accepted by fax or e-mail.

Payment:  Abstracts will not be accepted into the scientific program without payment.  The ERF 2007 fees are $60 USD on-line submissions and $70 USD for mail-in submissions.  Secure on-line payment is available at the end of the submission process.  Please be prepared to enter your System Identification Number (SysID) obtained when submitting your abstract. (more info)

• We strongly recommend paying for on-line submissions using a credit card (VISA, MasterCard or American Express).
• Your credit card statement will reflect payment to Schneider & Associates (the conference management firm), not the Estuarine Research Federation.
• For questions regarding payment, contact the Schneider Group at erf2007@sgmeet.com or by phone at 254-776-3550.

One presentation:  It is Federation policy to allow only one presentation per person; thus, you may only present one talk or poster during the course of the conference. You may co-author as many abstracts as you wish.

Mail-in submissions:  Accepted on a limited basis.   On-line submissions are highly recommended. Please see Mail-in submissions, below, for instructions. (more info)

• If you cannot submit on-line, contact the Schneider Group as soon as possible at erf2007@sgmeet.com or by phone at 254-776-3550 to receive complete mail-in instructions.

Web browser:  Please submit from a Windows-based browser (such as Explorer) or use FireFox for Macintosh computers.

Safari users can copy/paste text but NOT formatting or symbols.  To format text and use symbols, Safari users must use the formatting symbols found in a special link located at the abstract submittal site. 

Submittal process:  This is a five-step process: entering title and general information, entering author information, copying/pasting (defined as uploading) the abstract text, confirming the entry and linking to the payment site for payment options.  Do not use the back button on your browser to make corrections.  Use the Submission Control Panel on the bottom left of your screen to go back to a window to make changes.

Submission Control Panel:  To view or change your information in a previous screen, use this panel located on the bottom left of your screen to navigate backwards and forwards (e.g., choose Title to return to the title window).  Do not use the back button on your browser.  (more info) 

• Located on the bottom left of the screen.
• Lists the four windows used to enter submission information: Title, Authors, Upload and Confirm.
• Once you have entered information in a window, use these links to go back to the window to make changes. Do not use the back button on your browser.
• Use the View Submission link to view all of the information you have entered.
• Use the Troubleshooting link to view FAQs and help solve problems.
• Use the Contact Technical Support link to e-mail technical issues and problems to the support team.

Submittal Questions:  For all submittal questions except payment, use the Troubleshooting link on the bottom left of the screen to see (Frequently Asked Questions) FAQs.  Use the Contact Technical Support link to e-mail technical issues/problems to the abstract submittal service (Omnipress).  For payment questions, please email erf2007@sgmeet.com or call 254-776-3550. 

Stopping/Restarting a submission:  If you need to stop your submission before it is finished, you must make note of the SysID and password displayed in the Submission Control Panel on the left of the screen.  You must use these numbers to log back in to complete your submission.

Modifying/Viewing later:  You can view and make changes to your abstract any time prior to the May 23, 2007 deadline. To log in, use the SysID number and password listed on the confirmation e-mail sent when you completed your submission.  If you have lost your SysID number, please email either sue.chalifoux@unh.edu or erf2007@sgmeet.com. 

Language & units:  All submissions must be in English, preferably using metric units.

Title:  Fifteen (15) words maximum using title formatting:  all major words capitalized (uppercase); all minor words (such as the, a, and) entered as lowercase.

Abstract Length:  200 words maximum. Text only: no tables, graphs, pictures, etc. (more info)

• The abstract text cannot exceed 200 words and must be a single paragraph.
• Separate sentences using only one space.
• Do not include figures, pictures, keywords or author information in the abstract text.
• Please make your abstract as informative and representative of your presentation as possible.

Formatting:  Windows-based and Firefox users on Macintosh computers may copy/paste formatting from a word processing program.  Safari users must use the formatting/symbols link to format text; formatting will not be recognized when text is cut and pasted into the title or abstract text boxes.

Symbols/Special Characters: Windows-based programs and Firefox users on Macintosh computers may copy/paste symbols and special characters from a word processing program.  Safari users must select from the formatting/symbols list; symbols will not be recognized when text is cut and pasted from a word processing program.

Sessions:  You must choose two.  If you have been in contact with one of the session conveners, choose that session as your first choice.   Please link to the Session Titles by Category page for a list of the session titles.  Please link to the Program page on the ERF 2007 conference web site for summaries and conveners of the sessions. (more info) 

• Please be aware that your abstract may be moved to a session other than the one you have chosen, or you may be asked to switch your requested presentation format. The committee appreciates your flexibility in this matter.

Oral or Poster Presentation: Please indicate if you prefer to give an oral or poster presentation.  (more info) 

• A poster board space measuring 4-foot high by 8-foot long (with pins) is provided at no cost.
• We will try to accommodate various alternative poster mediums such as video, computer or Internet link, however, the additional costs of providing such services will be the responsibility of the presenters.  A request form for items other than a poster board is available at the ERF 2007 conference website.
• The scientific program committee may ask you to switch presentation formats.  The committee appreciates your cooperation in this matter.

Students:  Please indicate your status (undergraduate, master or PhD student) and whether you would like your oral or poster presentation to be judged (therefore, eligible for Best Student Presentation awards).

Authors: Identify the corresponding and the presenting authors.  Please provide as much information about each author as possible.

Confirmation:  After the submittal process has been completed, confirmation e-mails will be sent to the corresponding author’s email address. (more info)

• The person designated corresponding author will receive a confirmation e-mail after the submittal process is completed. Please be sure the e-mail address has no misspellings.
• The confirmation will include your SysID number and a password which can be used to submit changes to your abstract prior to May 23, 2007.

Conference registration:  You must register for the conference to make a presentation. You may register while paying for your abstract submittal or go to the ERF 2007 conference site at http://www.erf.org at anytime. Early registration discount information and cancellation policies are found at that site. 

Questions? Contact Susan Chalifoux at sue.chalifoux@unh.edu for questions about the scientific program.   Contact the Schneider Group at erf2007@sgmeet.com with questions about the payment process.  Contact Janet Barnes at barnes@erf.org for any specific ERF questions.