For many events the BSP will issue a call for abstracts (CfA) which will require the submission of an abstract and a biography. When submitting an abstract and biography, please keep the following writing advice in mind:

Advice for writing an abstract

The abstract should be given a title, and the body of the text should have less than or about the number of words indicated in the word limit for the CfA. A few words over are fine and will not invalidate the submission.

The abstract title and text will be anonymised on the BSP system – as all other information is entered separately. Accordingly, you should not include your name or anything else that indicates your identity in the abstract entry.

The abstract will be reviewed individually by each member an expert team of academics from differing disciplines reflecting the audience of the event. Accordingly, the abstract should be composed with accessibility in mind, giving the big picture of the intended presentation, rather than intricate details.

Only minimal citations are needed with an abstract. You should not include a list of texts cited after the abstract. Rather, if you mention a book or essay, it is fine to just put the title with the date of publication in parentheses in the main body of the abstract. For example: ‘as with Hannah Arendt (1977)’, or ‘as Arendt writes in The Life of the Mind [I] (1977)’.

There is no need to italicise book titles, or use italics, bold, or underlining in the submission. This is because text formatting will not be preserved across all methods of publication.

An abstract is a projected overview of the final written paper. If your submission is accepted, and if when writing up your paper things change slightly as your research progresses, there is no need to update your abstract or title with the organising team. It is fine to say a few words about what has changed and why in the introduction to your presentation. Of course, if you do feel it necessary to have the title or abstract updated, get in touch.

Advice for writing a biography

Your biography should have less than or about the number of words indicated in the word limit for the CfA. A few words over are fine and will not invalidate the submission.

You should compose your biography in the third person, using your name, and so forth, rather than using the first person ‘I’.

The biography is not made available to our panel during the review process, and so you can include any relevant information you want, e.g. you can mention your affiliation (academic or professional) as well as any publications you wish in the biography.