Abstract Submission GuidelinesAbstract Deadline: November 16, 2025 11:59pm USA Central Time (CT) Platform/Poster Information
Adherence to AMMP Ethics Guidelines
Author Submission Policy
Title and Content
Images (optional)
| 2026 Host Committee Clint Boyd, Chair North Dakota Geological Survey Mindy Householder Alex Gardner Cathy Lash Jeff Person |
A well written abstract contains the following elements:
Project
Results
Health and Safety
The abstract should contain as much information as possible. Unless you publish elsewhere, the published abstract is all that may be available to describe your work.
Be specific about products and methods. For example, if a specimen was molded, include the molding method or type of mold created and products used; ‘the specimen was molded as a layered mold using Silicones, Inc., GI 1000, backed by a mother mold of FGR-95 and fiberglass’. This is important not only for abstract content, but also as a written record of specimen preparation or conservation history.
Mention of specific products used is encouraged, but this is not a forum for a sales pitch of your product. Be accurate about how a product was used. For example, ‘Paraloid B-72 at 50/50 in acetone was used as an adhesive’.
See an example of a well-written abstract here:
APPLICATION OF CARBOPOL SOLVENT GEL WITH NOVEC 73DE TO PREPARE ASPHALTIC FOSSILS FROM RANCHO LA BREAHave colleagues read your abstract. If it is not clear to them, it will not be clear to a wider audience.
Use spelling and grammar checks.
Italicize genus and species designations throughout your title and text.
New techniques
New materials
Testing of materials and techniques
Basics of…
Historical review of…
Field methods
Conservation
Collection management
Exhibits
Case studies: following a specimen through the complete process of preparation, explaining which decisions were made and why
Abstracts outside of the goals and objectives of AMMP may be rejected.
Never written an abstract?
There are resources to assist you in writing your abstract:
YouTube (search "how to write an abstract"
Past meetings abstract programs (ex. 2023 Abstract Program.pdf)
There are resources online for how to make videos. Here are a few starter links for creating videos:
Basic do's and don'ts for shooting video with your phone:
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/06/22/how-to-shoot-great-video-with-your-iphone-or-android-smartphone.html
https://vimeo.com/blog/post/creating-video-on-your-phone/
To edit video on your desktop, Macs come equipped with iMovie. Windows 10 also has video editing capabilities: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6yQwLuoO3w&feature=emb_rel_pause
There are many other applications for editing video, from simpler apps (as above) to professional software (e.g. Adobe Premiere).
YouTube's Creator Academy has many tutorials on making video under the "Production" heading:
https://creatoracademy.youtube.com/page/learning-toolkits
How to turn Powerpoint presentations into video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8JV3w4TOVw
How to use ZOOM to record your Powerpoint presentation: https://vimeo.com/456352405/e744a924e8
Abstract Review ProcessThe Abstract Review Committee consists of AMMP members who are experienced in all aspects of fossil preparation and conservation, fieldwork, and collection management. Every abstract is reviewed blindly; the reviewers do not know the author of the abstract. In this way, each abstract is judged solely on its own merits, whether or not it conforms to AMMP standards, and meets the Abstract Guidelines. Authors will be notified by email of acceptance or rejection. If there are any suggested or required edits, authors will be given time to submit updated abstracts. Please note: The Abstract Subcommittee and AMMP Board reserve the right to reject any submission that does not meet AMMP standards of best practices in preparation and conservation and/or does not depict and utilize correct health and safety materials and practices. For more information on best practices, please see the Preparator Core Competencies. |
The information presented during the annual meeting of the Association for Materials & Methods in Paleontology (AMMP) or on the AMMP website (www.paleomethods.org) is presented for informational purposes only and is solely the opinion of the authors. AMMP makes no warranties or representations of any kind whatsoever, either express or implied, concerning the accuracy or suitability of the information contained herein for any purpose. Use of the information is at your sole risk. AMMP does not endorse the advice, opinions, results, statements, or other information displayed, uploaded, or distributed by any user, person, or entity. AMMP will not be held responsible for the use of information, or as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of any content, information, material, or any links to other sites made available on the AMMP website.