Abstracts

Research for a Changing World

2025 Graduate Student
Research Conference

The Athabasca University Graduate Students’ Association (AUGSA) and the Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS) at Athabasca University (AU) invite graduate and undergraduate students and 2024-2025 alumni to submit abstracts and posters for the 2025 Graduate Student Research Conference (GSRC), which will take place in-person in Edmonton, Alberta on November 7th, 8th, and 9th.

The GSRC is a multi-disciplinary academic research forum that brings together graduate students and alumni, staff, and faculty from all disciplines at AU. In addition to facilitating research links between graduate students and alumni, the GSRC offers the opportunity to showcase student research, and to develop and gain research presentation experience in a supportive peer environment. It is the ideal setting for thesis students to test themselves and prepare for their public thesis defense and high-profile national and international research conferences.

This year’s conference theme is “Research for a Changing World.” The post-COVID-19 era is defined by rapid and complex transformations across all aspects of life. These changes impact social inequalities, economic uncertainties, and climate change. Disruptive technologies like artificial intelligence are reshaping industries, while the rise of multiple global powers is fueling international tensions and conflicts. 

These upheavals produce new behaviors and raise challenging questions whose answers are not obvious. In such a context, Athabasca University graduate student research, is called upon to play two major roles. On the one hand, to provide answers to better understand the consequences of these upheavals in people lives, organizations, and communities and, on the other hand, to propose transformative, adaptable, sustainable, and inclusive solutions to end poverty, protect the planet, support peace, and generate prosperity for collective well-being. 

True to tradition, submissions from all disciplines are encouraged and accepted, whether the research is completed or in progress. New graduate students who have not started their own research are also encouraged to attend to gain experience.

How to Submit

The abstract submission system will be open and available here on June 30, 2025. 

Paper Presentations
Abstract Submisson Instructions

Please follow the usual conventions of your discipline.  For example, some disciplines generally require abstracts to be organized with headings, whereas other disciplines do not. If you are uncertain of the norms within your discipline, ask one of your supervisors or inquire with the conference organizers prior to submitting your abstract.

Follow the instructions below when filling out the Abstract Submission Form. Make sure to include your presentation format and presentation content in your abstract submission.

Tips on writing a well-structured abstract can be found here.

Instructions for completing the abstract submission form:

General Information Section

Submission Type:

  • Specify your submission type (In-person Paper)
  • Paper presentations will be a maximum of 20 minutes (15 minutes for presentation and 5 minutes for Q&A)

Autor(s) section

Biography:

Biographies should be written in third-person narrative. Keep it brief, yet relative and informative. Biographies need to be added for each author (maximum 75 words each).

Sample Biography

Jennifer Graduate is in her final year in the Master of Health Disciplines program. She is a health advisor for the Government of Tahiti. Her area of research is health services use and the older adult. Her previous position was teaching massage therapy at a community college. The flexibility of online education has enabled her to continue working, spend time with her family, and study from a remote location. (69 words)

Content section

Specify within your abstract which of the following presentation formats are applicable :

  • Literature Review or Term Paper abstracts must address the following details: 
    1. Title 
    2. Rationale/Background
    3. Purpose
    4. Type of Literature Review 
    5. Results 
    6. Implications  
  • Primary Research abstracts must include the following details:  
    1. Title 
    2. Rationale/Background 
    3. Research Questions 
    4. Methodology 
    5. Results/Findings 
    6. Implications 

Please indicate if the research is in progress. 

  • Video/media project abstracts must include the following details:  
    1. Title 
    2. Rationale/Background 
    3. Target audience 
    4. Length of presentation 
    5. Additional Audio/visual requirements (if any) 

Please indicate if the project is in progress.  

  • Program and project initiative abstracts must include the following details:  
    1. Title 
    2. Rationale/Background 
    3. Purpose 
    4. Method of implementation 
    5. Results 
    6. Implications 

Please indicate if the project is in progress.

If none of the above are applicable, please provide additional details, such as a 3MT presentation

The abstract must be a maximum of 250 words

For more information, refer to these tips on writing a well-structured abstract

Poster Presentations

Each poster will be available for viewing throughout the conference with a set time dedicated during the conference for speaking with the student presenter at their poster.

Abstract Submission Instructions

Please follow the usual conventions of your discipline.  For example, some disciplines generally require abstracts to be organized with headings, whereas other disciplines do not. If you are uncertain of the norms within your discipline, ask one of your supervisors or inquire with the conference organizers prior to submitting your abstract.

Follow the instructions below when filling out the Abstract Submission Form. Make sure to include your presentation format and presentation content in your abstract submission.

Tips on writing a well-structured abstract can be found here.

Instructions for completing the abstract submission form:

General Information Section

Submission Type:

We are accepting submissions for both online paper and online poster presentations.

  • Specify your submission type (In-person Paper or In-person Poster)
  • Poster presentations will be 5 minutes followed by a Q&A session
  • Poster presentations should fit onto one poster board

Autor(s) section

Biography:

Biographies should be written in third-person narrative. Keep it brief, yet relative and informative. Biographies need to be added for each author (maximum 75 words each).

Sample Biography

Jennifer Graduate is in her final year in the Master of Health Disciplines program. She is a health advisor for the Government of Tahiti. Her area of research is health services use and the older adult. Her previous position was teaching massage therapy at a community college. The flexibility of online education has enabled her to continue working, spend time with her family, and study from a remote location. (69 words)

Content section

Specify within your abstract which of the following presentation formats are applicable :

  • Literature Review or Term Paper abstracts must address the following details: 
    1. Title 
    2. Rationale/Background
    3. Purpose
    4. Type of Literature Review 
    5. Results 
    6. Implications  
  • Primary Research abstracts must include the following details:  
    1. Title 
    2. Rationale/Background 
    3. Research Questions 
    4. Methodology 
    5. Results/Findings 
    6. Implications 

Please indicate if the research is in progress. 

  • Video/media project abstracts must include the following details:  
    1. Title 
    2. Rationale/Background 
    3. Target audience 
    4. Length of presentation 
    5. Additional Audio/visual requirements (if any) 

Please indicate if the project is in progress.  

  • Program and project initiative abstracts must include the following details:  
    1. Title 
    2. Rationale/Background 
    3. Purpose 
    4. Method of implementation 
    5. Results 
    6. Implications 

Please indicate if the project is in progress.

If none of the above are applicable, please provide additional details, such as a 3MT presentation

The abstract must be a maximum of 250 words

For more information, refer to these tips on writing a well-structured abstract.

Posters for Day-Of

While posters are not required at the abstracts submission stage, for the day-of the conference, posters will be displayed on boards and should be 24" x 36" in size. Poster stands are provided. 

Formats for your
Abstract Submission

Please follow the usual conventions of your discipline. For example, some disciplines generally require abstracts to be organized with headings, whereas other disciplines do not. If you are uncertain of the norms within your discipline, ask one of your supervisors or inquire with the conference organizers prior to submitting your abstract. Select one of the formats depending upon the type of project you are describing in your abstract. 

Our Formats

Registration opens summer 2025. 

Literature Review or Term Paper abstracts must address the following details
  1. Title
  2. Rationale/Background
  3. Purpose
  4. Type of Literature Review
  5. Results
  6. Implications 
Primary Research abstracts must include the following details
  1. Title
  2. Rationale/Background
  3. Research Questions
  4. Methodology
  5. Results/Findings
  6. Implications

Please indicate if the research is in progress.

Video/media project abstracts must include the following details
  1. Title
  2. Rationale/Background
  3. Target audience
  4. Length of presentation
  5. Additional Audio/visual requirements (if any)

Please indicate if the project is in progress. 

Program and project initiative abstracts must include the following details
  1. Title
  2. Rationale/Background
  3. Purpose
  4. Method of implementation
  5. Results
  6. Implications

Please indicate if the project is in progress.

  • All abstracts will be peer reviewed by a committee and submitters will be notified.
  • You may be asked to revise your abstract. If so, you must complete the revisions before the abstract will be accepted.
  • Presenters must register for the 2025 conference. If you do not register, your abstract will not be included in the schedule.

Awards Given

Cash prizes, sponsored by the Athabasca University Graduate Students' Association (AUGSA) will be awarded to the top three graduate abstracts submitted.

  • 1st Place: $500
  • 2nd Place: $250
  • 3rd Place: $150

Additional awards, including the People's Choice Award, will be recognized at the event. 

All students planning to present are eligble for travel bursaries. See Information for Presenters to learn more. 

Registeration opens summer of 2025!