Moving with the times
- BGS abstract submissions goes on line

For veteran researchers there may be residual unhappy memories of the old procedure for submitting abstracts for the Spring and Autumn meetings.

For several decades, submitting an abstract meant having a good supply of “camera ready” forms (only originals would do!), and considerable skill in marrying up wordprocessor and printed form. The more recent emailed submissions process was easier for the submitter, but put considerable pressure on the BGS office, but we are now pleased to announce that the Society is joining the ranks of a growing number of scientific associations, including the International Association of Gerontology, in moving our abstracts submissions onto a streamlined web-based system.

The web-based system will be found on the BGS website towards the end of March 2004, in time for abstracts to be submitted for the Autumn 2004 meeting. Members may still submit their abstracts to the BGS on floppy disk, but email submissions will no longer be accepted. Apart from following the example of other scientific/medical organisations, the increasing problem with virus infected email attachments makes this necessary.

Interactive
One of the chief benefits for authors submitting abstracts online will be the instant feedback as to whether or not their abstract broadly conforms to the guidelines. Authors will also receive, by automatically generated email, the crucial reference number which confirms that their abstract has been logged.

The system will speed up the turn-around time in getting all the submitted abstracts to the adjudicators.

The Academic and Research Committee is currently revising the abstract submission guidelines. The new guidelines will be publicised in the May edition of the newsletter and will also be displayed on the BGS website.

The deadline for submission of abstracts to the Autumn 2004 meeting is 1 June 2004.

Annette Guerda-Fischer
BGS Office