Submit abstracts for oral or poster presentations to BSSRC@auburn.edu. Abstracts are due by October 16, 2026. Submissions must include the following information:

• Indicate Oral or Poster presentation
• Indicate Graduate Student or Professional (academia, agency, industry, etc.)
• Entry in Student Contest? (yes/no)
• All authors’ names and affiliations
• Email address for the presenting author
• Title
• 250-word max abstract

Oral presentations are limited to 20 minutes, with 5 minutes for questions and 5 minutes for transitioning between concurrent sessions. Session moderators will be instructed to stay on schedule to reduce problems with the timing of concurrent sessions. Presenters should use the MS PowerPoint format that is PC compatible. Other presentation file types, such as video, DVD, mp3, or mp4, are discouraged and must be addressed in advance with the conference committee (contact Dr. Timothy Shearman). Wireless internet connection SHOULD NOT BE COUNTED ON for presentation content.

Presenters are responsible for arriving at their session early enough to have their file uploaded to the provided computer. Please bring your presentation in PowerPoint format to the registration table or to the moderator of your session before the session begins. Laptops at the conference will have USB ports for transferring your presentation file. To avoid time problems, do not attempt to present using your own computer (special arrangements may be possible under very limited circumstances by contacting the conference committee). Please notify Timothy Shearman regarding any special needs.

All oral presenters are required to submit an extended abstract (1000-word limit), which will be published in the conference proceedings. Poster presenters may also submit an extended abstract. Formatted papers for inclusion in the proceedings are due on July 31, 2027. Paper structure and format should follow the USDA Southern Research Station’s Instructions for Preparing Proceedings papers and posters.

Posters should be printed on paper that can be attached using pushpins (provided) to a poster board. Poster boards will be displayed on easels that will be set up in the Legacy Ballroom in The Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center.

Dimensions of the posters should be limited to 36 inches x 48 inches (or 48 inches x 36 inches). Poster locations will be identified by a number assigned to them. Poster presenters should not bring any electronic audio/visual aids to their posters, as we cannot guarantee power access. Presenters can post handouts or other publications related to their posters in the space provided.

Please note that the lighting in the poster area may be somewhat subdued, so you should prepare your poster accordingly with appropriate backgrounds and colors.

Poster setup is on Monday, March 22, between 6:00 pm and 9:00 pm. Poster presenters should come prepared to staff their posters during the designated poster sessions on Tuesday, March 23, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

Posters should be removed between 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm on Wednesday, March 24. All posters not removed by 7:00 pm on Wednesday will be discarded.

A contest will be held for the best student presentations and posters. Winners will be announced on Wednesday, March 24, from 5:45-6:15 in the Terrace Room. Students must indicate that they wish to be included in the contest when submitting their abstract (see Abstract Submission info).

Judges are needed for the student oral and poster presentations competition. If you are willing to judge posters and/or oral presentations, please email Dr. Timothy Shearman at bssrc@auburn.edu.

Eligibility

• Any graduate student who has not received an award in a prior Biennial Southern Silvicultural Research Conference contest, has registered in attendance at the current Biennial Southern Silvicultural Research Conference, and has conducted the research being reported in the 14-state Southern Regional area or Puerto Rico, is eligible to compete in the contest.
• A student cannot participate in both the paper and the poster contests concurrently at the same Biennial Southern Silvicultural Research Conference.
• Any student who enters either contest and withdraws, but delivers a paper or poster during the same Biennial Southern Silvicultural Research Conference, forfeits eligibility for the contest.

Other Information

• Students wishing to enter the competition must submit a qualified abstract that is accepted for the conference.
• Contestants should not have won this prize in any previous year.
• Student papers and posters will be judged by at least two judges.
• Each award for the Biennial Southern Silvicultural Research Conference will consist of an engraved plaque and a cash prize (students will be mailed their check within 30 days).
• The top three scores in the oral paper session and the top three scores in the poster session will receive awards. Note that no designations will be given for first, second, or third place.
• Judges’ oral evaluation sheets and poster evaluation sheets will not only evaluate each student’s performance, but also indicate areas for improvement.
• Judges’ names will be kept anonymous on each evaluation sheet.
• Students may request to review each judge’s evaluation sheet following the awards announcement. Copies of the judge’s evaluation sheets will be sent to each student upon request, with a written note or e-mail providing the student’s name and mailing address.
• Students are strongly encouraged to review the scoring sheets in the early stages of their presentation and/or poster preparation.

Download evaluation sheet for Oral Presentations

Download evaluation sheet for Poster Presentations

List of previous BSSRC Award Winners

If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Timothy Shearman at  bssrc@auburn.edu.