Call for Abstracts
Your Knowledge = Powerful Change
Ensuring water safety and availability is vital for our future.
A CFA, or Call for Abstracts, is an open invitation to submit summaries of water research, ideas, or innovations. Abstracts are reviewed by our SME teams and the best are then invited to present at our conferences and educational programs. AWWA aims to gather and share valuable knowledge from a diverse group of contributors, so whether you’re an experienced presenter or a student with a fresh idea, submitting a CFA is a chance to contribute to the future of water.
Call For Abstract Opportunities
Maximize your impact. See our open CFAs below and submit your abstract today.
Which event is right for you?
Water Infrastructure Conference
WaterSmart Innovations
Water Quality Technology
North American Water Loss
AWWA/WEF The Utility Management Conference™
Membrane Technology
Annual Conference & Expo
Follow AWWA Guidelines for Success
To streamline processing of your abstract, it is important to understand these guidelines – read through for essential information:
Submission Guidelines
To ensure the smooth processing of abstract submissions, it is essential to follow guidelines provided by AWWA:
Complete your submission by the deadline: Abstracts received after the deadline will not be considered, so it is advisable to submit early to avoid any last-minute issues.
Do not submit on behalf of others: The primary author should only make abstract submissions themselves.
Avoid duplicate submissions: Abstracts with the same title and/or content submitted under various categories will not be accepted. You may submit abstracts to multiple conferences’ open calls.
Provide all required information: The online submission form requires data in all fields marked as “Required” for successful processing.
Follow the abstract size limitation: The abstract text should not exceed 3,000 characters, including spaces and punctuation.
Text-only: Abstracts should be submitted as text only without any graphics, attachments, or other material.
Review submission confirmation messages: After submitting an abstract, it is important to review the confirmation messages for details related to the submission. You will get additional follow-up communications from our Presenter Services team. Please add service@awwa.org to your safe-senders list in anticipation of this outreach.
Explore our Session Structures (below) to classify your submission in the best light for evaluation.
Session Structure
A standard 90-minute educational session at an AWWA conference is typically comprised of three 22 to 25-minute individual presentations on a similar topic, with time for moderated Q&A. We are also open to evaluating other session formats:
Special Topic Sessions
Special Topic Sessions (STS) are in depth sessions (one to three hours), in alignment with our Educational Program focus, submitted by a single facilitator and representing a single topic. These are often panels or Q&A driven.
STS facilitators are required to obtain and submit presentation agenda/length, presentation titles, and presenter names during the submission process. If a special topic session is accepted, each presenter will receive an acceptance notification. Facilitators should make sure all presenters are aware of your submission in advance.
Preconference Workshops
Preconference Workshops (PCW) are an interactive meeting, hosted by a facilitator, in which a small group goes through a series of educational activities or modules. These occur prior to an event’s opening general session and typically have added registration fees.
PCW facilitators are required to outline presentation agenda/lengths, presentation titles, and presenter names during the submission process. PCWs can be half-day or full day. As the facilitator, please select which possibility works best for the workshop but note this may be amended in the submission process. If your PCW is accepted, each presenter will receive an accepted notification. Facilitators should make sure all presenters are aware of your submission in advance.
PCW facilitators are required to supply materials for the electronic attendee notebook. These materials are due three to four weeks prior to the conference date. These should consist of all the presenter biographies, presentations, articles, worksheets, and notes. Note: PCW attendee notebook materials are not included in the conference proceedings.
Rating Criteria
The conference planning committee evaluates abstracts based on specific rating criteria. These criteria include:
Quality of the abstract: The quality of work, project design, and its relevance to the conference theme will be considered.
Originality of the work: New information or concepts, or substantial improvements to existing theories.
Usefulness of the work: Abstracts that report actual benefits and widespread applications are highly valued. The committee considers if the work is useful to the water industry and if it concludes anything new that would otherwise be ignored.
Presentation: The presentation’s relevance, speaker’s dynamic skills, and local connection to the conference site will be considered. Obvious sales pitches will not be ranked well.
Abstract aspects are rated on a scale of one to five, with the best receiving a rating of five, and averaged. The rating will determine the acceptance and presentation format of the abstract.
The Process
Submitting an abstract for consideration may seem daunting, but rest assured, the process is straightforward and manageable. By following four essential steps, you can ensure a smooth submission. We invite you to submit an abstract today.
Ideation
You have a great idea and we want to hear it. The first step is to submit an abstract for consideration. Abstracts must be submitted by the deadline specified to be considered for presentation.
Submission
Abstracts are reviewed by a planning committee, who assess them based on specific rating criteria. The committee looks for abstracts that align with the conference theme, show originality, provide practical benefits and applications, and show an elevated level of quality. To ensure your abstract is reviewed in the best light, please review our submission guidelines.
Review & Acceptance
After the review process, accepted abstracts will receive a confirmation email from our Presenter Services team. Add service@awwa.org to your safe senders list in anticipation of this, and other, communications. Please also note that the review process can take some time; your patience is appreciated.
Plan & Prepare
Congratulations – your abstract has been accepted. Now it is time to plan to attend the event and prepare your presentation. Visit our Presenter Guide for Water Professionals to explore best practices.
Plan Your Presentation
Presenting your work and ideas to peers is a pivotal aspect of your professional journey. Planning and preparation are essential for a successful presentation. Our Presentation Guide for Water Professionals offers a comprehensive outline on how to effectively plan your presentation, including valuable tips, AWWA guidelines, onsite expectations, and best practices.
Plan Your Presentation
AWWA Actively Encourages All to Submit Abstracts
Whether a 10+ year presentation-veteran or a student with an innovative idea, we welcome anyone who has water knowledge to submit an abstract today.
Industry Impact
Be a catalyst for positive change. Make an impact by sharing your insight, experience, and ideas.
Career Advancement
Promote your expertise in the water community.
Networking
Be recognized for your contribution; network and connect in a dedicated forum.
Professional Exposure
Your name, title, and bio will be published on the session tracks for all attendees
Social Media
Use our event-specific tags and boost your online presence.
Perks
Presenters gain access to discounted rates at select events.
Meet the Presenter Services Support Team
We are here to help and answer questions at any step in the process.
800.926.7337
EducationServices@awwa.org