Frequently Asked Questions - Abstract Authors

Thank you for considering a submission to the SAVIR Annual Conference! Below are some frequently asked questions to help guide your submission.

What are the different submission types?

SAVIR welcomes the following types of conference abstract submissions:

Individual Scientific Abstracts will be considered for oral, poster, and flash science presentations. Authors may indicate their preferred presentation format(s) at the time of submission. Individual abstract submissions are limited to 300 words and must include the following topic headings: Statement of Purpose; Methods/Approach; Results; Conclusions; and Significance/Contribution. Individual Scientific Abstracts will become one of three session types:

Oral Presentations are approximately 12- minute spoken presentations delivered by an abstract author/co-author. This format provides presenters with the opportunity to describe their research in greater depth and engage in brief discussion with attendees. Accepted submissions will be assigned by SAVIR’s Science, Research, Training, and Infrastructure Committee to conference sessions with 3-4 other oral presentations on a similar topic or approach.

Poster Presentations are visual depictions of research that are presented during one of two 75-minute poster sessions held at the end of each full conference day. These sessions provide an opportunity for attendees to engage directly with presenters in an interactive setting. that will run concurrently with, and in the same location as, the end-of-day reception. At least one author is expected to be present during the poster session to answer questions and describe the research to attendees. 

Flash Science Presentations are concise, 6-minute spoken presentations delivered by an abstract author/co-author using no more than 4 slides. Designed to highlight innovative research in a fast-paced format, Flash Science challenges authors to present their work clearly, succinctly, and engagingly. This format is intended to provide additional presentation opportunities for those who are earlier in their careers, so preference may be given to students and early career scholars. Accepted submissions will be assigned by SAVIR’s Science, Training, and Infrastructure Committee to conference sessions with 6-7 other flash science presentations spanning a range of topics and approaches.

Roundtable Discussions are a flexible and interactive format designed to maximize sharing, developing, and receiving real-time feedback on works in progress from fellow presenters and attendees. The purpose of the roundtable session is to facilitate more intimate “in the weeds” types of discussion about shared interests/topics. Submissions must include a written summary of the roundtable content (300 words maximum) and 2-3 questions/talking points to initiate small group discussion. Accepted presenters will be asked to prepare a 12-minute overview of their work for oral presentation (no slides) and a handout to share with others at their table, as well as come prepared with the 2-3 questions/talking points to spark small group discussion; small group discussion will last an additional 12 minutes. An assigned moderator will keep time and keep tables circulating. Accepted submissions will be assigned by SAVIR’s Science, Research, Training, and Infrastructure Committee to tables based on a shared topic. 

Technical Workshops are interactive, skill-building sessions on methods or other technical skills relevant to the advancement of violence and injury prevention research. SAVIR welcomes submissions on any relevant topic, but workshops that address the use of AI and professional development for student and early-career scholars are especially encouraged. Technical workshops run concurrently with other 75-minute conference sessions. Submissions must include the workshop title, a description of the workshop content, including why it is important and timely for presentation (500 words maximum), and at least 3 learning objectives.  

Scientific Symposia are 75-minute sessions that include 4-5 presentations each on a shared violence or injury prevention topic, with the goal of presenting that topic in greater depth and stimulating more focused discussion. Symposia are similar to scientific abstract sessions composed of individual oral presentations, but symposia are organized and submitted as a group/collection by one symposia session chair/organizer. Submissions relevant to all areas of violence and injury prevention are encouraged and must include the symposia session title and an integrative statement (500 words maximum) summarizing the full symposia session. The symposia session chair will be asked to “invite” their additional symposia presenters through the submission system; the submission system will send emails to the other presenters with directions on how they can each upload an abstract for their portion of the symposia.

Does SAVIR charge a fee to submit an abstract?

No, SAVIR does not charge a submission fee.

Do I have to be a SAVIR member to submit an abstract?

No, authors do not need to be members to submit. 

Can I list co-authors on the submission?

Yes, co-authors can be included in the submission. Any co-presenters should be listed in the “Participants” section of the submission, and Co-Authors should be listed in Step 3. 

Am I able to change the author order?

Yes. Modifications can be made in the abstract submission system until the submission deadline. After the deadline, changes to the author order can be requested by emailing conference@thesavir.org. Authors will still be limited to 2 presentations total.

Can I assign/reassign a presenting author?

Yes. Modifications can be made in the abstract submission system until the submission deadline. After the deadline, changes to the presenting author can be requested by emailing conference@thesavir.org. The presenting author should be finalized by March 12, 2027, to ensure accurate listing in the conference program.

How many abstracts can I submit?

 Authors are limited to 2 proposal submissions as the designated presenter. However, someone may be a co-author/non-presenter on more than 2 submissions.

How do we submit a Scientific Symposia?

Scientific Symposia include groups of 4-5 presentations on a shared topic. In order to submit a symposia proposal, the submitter must create the overall submission with an integrative statement about the session, and invite the additional symposia presenters through the submission system. The submitter should be prepared to list all presenters at the time of submission creation. The system will send invitation emails instructing the other presenters on how to upload their abstracts and complete their disclosures. It is the responsibility of the symposia submitter to invite all other presenters and ensure they complete the steps before the deadline for a complete submission. The submitter can monitor this in the submission system. 

What is the abstract review process?

SAVIR’s Science, Research, Training, and Infrastructure Committee coordinates the abstract peer review process each year. They recruit volunteer peer reviewers who carefully read and score each abstract based on alignment with predetermined review criteria. Each abstract is reviewed by at least 3 reviewers. When submitting an abstract, you will have the opportunity to indicate your willingness to serve as an abstract reviewer. You may also volunteer by emailing conference@thesavir.org. 

When will I find out if my abstract has been accepted?

 We anticipate sharing acceptances by mid-January 2027. 

If my abstract is accepted, what do I need to do?

Authors will be notified by email if their submission is accepted, and in the case of individual scientific abstracts, to what session your presentation is assigned. Presenting authors will need to prepare their oral presentation to fit the time limits of their session (usually 10-12 minutes). Posters will need to be printed and uploaded into the conference system. Roundtable presenters will need to print and bring their own hard copy handouts (typically 6-8) to share at their table. To ensure we can plan appropriately for all sessions, all presenters are required to register for the conference by March 8, 2027, or risk their session being canceled or restructured. 

Do you offer scholarships or travel awards?

SAVIR is planning to offer a limited number of student and early career scholarships for the 2027 Annual Conference. More information on how to apply for these is available on the conference website. Students who are submitting abstracts can also apply for scholarships by October 20, 2026. 

What if my work was already accepted for presentation or presented elsewhere?

SAVIR accepts proposal submissions for work that has been previously presented and/or accepted for presentation at other venues, including other meetings and conferences. These submissions will go through the same peer review process as any other abstract. However, abstracts that report results that have been previously presented at a SAVIR Annual Conference are not eligible for submission.

What if I’ve published or had something accepted for publication?

SAVIR does not accept proposal submissions for work that is already published, or that has been accepted for publication prior to the submission deadline of October 20, 2026.

What if I have another question not answered in this FAQ?

Feel free to reach out to conference@thesavir.org with any questions.