Central States Water Environment Association

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE SUBMISSION OF ABSTRACTS & CRITERIA FOR PAPER SELECTION

The Central States Water Environment Association (CSWEA) Technical Program Committee has the responsibility for technical sessions at the Annual Meeting. Participants in any sector of the water environment field are cordially invited to submit abstracts for evaluation. The basis for selection will be the excellence of the abstracts as judged by the committee.

The abstract should be submitted online via the form below. Through the online submittal process, you will enter the title and abstract, import your credentials, choose your topic area, and select your presentation format. Abstracts must contain a SUMMARY of no more than 120 words, with the full abstract (including all tables, figures, and references) preferably to be three (3) pages, but not exceed six (6) pages. Abstracts that are not in the required format will not be given equal credit.

The presenting author(s) of each abstract will be notified in January of the acceptance or rejection of the abstract. The following should serve as a guide in the preparation of the abstract and will serve as a guide for the reviewers of the abstracts.

1. Originality and status of subject: The paper should deal with new concepts or with new and novel applications of established concepts (operations and maintenance, collection systems, stormwater, utility management and leadership, research
and development etc.). It also may describe substantial improvements of existing theories or present significant data in support or extension of those theories. Studies of incomplete or ill-defined problem situations should be avoided. Previously published data should be introduced only in summary form and for comparative or supportive purpose.

2. Content: Abstracts can either be technical or nontechnical in nature. In either case, it should be evident that the abstract clearly describes the entire content of the paper to be presented. The abstract content should be objective and non-biased towards specific products, approaches, or otherwise. Each
abstract should contain clear purpose and impact for conference attendees.

Guidelines for technical abstracts:
Where possible, abstracts should include data, figures, and methodology needed to draw proposed conclusions. The abstract should include whether the scale at which the project was completed (desktop, benchtop, pilot study, full-scale implementation, etc.) and at what stage of completion the project is in.

Guidelines for non-technical abstracts:
Abstracts do not require data to justify proposed conclusions, but abstract content should present well thought out content, allowing for clear interpretation of the author’s intent.

3. Water environment significance: The paper should relate clearly and significantly to the water environment field. The author should make evident the relationships of the work to a practical problem area or situation in water quality and wastewater control.

4. Adequacy of abstract preparation: The committee has noted that historically the adequacy of an abstract is often indicative of the quality of the final presentation. As a result, authors are urged to prepare their abstracts with care, following the instructions noted above. As a reminder, an abstract is meant to summarize the presentation. The summary should include objectives, scope, and general procedures, as the limited length of the abstract permits. An indication of results or conclusions is required. Submittal of presentations (slides) or a generic product brochure in place of an abstract will not be considered.

Abstracts are due by November 30th, 2025

Shanna Czeck
2026 Chair, Technical Program Committee
City of St. Cloud, MN
Email: Shanna.Czeck@ci.stcloud.mn.us