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Leah Bittner

“The SMSU RN to BSN Program does not have you take a set amount of credits each semester. This flexible scheduling was perfect for me as it allowed me to vary the amount of credits I took each semester. I would have struggled without that flexibility as I am a non-traditional student who is also a wife, mother of four, and worked full time while completing my degree. This program is designed to fit into your life, whether you want to be a full-time or part-time student.”

Leah Bittner, '22 Alum
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Guide to Writing an Abstract

The first Author for each presentation will need to submit the final abstract that has been approved by the sponsoring faculty and co-Authors. This submission will require the following information:

  1. Main Text of Abstract: A maximum of 150 words, not including the title, names of authors, and affiliations. The text is usually a single paragraph that should include the following basic components:

a) Motivation/problem statement: Why do we care about the problem? What practical, scientific, theoretical or artistic gap accomplishes your research filling? What does your reader need before they can understand why you performed this scholarship/creative activity?

b) Methods/procedure/approach: Provide methods for how you set your goals. How did you perform the study? What methods did you use to achieve your results? (e.g. studied 2 novels, finished a series of 6 oil paintings, surveyed 2 communities) Check that your methods match the upcoming results.

c) Results/findings/products: Choose your most significant findings and describe them. What did you accomplish? What did you learn/invent/create?

d) Conclusion/implications: What are the larger implications of your findings, especially for the problem/gap identified in step 1? Make sure your conclusions are supported by your results.

 

Example appearance and format of an abstract: 

 Effects of Barley Extract on the Growth of Algae Spirogyra, Synedra, and Ankistrodesmus
Brooke Burmeister
Environmental Science Program, Southwest Minnesota State University

 

Excessive amounts of algae are a nuisance in lakes. Experiments were conducted to determine the efficacy of barley straw extract in controlling algal growth in three freshwater algae. Spirogyra (filamentous green algae), Synedra (diatom), and Ankistrodesmus (single celled green algae) were exposed to barley straw extract in an environmental chamber for nine days. Algae was exposed in 50 mL test tubes with five replicates of each treatment, five replicates of algae with no barley extract (control) and five tubes barley with no algae. Chlorophyll concentrations were analyzed at the beginning and end of the study to determine effects on the growth of the algae. All three species of algae grew in the unexposed controls, but growth was statistically significantly reduced for all three species when exposed to barley extract (ANOVA, p<0.05). Results indicate that barley could be used as an algistatic agent to control algae growth.

 

 For more information regarding the SMSU Undergraduate Research Conference contact:

Dr. Alyssa Anderson
Assistant Professor of Biology
Department of Science, SM 170
Southwest Minnesota State University
1501 State Street * Marshall, MN 56258
Ph: (507) 537-6443* Fax: (507) 537-6151
Email: alyssa.anderson@smsu.edu

 

Department of Science
Southwest Minnesota State University, SM 178
1501 State Street * Marshall, MN 56258
Ph: 507-537-6178 * Fax: 507-537-6151
Email: Science@smsu.edu

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