Abstract and Poster Instructions

Submit Your Abstract Using This Google Form

 

SURF 2026, hosted by the College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, will be held on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, in the University Center (UC) Ballroom. The SURF website is currently being updated with instructions. SURF will include 2-3 poster sessions, depending on the number of student presenters and Lightning Round Oral Talks. Please share this information with the faculty and undergraduates conducting research in your departments.

In prior years, the SURF Team has been tasked with returning abstracts that were not formatted properly. We ask that the research mentors, or a designated person in your lab, review the abstracts prior to submission. This will spare the SURF Organizational Team from sending abstracts back to the mentor and student and will speed the process of adding abstracts to the SURF website.
To assist with preparation for SURF, we will host several workshops beforehand. All presenting students are encouraged to attend these workshops:

• How to Write an Abstract, Video available at YuJa video link: https://umbc.video.yuja.com/v/SURF_abstracts  and a PDF copy of the slides: https://drive.google.com/file/d/10VzjwAQG5MXtojnvBSxPRYKKHz5RP_c-/view?usp=sharing and the SURF 2026 Sample Abstract
  
• Virtual “How to Create a Scientific Poster in Canva” Workshop. Link to the Video of the workshop can be found here.  Link to Video of workshop can be found here. 
• Research Poster Support Office Hours with Research Graphics, 1 pm Thursday July 23, 2026 in the Learning Collaboratory, University Center, Room 115
• Mandatory SURF Lightning Round Oral Talk Practice
  • Practice #1, Wednesday, July 29, 2026  at 11:00 a.m.  in the University Center (UC), Room 115
  • Practice #2, Monday, August 3, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. in the Engineering Building (ENG), Room 027
• SURF Lightning Round Oral Talks will be held in ENG 027 (Engineering Building)
• Poster Presentation Practice Sessions (strongly encouraged for first-time presenters)
  • SURF Poster Practice – 8/4 noon-1:30 p.m. and 2:00 p.m – 3:30 p.m, UC Ballroom
    • Please test the sign-up link! https://calendly.com/mbulger/cnms-surf-poster-presentation-practice
• PowerPoint version of 2026-poster-Template-w-Tips

Poster Requirements and Deadlines:

40” wide by 30” tall max size

Be mindful of the use of the UMBC logo on what type of background. Check https://styleguide.umbc.edu/graphic-elements/

for other elements and logo styles.

Export as a PDF when finished to upload for printing. Have your mentor approve the finished file before uploading to the print form.

Printing deadline for Research Graphics is:

Tuesday, July 28th by 5:00 pm EDT. 

Email: researchgraphics@umbc.edu with questions.

 

IMPORTANT DEADLINES

• The abstract submission and SURF registration deadline is July 22, 2026
• Deadline to submit posters for printing by UMBC Research Graphics is July 28 at 5 pm EDT.

Abstract Requirements and Templates 2026

Please check the SURF website for updates at https://surf.umbc.edu

 

SURF Organizational Team
The College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences
UMBC
http://surf.umbc.edu/