Abstract Mentoring

The 2018 ANEC Abstract Mentor Programme

 Part One
 Background

The 2018 ANEC Abstract Mentor Programme (AMP) is designed and rolled out with the objective of helping young or less experienced researchers improve their abstracts before submitting them to the Conference. The key rationale is to increase the chance of these abstracts being accepted for presentation at ANEC.

Previous Abstract Mentor Programmes have targeted researchers from resource-limited settings who lack access to opportunities for rigorous mentoring in research and writing and for whom online distance education is proven to cost-effectively build research capacity.  There is evidence that such programmes increase the motivation of early career researchers as well as the number of abstract submissions received from developing countries.

This three-part, four-paged concept has a simple objective. To provide background to the AMP, to delineate general rules to the AMP, to suggest practical implementation steps, and to indicate guidelines for reviewing abstracts by Mentors.

To begin with a pool of experienced and willing Mentors have to be identified. The ANEC Local and International Scientific Committee have succeeded in identifying over 50 Mentors.

General Rules

The draft abstract submitted to the mentor must follow the 2018 ANEC abstract submission guidelines.

  1. Each delegate can submit up to 2 abstracts to the programme for mentoring:
    1.  One abstract may be submitted for review and re-submitted after revision based on mentor feedback OR
    2. Two separate abstracts may each be submitted once for mentor feedback
  2.  Submitted abstracts that do not follow the 2018 ANEC abstract submission guidelines or do not have a satisfactory level of English, will be directly returned to the submitter without review.
  3.  Mentors will help abstract submitters answer questions around formal requirements for abstracts, research methods and analysis, as well as how to select appropriate tracks and categories.
  4.  Mentors will not make any edits/changes in submitted abstracts.
  5.  Mentors cannot indicate if s/he thinks the abstract is likely to be selected or not.
  6.  Questions submitted must be of a practical nature e.g. “Is my introduction extensive enough?”; “Have I thoroughly described the methodology?”; “Is my conclusion clear?”
  7.  A question unrelated to the AMP, such as general inquiries regarding the HIV/AIDS epidemic or questions about other conference-related programmes such as scholarships will not be answered.
Part Two
Preparing and submitting Draft Abstracts for experienced Mentors to review

Step 1: Prepare a draft abstract for submission in accordance with the 2018 ANEC abstracts submission guidelines at http://www.anec.ansnet.org/index.php/anec/anec8/announcement/view/2

Step 2: If possible, ask a supervisor or colleague to review your draft abstract and give you feedback – before submitting.

Step 3: If available, use spelling and grammar check (e.g. Office Word Spelling and Grammar function) – before submitting.

Submit Draft Abstracts for Review

Step 4: Send your draft abstracts to abstract.mentoring@ansnet.org for mentoring

 Acknowledgements and Declarations

This Concept draws heavily from previous AMPs e.g. those organized by the IAS. Amos Laar is an IAS Mentor.


2018 ANEC Abstract Mentor Programme for Reviewers


ANEC Conference