When reviewing abstracts for an International Mine Water Association (IMWA) conference, it’s important to ensure that submissions meet high scientific and topical standards. IMWA seeks high-quality abstracts that contribute to the understanding, management and sustainability of mine water systems. Although IMWA doesn’t have strict guidelines for abstract reviewers, the following tips will help you to evaluate abstracts fairly, accurately and consistently in line with IMWA’s objectives. Do not use artificial intelligence-based LLMs, such as ChatGPT, as we will delete both the review and the reviewer from our database.
- Relevance to mine water science and practice Begin by assessing whether the abstract is within the scope of the Conference, which includes topics such as mine water hydrology, water treatment, hydrogeology, geochemistry, environmental impacts, and emerging technologies in mine water management (detailed list on the Conference web page). Ensure that the topic is appropriate for the Conference and that the research provides insights that are valuable to professionals in the mine water community. Ask yourself, if the abstract is of relevance and if you would like to listen to the talk.
- Scientific quality and originality Evaluate the originality of the research. Look for innovative approaches or novel findings that advance the field. Abstracts should represent well-designed studies, sound methodology and rigorous analysis. Look for clarity in the presentation of objectives, methods, results and conclusions. Abstracts that are too vague or lack detailed methodology may indicate insufficient scientific quality.
- Structure and clarity A well-structured abstract will help reviewers and participants to quickly understand the purpose, results and relevance of the study. IMWA abstracts should ideally contain four parts: the background or problem statement, the approach or methodology, the main results and the conclusions. Each part should be clear, concise and free from jargon or ambiguity. Clarity of communication is essential as it demonstrates the author’s ability to communicate complex ideas effectively.
- Practical implications and contributions to mine water management IMWA places a high value on applied research that can benefit mine water practitioners. Consider the practical applications of the research, particularly if it proposes solutions, frameworks or technologies that could be adopted by the industry. Abstracts should ideally address real-world issues and present findings that could aid decision making, improve mine water quality or support environmental sustainability.
- Technical accuracy and writing quality Accurate and polished abstracts enhance credibility. Ensure that the abstract is free of grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, technical inaccuracies and inconsistencies. Poor language quality can detract from otherwise good research and hinder understanding. Flag any sections that need rewriting for clarity or accuracy. Ensure that the terms impact (except for environmental or meteorite impact), significant (except for statistical analysis) and heavy metals are not used in the title or abstract.
- Respect ethical standards Finally, ensure that the abstract meets ethical standards in research, such as proper data handling, acknowledgment of sources (this is not required in abstracts) and, where relevant, adherence to safety and environmental protocols. Abstracts that demonstrate ethical integrity reflect the high standards upheld by IMWA.
By following these guidelines, reviewers can contribute to the success of IMWA conferences and ensure that only the highest quality and relevant research or case studies are presented to advance mine water science and practice.