diff --git a/app/serializers/event_serializer.rb b/app/serializers/event_serializer.rb
index 355d2eb7..c2dffbeb 100644
--- a/app/serializers/event_serializer.rb
+++ b/app/serializers/event_serializer.rb
@@ -25,15 +25,6 @@ class EventSerializer < ActiveModel::Serializer
     object.track.try(:guid)
   end
 
-  def abstract
-    # This should never happen
-    if object.abstract.blank?
-      nil
-    else
-      simple_format(object.abstract).gsub('\n', '')
-    end
-  end
-
   def length
     object.event_type.try(:length) || EventType::LENGTH_STEP
   end
diff --git a/app/views/admin/events/_proposal.html.haml b/app/views/admin/events/_proposal.html.haml
index 4414dee6..98d70e34 100644
--- a/app/views/admin/events/_proposal.html.haml
+++ b/app/views/admin/events/_proposal.html.haml
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@
       %tr
         %td
           %b Abstract
-        %td= simple_format(@event.abstract)
+        %td= markdown(@event.abstract)
       %tr
         %td
           %b Description
diff --git a/app/views/conference/_schedule_splashpage.html.haml b/app/views/conference/_schedule_splashpage.html.haml
index af23f8d7..67bd52e4 100644
--- a/app/views/conference/_schedule_splashpage.html.haml
+++ b/app/views/conference/_schedule_splashpage.html.haml
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@
                 %p.text-center
                   %b= event.title
                 %h5.text-center
-                  = simple_format truncate(event.abstract, length: 500, separator: ' ')
+                  = markdown truncate(event.abstract, length: 500, separator: ' ')
                   = link_to "Read More", conference_program_proposal_path(@conference.short_title, event)
 
   = content_for :splash_nav do
diff --git a/app/views/proposal/_proposal_form.html.haml b/app/views/proposal/_proposal_form.html.haml
index 4df88438..73ad0b06 100644
--- a/app/views/proposal/_proposal_form.html.haml
+++ b/app/views/proposal/_proposal_form.html.haml
@@ -33,8 +33,8 @@
       %span{ class: 'help-block select-help-text collapse event_difficulty_level_id', id: "#{difficulty_level.id}-help" }
         = difficulty_level.description
 
-    = f.input :abstract, input_html: { rows: 5 },
-      required: true, hint: link_to('Tips to improve your presentations', 'http://blog.hubspot.com/blog/tabid/6307/bid/5975/10-Rules-to-Instantly-Improve-Your-Presentations.aspx')
+    = f.input :abstract, required: true, input_html: { rows: 5, data: { provide: 'markdown-editable' } },
+      hint: markdown_hint(link_to('Tips to improve your presentations.', 'http://blog.hubspot.com/blog/tabid/6307/bid/5975/10-Rules-to-Instantly-Improve-Your-Presentations.aspx'))
 
     %p
       You have used
diff --git a/app/views/proposal/new.html.haml b/app/views/proposal/new.html.haml
index 658afa18..5281ec37 100644
--- a/app/views/proposal/new.html.haml
+++ b/app/views/proposal/new.html.haml
@@ -43,8 +43,8 @@
               :javascript
                 $("##{@program.event_types.first.id}-help").collapse('show');
 
-              = f.input :abstract, input_html: { rows: 5, required: true },
-                required: true, hint: link_to('Tips to improve your presentations', 'http://blog.hubspot.com/blog/tabid/6307/bid/5975/10-Rules-to-Instantly-Improve-Your-Presentations.aspx')
+              = f.input :abstract, required: true, input_html: { rows: 5, data: { provide: 'markdown-editable' } },
+                hint: markdown_hint(link_to('Tips to improve your presentations.', 'http://blog.hubspot.com/blog/tabid/6307/bid/5975/10-Rules-to-Instantly-Improve-Your-Presentations.aspx'))
 
               %p
                 You have used
diff --git a/app/views/proposal/show.html.haml b/app/views/proposal/show.html.haml
index e350164a..b80d3ece 100644
--- a/app/views/proposal/show.html.haml
+++ b/app/views/proposal/show.html.haml
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@
       .row
         .col-md-12
           %p
-            = simple_format(@event.abstract)
+            = markdown(@event.abstract)
         %dl#proposal-info
           .col-md-12
             %dt Date:
diff --git a/app/views/schedules/_event.html.haml b/app/views/schedules/_event.html.haml
index 1be0e685..abd3143d 100644
--- a/app/views/schedules/_event.html.haml
+++ b/app/views/schedules/_event.html.haml
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
     %h4
       presented by #{event.speaker_names}
     %p
-      = truncate(event.abstract, :length => 400)
+      = markdown(truncate(event.abstract, :length => 400))
       = link_to 'more', conference_program_proposal_path(@conference.short_title, event.id) if event.abstract.length > 400
     - if event_schedule.present?
       %span.track
diff --git a/spec/serializers/event_serializer_spec.rb b/spec/serializers/event_serializer_spec.rb
index e4f96e53..b4edc2d1 100644
--- a/spec/serializers/event_serializer_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/serializers/event_serializer_spec.rb
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ describe EventSerializer, type: :serializer do
           length: 30,
           scheduled_date: '',
           language: nil,
-          abstract: '<p>Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet</p>',
+          abstract: 'Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet',
           speaker_ids: [],
           type: 'Example Event Type',
           room: nil,
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ describe EventSerializer, type: :serializer do
           length: 30,
           scheduled_date: ' 2014-03-04T00:00:00+0000 ',
           language: 'English',
-          abstract: '<p>Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet</p>',
+          abstract: 'Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet',
           speaker_ids: [speaker.user.id],
           type: 'Example Event Type',
           room: room.guid,