ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥

In APS/Physics, there are many local and worldwide conferences at which which scientists share their research and network. At conferences, some researchers give formal talks that last 15-30 minutes; talks are usually reserved for especially groundbreaking results. There are also poster sessions, in which researchers stand next to posters and explain their research/results to interested passersby. It is very common for undergraduate and graduate students to share research results in a poster session.

To present research at a conference, you will generally need:

• Some research experience (see Research/Internships) and one or more significant research results.

• A written abstract/application to the conference.

• Funding for travel and entry fees (see below).

Sometimes, you may attend a conference without presenting research. This is more common at small local conferences (low entrance fees and travel costs), virtual conferences (no travel cost), or conferences directed towards underrepresented groups in APS/Physics (heavy networking focus in addition to research).

If you are part of a research group at ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥, the professor in charge of the group (your principal investigator or PI) should help you decide which conferences to attend. However, if you are especially interested in a particular conference, you should ask your PI about applying. Also, note that if you are a member of an underrepresented group in APS/Physics and want to attend a conference directed towards that group, it is common for your PI to come with you even if they are not a member of that group. If you are interested in one of these conferences, you should find out when it takes place and tell your PI that you would like to attend. If you would like your PI to come with you, ask them.

Here are a few large conferences that ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ students frequently attend, but keep in mind that there are many conferences focused on specific research areas not listed here:

• ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ Undergraduate Research Symposium: Varies every year, December or January. This is an hosted by APS/PHYS Professional Development at ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ Boulder for undergraduate researchers in APS.

• Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) Symposium: Fall each year. There are no abstracts required for this symposium; it is an opportunity for students from historically underrepresented and underserved communities to learn about research opportunities around campus.

• : Second week of January/June every year. Abstracts due in October/April. This is a large professional astronomy meeting based in North America.

• : Third week of March every year. Abstracts due in November. Sometimes called just "March Meeting", this is a large professional physics meeting that is divided into many topics.

• Usually in the 3rd or 4th week of October. Abstracts are due in mid-July if you wish to present a poster. This conference includes keynote presentations from famous scientists, professional workshops, student presentations, meetings divided by field (APS/Physics are combined).

• : Mid-February, with abstracts due in mid-January if you wish to present a poster or give an oral presentation. This conference is organized in partnership with the , the , and . APS' National Mentoring Community (NMC) facilitates and supports mentoring relationships between African American, Hispanic American, and Native American undergraduate physics students and local physics mentors. This conference will include career and mentorship workshops, undergraduate research presentations, and graduate school/career fairs and panels. Note that this conference may be of special interest because it is directed towards undergraduates.

• : Usually the 3rd or 4th week of January, applications are due in late November. Individuals who have not previously attended the conference have first priority. Note that ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥WiP takes place at multiple sites around the United States, and you should apply for a conference serving ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥. This conference is directed towards supporting undergraduate women in physics, and includes workshops with career/graduate school information, student research presentations, and laboratory tours. Note that this conference may be of special interest because it is directed towards undergraduates.

• : Either mid-November or mid-March. Registrations are due two months before the conference. Organized in conjunction with . This is a biennial cross-generational summit that provides an educational and supportive environment for career development and enrichment for LGBTQ+ students, academics, and career professionals in STEM fields.

• : Varies, usually March or April. Currently focused on the goal of graduating 10,000 Black engineers by 2025. This convention may be of interest if you are pursuing a career in engineering.

• : Varies, usually in the late fall. Includes a huge career fair, and many companies recruit here. Note that SHPE is now merged with MAES). This may be of interest if you are pursuing in a career in engineering.

• : Takes place in mid-October, abstracts are due in mid-July. This conference is hosted by the . Note that so far this conference has only occurred twice so far- once in 2015, and once in 2019. This conference is directed towards all underrepresented groups in astronomy, including racial and ethnic minorities, gender minorities, transgender and/or nonbinary individuals, LGBTQ+ individuals, and Deaf individuals, neurodivergent individuals, and/or people with disabilities. This conference specifically focuses on issues of diversity and inclusion in astronomy and making recommendations for the future.

Again, this is only a list of the largest conferences; it is a good idea to look into local conferences and conferences pertaining your specific area of interest in APS/Physics. Two great resources are and .

Funding

If you are interested in attending a conference, you should seek funding (especially if there are travel costs involved). It is a good idea to apply for funding through the Professional & Academic Conference Endowment (PACE) at ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ if you wish to present your research at a conference. If you do not get enough funding through PACE, your professor or research group will probably be able to provide funding so that you can attend the conference. If a professional society hosts or cohosts a particular conference, you may be able to reduce the cost of attendance by joining that professional society as a student member.