Celebrating the Past and Planning for the Future of Water

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Participation Details

Online Program/App

Presenter/Moderators

Student Programs

Technical Trips

Workshops

Sponsor & Exhibit

STUDENT PROGRAMS

The Planning Committee is organizing student-focused programs. Read below for more details.

1. Poster & Paper Presentation Competitions. Students may present their work and a panel of volunteer judges selects the 1st and 2nd place poster and/or paper (oral) presentations. Read below for more details.
2. Networking Luncheon. Students are invited to participate in the professional networking lunch where 3-5 representatives from different sectors will each briefly (5-10 min) introduce their work, their career arc, and what it’s like to work in their sector. Ample time will be given for Q&A. This is an excellent opportunity for you to learn more about how to position yourself for the career you want and what it takes to succeed and get there!
3. Career Panel. Approximately one-third of the water workforce is expected to retire in the next 10 years. At the same time, physical water systems urgently need repair and maintenance, while innovation in water management and policy are critical to meet the challenges of climate change, demographic shifts, water quality issues, and regional concerns. We need all hands on deck to recruit, educate, and retain the next generation of water leaders. However, many students lack awareness and information on potential water-related careers, as well as critical professional connections to those working in water. This session will bring students and water professionals together to expose students to diverse careers and skillsets in water, while also sharing the oftentimes non-linear pathways to get there. A panel of seven water professionals will start off the session by describing their career trajectories and current positions/organizations, followed by panel discussion and questions from students in the audience. The water professionals on the panel represent a diverse array of careers and experiences in water – from private, to nonprofit, to government positions in water quality & quantity, policy, economics, education and extension, and more.
4. Graduate School Success Without Burnout Workshop. Learn more in the online conference program.
5. Pre-meeting Slack Group. 

POSTER & PAPER PRESENTATION COMPETITIONS

Who Can Participate?

Full-time students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate (masters and Ph.D. levels) programs are encouraged to present posters and/or papers describing their research. Posters and papers can describe collaborative research carried out by multiple authors (including non-students) but must be presented by a student. 

• The Poster Competition will take place during the Opening Reception in the exhibitor area on Monday. 
• The Paper (oral) Competition takes place during scheduled session presentation times throughout the conference.

Participation Costs

Participation in both of the competitions is optional; however; a full-conference student registration rate is required. Participation is not available to students who do not register.

Poster Competition Participation & Recognition

• Poster abstracts may be submitted anytime during the call for abstracts period.
• Reference this scoring rubric to see the criteria on which you will be judged.
• Download the poster instructions or find them in the Presenters/Moderators Resources page.
• Two awards will be presented at the conference luncheon on Wednesday for Best Poster and Runner-up Poster. Recognition will also be made on the AWRA website, in various publications, and through special promotions.

Paper (oral) Competition Participation & Recognition

• Reference scoring rubric to see the criteria on which you will be judged.
• Download the paper instructions or find them in the Presenters/Moderators Resources page.
• Two awards will be presented at the conference luncheon on Wednesday for Best Paper Presentation and Runner-up Paper Presentation. Recognition will also be made on the AWRA website, in various publications, and through special promotions.

REGISTRATION NOTE & CANCELATION POLICY

All conference participants (presenters, moderators, panelists, attendees, etc.) must adhere to the AWRA Code of Conduct and must register at the appropriate registration rate. AWRA Gateway members are not eligible for discounted conference rates. The registration fees are the major source of funding for the Conference, and the sharing of registrations is prohibited - every person attending the conference must register. For presenters, if two or more individuals will be presenting, each individual must register for the conference. This includes: all technical session presenters; all panel session presenters; and all poster session presenters.

Cancelations must be made in writing. Those cancelations received by August 9, 2024, will be subject to a processing fee of 30% of the total fees. No refunds will be given after August 9, 2024, but we can transfer your registration to someone else. The transfer must be completed by September 16, 2024. Abstract submission fees are nonrefundable. Refunds will be processed after the conclusion of the conference. Conference location decisions are guided by AWRA's policy.