Regional Student Conferences

2024 AIAA Regional Student Conference Winners
Present and Publish Your Research with AIAA

AIAA’s Regional Student Conferences gives students the chance to present their research in a formal technical meeting atmosphere. Just as important, you’ll exchange ideas and discuss programs with students from other schools in your region.

A university student in good standing at their institution who is also an AIAA Student Member is eligible to submit a paper to the Regional Student Conference. The submitting and presenting author(s) must be AIAA Student Members. Any student may attend the Regional Student Conference but may be subjected to a higher registration fee if they are not AIAA members. Please click here for more information to join as an AIAA Student Member.

Each conference offers cash prizes for first, second and third place per paper category. First place regional winners are then invited to the International Student Conference, held at AIAA SciTech Forum each January.

Watch Regional Student Conferences Webinar Replay  Regional Student Conference Rules   Latest Published Student Papers 


Upcoming Regional Student Conferences

The Call for Abstracts for Regions I-VI opens 4 September.

Region I
Conference Dates: 20–21 March 2025
Conference Host: École de Technologie Supérieure
Abstract Deadline: 10 January 2025
Manuscript Deadline: 7 February 2025

Region II
Conference Dates: 3–4 April 2025
Conference Host: North Carolina State University
Conference Venue: Greensboro-High Point Marriott Airport
Abstract Deadline: 3 February 2025
Manuscript Deadline: 3 March 2025

Region III
Conference Dates: 4–5 April 2025
Conference Host: University of Cincinnati
Abstract Deadline: 8 February 2025
Manuscript Deadline: 7 March 2025

Region IV
Conference Dates: 28–29 March 2025
Conference Host: University of Texas at Dallas
Conference Venue: Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science (ECSW)
Abstract Deadline: 31 January 2025
Manuscript Deadline: 28 February 2025

Region V
Conference Dates: 3–4 April 2025
Conference Host: University of Minnesota
Abstract Deadline: 31 January 2025
Manuscript Deadline: 28 February 2025

Region VI
Conference Dates: 22–23 March 2025
Conference Host: University of California Irvine
Abstract Deadline: 2 February 2025 
Manuscript Deadline: 24 February 2025

Region VII
Conference Dates: 25–26 November 2024
Conference Host: Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia & Online
Abstract Deadline: 4 August 2024, Extended to 16 August
Manuscript Deadline: 27 October 2024
Registration open | Registration closes 11 November at 11:59 p.m. Australian Eastern Standard Time


Regional Student Conference Rules 

 Student Conferences FAQs

 

How does AIAA determine what Universities/groups will be hosting Student Conferences?
This is determined within each region on a yearly basis. Hosts change each year, and every region has a different way of determining who will host the following year.

Will my paper be published?
Effective February 2023, all university student (undergraduate, graduate, and team) papers submitted and presented at the Regional Student Conferences (Regions I-VII) will be published with AIAA. Please review the FAQs  for all questions pertaining to publishing papers for the Regional Student Conferences.

Can I present my previously published work at an AIAA Student Conference?
No. The purpose of presenting at an AIAA Student Conference is to showcase the original, unpublished work of students. Therefore, we do not permit previously published work to be presented at an AIAA Student Conference.

When do Student Conferences take place?
Student Conferences generally take place in late March/early April each year, with the exception of Region VII – International, which takes place in November each year. Precise dates are subject to change and selected at the discretion of the conference organizers.

What is the criteria for determining the acceptability of my paper to the AIAA Student Conference Program?
All abstract submission should be 1,000 words max. Final papers should be written in the AIAA Meeting Paper Format and have the following additional elements required by the Student Conference Program:

  • Be sure your AIAA status (student member) and student category (undergraduate or graduate) are footnotes for the authors at the bottom of the first page.
  • 11 page limit -- Single column, single spaced, 10 point font. This includes all figures, citations and text.
  • 2 student authors and 1 faculty advisor for undergraduate / graduate papers if 1 master and 1 undergraduate must be entered into graduate category.
  • Industry sponsors may NOT be listed as authors but may be thanked in the acknowledgement section.
  • Only the work completed as an undergraduate or graduate student is eligible for competition. (Early) Doctoral students are eligible to participate while they are completing their doctoral coursework. Doctoral candidates who have completed their coursework and are focused solely on their dissertation are not eligible for competition.
  • Make sure that you review the proofreading checklist for papers submitted to AIAA conferences. You can reduce minor errors and increase your score on grammar and style by checking this list before submitting your paper.

If you have any more questions about the rules or proceedings of the Regional Student Conference Program, please refer to the Regional Student Conference Rules .

Where do I submit my abstract/final paper?
Abstracts and papers must be submitted via aiaa-awards.org/. All abstracts/final papers are due on their due date by 2359hrs US Eastern Time. Papers in the Region VII Student Conference will be due at 2359hrs Australian Eastern Standard Time on the due date listed.

Do I need to be a student member to present at an AIAA Student Conference?
Yes, you and all members of your authorship team must be AIAA student members in order to present and have your paper accepted. Anyone who doesn’t have student membership by the time their final paper is submitted will cause the submission to be disqualified.

When do I find out if my abstract has been accepted?
Typically, you will find out within a week of abstract submissions closing.

If my abstract is rejected, will I be able to make changes and re-submit it?
Yes, you can! You will have 24 hours to re-submit your abstract.

Do I need to be registered for the conference in order to present?
Yes, all presenters need to be registered for the conference. Fees vary by conference.

Does AIAA provide travel support for attending Regional Student Conferences?
No, AIAA does not provide travel support for this program.

Are there prizes for best papers?
Yes! AIAA Student Conferences award three prizes in each category*:

  • 1st - $500 and an invitation to the International Student Paper Conference at the SciTech Forum
  • 2nd - $300
  • 3rd - $250

*The above prizes are for university students.

If there is more than one author, any prize monies received will be sent to the attention of your school for disbursement.

What happens if I win 1st place in my category?
If you win first-place you will receive an invitation to present at the AIAA SciTech Forum’s International Student Paper Conference, where you will compete in your category against the finalists from the other six AIAA regions. Additionally, your paper will be published as part of the SciTech Forum’s proceedings.

I have a question that wasn’t answered here. Whom do I ask?
For Region II, please direct your questions to Cassy Dellinger at region2@aiaastudentconference.org . For all other regions, please direct questions to Lindsay Mitchell at studentprogram@aiaa.org .

My faculty advisor is crucial to my paper. Can they be listed as a co-author?
Yes, your faculty advisor can be listed as a coauthor. For Graduate and Undergraduate categories, the two-author limit still applies if you decide to list your faculty advisor as an author.

 Hosting a Student Conference

Are you interested in hosting a future regional student conference at your college/university? AIAA requires schools to complete its Host School Proposal Form to be considered a candidate to host a student conference. The form details all the requirements, roles, and responsibilities to hosting the conference, in addition to ensuring the student branch leaders, faculty advisor, and university department officials understand the expectations. After completing the form, AIAA will be in touch with more information.

Host School Proposal Form

 Technical Presenter Resources
AIAA Student Conferences require strict adherence to AIAA technical paper formatting guidelines. Please  click here to access AIAA Technical Presenter Resources, including a word template for your paper and an optional AIAA presentation template if you wish to use that for your presentation. You will also find a proofreading checklist - please carefully review the proofreading checklist before submitting your final manuscript.


 Upcoming Regional Student Conferences

  • Swinburne-University-of-Tech-Melbourne-thumbnail 2024 Region VII Student Conference

    25 November - 26 November 2024

    Melbourne, Australia & Online

    AIAA is pleased to announce that the Region VII Student Conference will be held from 25–26 November 2024 at Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia & Online.
  • Ecole_de_technologie_superieure-wiki-thumbnail 2025 Region I Student Conference

    20 March - 21 March 2025

    Montréal, Quebec, Canada

    AIAA is pleased to announce that the Region I Student Conference will be held from 20-21 March 2025 at École de Technologie Supérieure.
  • Engineering Tower, located in the Henry Samueli School of Engineering 2025 Region VI Student Conference

    22 March - 23 March 2025

    Irvine, CA, USA

    AIAA is pleased to announce that the Region VI Student Conference will be held from 22-23 March 2025 at the University of California Irvine.
  • U-TX-Dallas-wiki-thumbnail 2025 Region IV Student Conference

    28 March - 29 March 2025

    Richardson, Texas, USA

    AIAA is pleased to announce that the Region IV Student Conference will be held from 28-29 March 2025 at the University of Texas at Dallas.
  • Greensboro-HighPoint-Marriott-thumbnail 2025 Region II Student Conference

    3 April - 4 April 2025

    Greensboro, North Carolina, USA

    AIAA is pleased to announce that the Region II Student Conference will be held from 3-4 April 2025 at a TBD Hotel Venue in Greensboro, NC.
  • U-of-Minnesota-Northrop-Hall-wiki-thumbnail 2025 Region V Student Conference

    3 April - 4 April 2025

    Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

    AIAA is pleased to announce that the Region V Student Conference will be held from 3-4 April 2025 at University of Minnesota.
  • U-of-Cinci-Engineering-Bldg-wiki-thumbnail 2025 Region III Student Conference

    4 April - 5 April 2025

    Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

    AIAA is pleased to announce that the Region III Student Conference will be held from 4-5 April 2024 at the University of Cincinnati.

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 Photos from 2024 Student Conferences
2024 Regional Student Conference Participants
2024 AIAA Regional Student Conference Winners
2024 AIAA Regional Student Conference Winners
2024 AIAA Regional Student Conference Winners
2024 AIAA Regional Student Conference Winners
2024 AIAA Regional Student Conference Winners
2024 AIAA Regional Student Conference Winners
2024 AIAA Regional Student Conference Winners
AIAA CEO with 2024 AIAA Student Conference Participants

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