Student Conferences

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.

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No. The purpose of presenting at an AIAA Student Conference is to showcase the original, unpublished work of students.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 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 masters) 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 / master’s papers if 1 master and 1 undergraduate must be entered into masters category.
• Industry sponsors may NOT be listed as authors but may be thanked in the acknowledgement section.
• PhD work may not be presented for the Student Paper Conference 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 https://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. Please find your regional conference at https://www.aiaa.org/get-involved/students-educators/student-conferences. 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

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 2021 SciTech Forum’s International Student Paper Conference, where you will compete in your category against the finalists from the other six AIAA Member 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 Michael Lagana at studentprograms@aiaa.org.

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