Student Conferences

Establish Professional Relationships and Friendships that will Last a Lifetime
How? By taking part in your AIAA Regional Student Conference and the AIAA Foundation International Student Conference. Here you’ll have the chance to present your 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.
Please note: You must be an AIAA Student Member to participate in this program. Please click here for more information, and to join.
2021 Call for Papers
Region I
Conference Dates: 9–10 April 2021
Host/Location: Virtual
Abstract Deadline: 28 February 2021, 2359 hrs US Eastern
Manuscript Deadline: 22 March 2021, 2359 hrs US Eastern
Region II
Conference Dates: 5–9 April 2021
Host/Location: Virtual
Abstract Deadline: 26 February 2021, 2359 hrs US Eastern
Manuscript Deadline: 8 March 2021, 2359 hrs US Eastern
Region III
Conference Dates: 26–27 March 2021
Host/Location: Virtual
Abstract Deadline: 26 February 2021, 2359 hrs US Central
Manuscript Deadline: 12 March 2021, 2359 hrs US Central
Region IV
Conference Dates: 26–27 March 2021
Host/Location: Virtual
Abstract Deadline: 8 February 2021, 2359 hrs US Central
Manuscript Deadline: 1 March 2021, 2359 hrs US Central
Region V
Conference Dates: 2–3 April 2021
Host/Location: Virtual
Abstract Deadline: 21 February 2021, 2359 hrs US Mountain
Manuscript Deadline: 21 March 2021, 2359 hrs US Mountain
Region VI
Conference Dates: 3–4 April 2021
Host/Location: Virtual
Abstract Deadline: 6 February 2021, 2359 hrs US Pacific
Manuscript Deadline: 6 March 2021, 2359 hrs US Pacific
For 2021, all Regional Student Conferences will be in a virtual format. Conferences are planned and coordinated at the local level, by committees of students, professors, and AIAA Professional Members Volunteering their time to produce exciting events for our students. Please check the Virtual Student Conferences FAQs to answer your questions. If you have a question that wasn’t answered on the FAQ document, please e-mail us at studentprogram@aiaa.org.
Please download and fill in the information in this letter if your instructors need documentation for you to get time off class to attend a presentation you’re giving at an AIAA Regional Student Conference.
Abstracts submitted to the AIAA Student Conference program are simple abstracts submitted via the AIAA AWARDS submission site. Abstracts are a maximum of 1,000 words. Please do not use “Abstract Submission Process & Requirements” because this page only contains guidelines that apply for AIAA Forums (SciTech, AVIATION, Propulsion & Energy, ASCEND and AIAA DEFENSE)
Upcoming Regional Student Conferences
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2021 Region I Student Conference
9 April - 10 April 2021
Virtual
AIAA has announced that the AIAA 2021 Region I Student Conference, set for 9–10 April 2021 and hosted by the Rutgers University AIAA Student Branch, will be fully online. -
2021 Region II Student Conference
5 April - 9 April 2021
Virtual
AIAA has announced that the AIAA 2021 Region II Student Conference, set for 5–9 April 2021, will be fully online. This conference is intended for AIAA Region II Students from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. -
2021 Region III Student Conference
26 March - 27 March 2021
Virtual
AIAA has announced that the AIAA 2021 Region III Student Conference, set for 26–27 March 2021, will be fully online. This conference is hosted by the AIAA Student Branch at the University of Michigan and is intended for AIAA Region III Students from the Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Northern Ohio, and Dayton/Cincinnati AIAA Sections. -
2021 Region IV Student Conference
26 March - 27 March 2021
Virtual
AIAA has announced that the 2021 Region IV Student Conference, set for 26–27 March 2021 will be fully online. The conference is intended for AIAA Region IV students from Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Missouri. -
2021 Region V Student Conference
2 April - 3 April 2021
Virtual
AIAA has announced that the 2021 Region V Student Conference, set for 2 – 3 April 2021 will be fully online. This event is cohosted by the University of Iowa AIAA Student Branch and the AIAA Iowa Professional Section. -
2021 Region VI Student Conference
3 April - 4 April 2021
Virtual
AIAA has announced that the AIAA 2021 Region VI Student Conference, set for 3-4 April 2021, will be fully online. This conference is hosted by the AIAA Student Branch at California State University Long Beach (CSULB) and is intended for AIAA Region VI Students from Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington. -
International Student Conference
11 January - 14 January 2021
Virtual
The International Student Conference is an invitation-only student conference contained within the annual AIAA SciTech Forum and Exposition.
Present Your Research for Cash Prizes and More
Talk about opportunity! Every AIAA regional student conference encourages students to present research papers. You’ll compete for three cash prizes in graduate and undergraduate categories.
First-place regional winners are then
invited to the AIAA Foundation International Student Conference, held during the AIAA SciTech Forum each January. AIAA picks up the tab for your travel expenses and hotel accommodations.
Please contact Michael Lagana with any questions regarding the Regional Student Paper Conferences at studentprogram@aiaa.org or 703.264.7503
Sponsored by
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.
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.
Technical Presenter Resources
2020 Student Conferences
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2020 Region VII Student Paper Competition & AIAA Sydney Section Student Conference
25 November - 26 November 2020
Virtual
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Cancelled - 2020 Region VI Student Conference
28 March - 29 March 2020
Portland, Oregon
The student and volunteer organizers of the AIAA Region VI Student Conference have postponed their conference due to concerns about the coronavirus. -
Cancelled - 2020 Region V Student Conference
2 April - 3 April 2020
Wichita, Kansas
The student and volunteer organizers of the AIAA Region V Student Conference have cancelled their conference due to concerns about the coronavirus. -
Cancelled - 2020 Region IV Student Conference
27 March - 28 March 2020
Stillwater, Oklahoma
The student and volunteer organizers of the AIAA Region IV Student Conference have cancelled their conference due to concerns about the coronavirus. -
Cancelled - 2020 Region III Student Conference
27 March - 28 March 2020
Columbus, Ohio
The student and volunteer organizers of the AIAA Region III Student Conference have cancelled their conference due to concerns about the coronavirus. -
Cancelled - 2020 Region II Student Conference
6 April - 7 April 2020
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
The student and volunteer organizers of the AIAA Region II Student Conference have cancelled their conference due to concerns about the coronavirus. -
Cancelled - 2020 Region I Student Conference
24 April - 25 April 2020
State College, PA
The student and volunteer organizers of the AIAA Region I Student Conference have cancelled their conference due to concerns about the coronavirus.
2019 Student Conferences
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Region VII – Australia/International Student Conference
4 December - 5 December 2019
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Save the date for the 2019 Region VII Australia/International Student Conference taking place 4-5 December 2019 in Gold Coast, located just outside of Brisbane in Queensland, Australia. -
2019 Region I Student Conference
5 April - 6 April 2019
College Park, Maryland
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) sponsors student conferences in each AIAA Region as a means to encourage students in aerospace-related fields to discuss research, exchange knowledge, and generate interest in the field of aerospace engineering. -
2019 Region II Student Conference
4 April - 5 April 2019
Cocoa Beach, Florida
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) sponsors student conferences in each AIAA Region as a means to encourage students in aerospace-related fields to discuss research, exchange knowledge, and generate interest in the field of aerospace engineering. -
2019 Region III Student Conference
5 April - 7 April 2019
Cleveland, Ohio
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) sponsors student conferences in each AIAA Region as a means to encourage students in aerospace-related fields to discuss research, exchange knowledge, and generate interest in the field of aerospace engineering. -
2019 Region IV Student Conference
29 March - 31 March 2019
Austin, Texas
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) sponsors student conferences in each AIAA Region as a means to encourage students in aerospace-related fields to discuss research, exchange knowledge, and generate interest in the field of aerospace engineering. -
2019 Region V Student Conference
4 April - 5 April 2019
Minneapolis, Minnesota
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) sponsors student conferences in each AIAA Region as a means to encourage students in aerospace-related fields to discuss research, exchange knowledge, and generate interest in the field of aerospace engineering. -
2019 Region VI Student Conference
6 April - 7 April 2019
San Luis Obispo, California
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) sponsors student conferences in each AIAA Region as a means to encourage students in aerospace-related fields to discuss research, exchange knowledge, and generate interest in the field of aerospace engineering.
2019 Student Conference Winners
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AIAA Announces 2019 First-Place Student Conference Winners
6 May 2019
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AIAA Announces 2019 Region I Student Conference Winners
24 April 2019
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AIAA Announces 2019 Region II Student Conference Winners
26 April 2019
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AIAA Announces 2019 Region III Student Conference Winners
26 April 2019
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2019 AIAA Region IV Student Conference Winners
29 April 2019
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AIAA Announces 2019 Region V Student Conference Winners
30 April 2019
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AIAA Announces 2019 Region VI Student Conference Winners
1 May 2019