A Student’s Guide to the AAG Annual Meeting

Attending an annual conference can be confusing and intimidating; regardless of whether you’re a first-time undergraduate attendee or a seasoned postgraduate student. At AAG, we want to do what we can to provide you with advice to cover all aspects of the Annual Meeting. Although this isn’t a comprehensive checklist, here are some tips and tricks to make the experience as seamless and enjoyable as possible.

Preparing for the Meeting

Travel, Lodging, and Packing

There are many factors to consider in deciding where to stay, including cost, proximity to the meeting venue, and desired experience (e.g. access to a kitchen, neighborhood vs. downtown, ability to share accommodations). Different kinds of lodging offer different advantages: the conference hotel, nearby hotels, or an option such as AirBnB or VRBO. However, AAG does reserve discounted rooms in a nearby conference hotel at each annual meeting. Understandably, attendees will seek the best deal for lodging. Students can pool their expenses together and stay in accommodations with each other.

Note details about the local airport or train station you’ll be arriving in, and public transportation options. AAG tries to select conference locations that are walkable, with good public transportation, and we share what we learn about local transportation options in our conference information.

If it’s your first time attending a conference, consider this packing list from Rebecca Rice, author of PhD in Clothes, who provides guidance about work-life balance, professionalism, authenticity and style on the academic career path.  Make sure to pack shoes for easy walking—you’ll be doing a lot of walking even just inside the conference center. Think about the field trips and excursions you’d like to do, and pack shoes and outerwear for them.

Building your presentation

Whether you’re presenting a paper, poster, or attending a panel discussion, start building your presentation early. Ideally, working with a mentor can help you tailor your presentation to communicate the necessary findings and next steps of your work. You may also consider asking your department faculty and staff about their experiences attending past academic conferences. Seasoned attendees often have secret hacks or insight gained from first-hand experience.

If you are presenting, host a small social practice session with fellow students and faculty. This will allow you to time the presentation to keep within the allotted limit and to practice without a script. A practice session can also present opportunities for your colleagues to provide feedback or propose possible questions the audience is curious about.

It’s important to note that presenting is not required; If you’re an undergraduate, attending a conference gives you the opportunity to hear a wider variety of viewpoints, and can help in giving you a better impression of the discipline as a whole.

Review the Program

The AAG Annual Meeting program will be released about a month before the start of the conference. Take advantage of the available information to plan out your daily schedule by checking out familiar names, sessions related to your interests and research or abstracts which sound interesting to you.

To one side of the online program (the right side in 2025), you can refine your search by session type, modality, sponsor groups, or a curated track, which is a compilation of sessions put together with a common theme or goal. From special sessions and workshops to networking events, you can find every event listed in the program. Don’t forget to download the AAG Meeting app to keep up-to-date on the latest changes of events, reminders, and meeting information. Consult our tip sheet for quick set-up and user guidance or delve more deeply into the functions of the app with our user guide.

Attending the Conference

Check In

When planning your trip, typically plan to arrive at the conference the day before it starts. AAG’s on-site registration will open the afternoon before the first day of the event, so you will be able to go to the venue and check in to collect your name badge. It’s crucial to wear your badge when attending any event affiliated with the meeting. This will often be your first introduction to and from other attendees as you familiarize yourself with others.

Day-by-Day

With a day long schedule, it’s recommended to dress comfortably, bring a water bottle, and a snack. With numerous keynote speakers, workshops, and panel discussions constantly ongoing, the meeting will feel hectic and confusing. Embrace the experience! Narrow in on sessions that call out to you and take the time to gain insights from presenters in your research niche. Engage in Q&A sessions, introduce yourself to other students, and don’t be afraid to ask for advice.

Networking doesn’t come easy, but with practice, it will come naturally over time. Students may take the time to prepare business cards and a brief elevator pitch about research interests or future goals. Get in touch with university professors and other students to start building a network of acquittances. Here are annual events that offer these opportunities. The best way to find these sessions are to filter the program by “AAG Events.”

• Welcome Reception—The reception takes place on the first evening of the conference with drinks, bites, and space to mingle with other attendees.
• Plenaries, Award Sessions, and Panels—With more than 1,000 sessions to choose from, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. AAG has several special types of sessions you can seek out in the program, from the special events to numerous awards sessions and plenary panels hosted by AAG Specialty groups.
• World Geography Bowl—An AAG tradition is the World Geography Bowl, a fun, often fast-paced competition of student teams from AAG Regional Divisions. It’s a great opportunity to cheer on your peers, learn a few new things about geography, and mingle with other students.
• Careers and Professional Development Center—Each year, AAG features a large track of over 50 panels, paper sessions, workshops, and networking events focused on career preparation and professional development for geographers. These sessions and events will take place throughout the entire conference in the Careers & Professional Development Center, a central hub for students, early-career professionals, job seekers, and other attendees to network and learn from professional geographers and develop strategies for finding employment in geography-related occupations.
• Student Day—In addition to specialized offerings for students throughout the entire week, AAG works with student members to organize a full day of sessions dedicated to student research, methods training workshops, career planning & mentoring, and networking events and activities for students at all levels of higher education. Keep an eye out for the curated track and create your own schedule year after year.
• Specialty and Affinity Group Business Meetings—AAG’s more than 75 specialty and affinity groups all have business meetings during the annual meeting. These meetings are usually small gatherings that provide excellent opportunities for you to discover an interesting community of your own—or several. The meetings are open to all AAG 2025 participants, and in fact many specialty and affinity groups see their business meetings as an important way to engage and recruit new members.

Conquer Your Fear of Missing Out

Take a break! Explore the area! It’s likely you won’t have time to attend everything you planned, and you may even skip an event you had slotted into your schedule to keep yourself from getting worn out. Many attendees are travelling from out of town, so this is an opportunity to connect with our host city. Specialty and Affinity Groups often organize field visits that align with their core interests that venture out to local neighborhoods, historical sites, or a hands-on engagement project. During the registration process, you can choose the workshops and field trips you’d like to participate in. If you are already registered, simply click the Register Now button on our website to access your registration and add events.

The Follow Up

Reflection and Outreach

As you travel home, take a moment to collect your thoughts. Make note of any interesting papers or suggested readings, save all contact details business cards, or make note of any plenaries that inspired you.

Remember our networking events? Follow up with new contacts after the conference to maintain relationships and explore potential collaborations. LinkedIn is a great way to maintain professional relationships as a network grows.

Take Advantage of AAG Resources

With your student membership, you can join a number of Affinity Groups or Specialty Groups that align with your research interests and stage of education. Specifically, the Community College, Undergraduate Student, and Graduate Student affinity groups strive to enhance the participation and representation of students within the organization and better prepare students for further study and careers in geography. Additionally, connecting with one of your nine Regional Divisions allows you to network with geographers and other members in an area located near you. Held annually each fall, Regional Division Meetings empower AAG members to connect around regional issues of significant importance.

Your membership also grants access to the AAG Job Board. If you’re looking to start your career in geography or transition to a new field or position, members can view hundreds of open positions from a variety of employers, upload a resume to help employers find you, and sign up for job alerts to be the first notified of open positions relevant to your job search or interest. If you’re looking to advance your education, explore our Guide to Geography Programs and Opportunities to take the important step to understand the different academic opportunities and how they align with your goals.