national conference

_^105th annual national conference

2026 National Conference will be hosted by GWIS Black Hills Chapter on June 11-13

Thriving Through Change: The Power of Scientific Community

Graduate Women in Science (GWIS) is excited to announce the 2026 GWIS National Conference, hosted by the Black Hills Chapter in Rapid City, South Dakota.

The GWIS National Conference is held annually and hosted by a different chapter each year. It provides an opportunity for GWIS members from across chapters to gather in person, share research, develop leadership skills, and build lasting professional connections. The conference will feature invited talks, panel discussions, lightning talks, research posters, and time for networking and collaboration.

The 2026 conference theme, Thriving Through Change: The Power of Scientific Community, highlights how collaboration, mentorship, and scientific networks help researchers navigate change and thrive at every stage of their careers.

Join us as we Connect, Lead, and Empower the next generation of scientists.

Conference Information

📍 Location

South Dakota School of Mines & Technology

Rapid City, South Dakota

Pete Lien & Sons Lecture Hall (NMI 246)

📅 Scientific Conference

June 13, 2026

Conference Schedule

8:00 – 9:00 am Check-in & Coffee

9:00 – 9:30 am Welcome Address

9:30 – 10:00 am Lead

10:00 – 10:30 am Empower (Dr. Jade Hermann)

10:30 – 11:00 am Connect (Dr. Lisa Kunza)

11:00 – 12:00 pm Lunch & Poster Session

12:00 – 12:30 pm Lightning Talks

12:30 – 1:30 pm Keynote Address

1:30 – 2:30 pm Panel: Navigating Careers, Collaboration, and Resilience (Dr. Kelsey Gilcrest, Dr. Tanvi Govil, Dr. Tugba Ozdemir, & Dr. Fan Zheng)

Additional Conference Events

Conference Social

📅 Friday, June 12

🕚 5:00–8:00 pm

📍 Jolly Lane Greenhouse

National Governance Meetings

Q4 National Council Meeting

📅 Sunday, June 11, 2026

🕚 9:00 am – 3:00 pm Mountain

📍 Nucor Mineral Industries Building (Room 201)

South Dakota School of Mines & Technology

Rapid City, SD

Hybrid (in-person + virtual)

National Grand Chapter Meeting

📅 Sunday, June 12, 2026

🕚 9:00 am – 3:00 pm Mountain

📍 Nucor Mineral Industries Building (Room 201)

Hybrid (in-person + virtual)

All members are welcome to attend and participate.

Call for Abstracts

We invite submissions for:

• Poster presentations

• Lightning talks

These sessions provide an opportunity for students and early-career researchers to share their work and receive feedback from the GWIS community.

Submit an abstract by May 30, 2026:

https://forms.gle/pAbQ7pbEgBJN63ZF8

Travel Grants

GWIS will offer travel grants of $250 to help offset travel costs to attend the National Grand Chapter meeting.

To apply, contact:

📧 long-fox@gwis.org

📧 treasurer@gwis.org

Registration

Attendance is free, and all conference activities and meals are complimentary.

Reserve your spot by May 30, 2026:

https://forms.gle/pAbQ7pbEgBJN63ZF8

Travel Information

✈ Flights

Rapid City Regional Airport (RAP) is the closest airport and is served by Delta, United, American, and Allegiant Airlines.

🚗 Rental Cars

Rental cars are available at Rapid City Regional Airport through Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, and National.

🚐 Carpool Options

Conference organizers will coordinate optional carpooling and airport pickup/drop-off for attendees.

Accommodations

Dormitory-style accommodations are being arranged on campus.

• $40 per night per room (no linens)

• Each room accommodates up to two guests

• Shared restroom facilities on each floor

Optional linen bundles will be available for $30.

Additional booking details will be provided soon. If you are interested in campus accommodations, please indicate this when completing the conference registration form.

A Legacy of Scientific Community and Collaboration

Graduate Women in Science traces its origins to 1921, when twelve women graduate students at Cornell University gathered to create a community for women scientists who were often isolated in their research programs. Their vision—to build connection, collaboration, and mutual support—continues to shape GWIS today.

Since the first national meeting in 1922, the GWIS National Conference has brought members together annually to share research, exchange ideas, and strengthen the global community of women in science.