National Convention Program
For the complete convention program with the listing of events, presentation times, locations, and full abstracts, please click the National Convention Program button to download the PDF.
*Will be posted by Monday, 5/18/2026.
Travel Coordination Form
If you are flying in for the convention, please complete the Travel Coordination Form. We will be providing limited shuttle service to accommodate as many attendees as possible.
To be considered for the Chapter History E-Book Award, please click the button to be directed to a secure Dropbox upload link.
Please include the following information in your file name:
Questions?
Reach out to Convention Chapter Host Coordinators, Dr. Debi Fadool or Dr. Jim Fadool, for questions pertaining to onsite convention questions. For registration or other questions, contact the National Office.
The countdown to TriBeta National Convention 2026 has begun.
Join us in Tallahassee, Florida, as TriBeta members from across the country come together to share research, spark ideas, and celebrate the curiosity that drives biological discovery. We’re building an experience that honors our scientific roots while looking confidently toward what’s next.
Hosted by the Sigma Tau Chapter on the beautiful campus of Florida State University, 2026 National Convention attendees can look forward to engaging field trips, a featured keynote speaker, opportunities to connect with exhibitors, and a TriBeta silent auction supporting undergraduate research.
All TriBeta members are welcome to attend, and limited travel grant funding will be available to help offset travel costs.
Full convention details, schedules, and registration information are provided below.
Registration Information
All attendees must individually register to attend the convention through the online registration form. You may start the registration form and save and continue later if needed, such as for abstract uploading.
🎓 1. Full Convention Experience (All-Inclusive) — $350
Immerse yourself in the complete TriBeta National Convention experience. This all-inclusive option includes on-campus housing and meals for the duration of the convention, along with full access to all presentations, poster sessions, workshops, and scheduled programming.
Connect with fellow members, engage with research across disciplines, and fully participate in the national TriBeta community.
Field trips and upgraded housing options are available separately.
🧠2. Commuter Experience — $250
Designed for attendees who prefer to arrange their own lodging, the Commuter Experience provides full access to all convention programming, including presentations, poster sessions, workshops, and scheduled events.
Meals during the convention are included, allowing you to stay energized and engaged throughout the experience.
Field trips and optional upgrades are available separately.
🔬 3. Presentation Day Pass (Thursday Only) — $150
Join us for Presentation Day, the centerpiece of the convention. This option includes access to all oral and poster presentations scheduled for Thursday, offering a full day of student research and academic exchange.
Ideal for local attendees or those with limited availability.
👥 4. Guest Experience — $200
The Guest Experience is designed for non-presenting attendees, family members, or guests accompanying participants. This option provides access to full convention programming and meals throughout the event. Shared accommodations with a full experience attendee is included. Guests are not eligible to present research.
All Field Trips are optional and are not included in the Registration Fee.
The following is a concise schedule of events for the National Convention.
A detailed program will be provided to all registered attendees via email and available for download closer to convention time.
Tuesday, May 26th, 2026
- Executive Committee arrives
Wednesday, May 27th, 2026
- Executive Committee meeting (any district director or chapter advisor may attend)
- All attendees arrive unless Day attendee only
- Registration 12pm - 7pm
- Opening Meet & Greet Meeting 7pm
Thursday, May 29th, 2026
- All presentations will occur
- Oral presentations in AM (start at 9am)
- Poster presentations in PM
- Silent Auction items viewable in Poster Presentation area
- Keynote Speaker Meeting 7pm
Friday, May 30th, 2026
- Field trips morning and afternoon half-day options (details below)
- Awards Banquet 6:30pm
- Silent Auction closes directly after Awards Banquet - all items must be paid and picked no later than 10pm.
- Official close of convention
Saturday, May 30th, 2026
- Optional Day: Attendees can leave the convention and not miss any events
- Field trip option available or attendees can plan their own day
- Informal social gathering for remaining attendees in evening
Sunday, May 31st, 2026
- Everyone must check-out of the dorms by 11am
To help avoid technical issues during the convention, presenters are strongly encouraged to:
Laptops for uploading oral presentations will be available:
Presenters are encouraged to upload and test presentations as early as possible.
It is recommended that poster presenters bring their poster with them Thursday morning so it can be displayed before attending oral presentation sessions. 📌
On-campus housing will be provided Wednesday through Sunday morning in Florida State University residence halls. All attendees are expected to stay on campus unless they are local, attending Thursday only, or have prior arrangements to stay off campus. Faculty advisors, district directors, Executive Committee members, and guests are encouraged to stay in campus housing as well.
Standard convention housing is provided on campus in residence hall suites. Each suite contains two bedrooms each with two twin beds, two bathrooms, and shared living/kitchen area.
Solo bedroom or solo suite options are available for an additional charge, subject to availability.
On-campus housing includes a full linen set for each attendee. Linens provided include a fitted sheet, flat sheet, comforter, pillow, bath towel, hand towel, and washcloth. Attendees staying in on-campus housing do not need to bring their own linens or towels unless desired.
Meals will be provided Wednesday evening through Sunday morning by campus cafeteria services, with the Awards Banquet catered separately.
TriBeta does not reimburse housing or meal expenses for off-campus arrangements. Please notify the TriBeta National Office if you plan to stay off campus.
Attendees will have half-day field trip options for Friday and a full day has been planned for Saturday. Brief descriptions of each field trip option are below.
For full details on each field trip, please download the Field Trip Info PDF.
Wakulla Springs State Park
Wacissa River (Blue Springs)
National High-Field Magnetic Laboratory (MagLab)
Tallahassee Museum
Wakulla Springs
Iconic Natural Wonder: Visit the largest freshwater spring in the world, pumping over 60,000 gallons per minute
Guided Boat Tour: One-hour ride through a protected river system where motor traffic is restricted, allowing wildlife to thrive
Wildlife Encounters: Excellent opportunities to see alligators, manatees, birds, and towering cypress in their natural habitat
Springhead Experience: Enjoy swimming in the constant 67°F spring water or jump from the 10-meter platform, a local favorite
Historic Setting: Explore the lodge featuring hand-painted Spanish artwork and learn about ongoing habitat restoration efforts
Paddle Adventure: Kayak or SUP through a crystal-clear freshwater spring system and scenic river corridor
Wildlife & Scenery: Jumping mullet, abundant birdlife, cypress trees, and long-leaf pine landscapes
On the Water: ~2-hour, 4-mile paddle loop with access to the springhead
Springhead Fun: Swim or snorkel in clear water (~50 ft deep); optional rope swing and local hangouts
Logistics: Kayak/SUP rentals coordinated through Jesse’s Canoe & Kayak Rental
National High-field Magnetic Laboratory
Unmatched Technology: See the strongest magnet in the United States (over 60 tesla), used in cutting-edge, high-field research
Global Impact: Learn how more than 1,800 scientists each year from around the world reserve time on MagLab’s advanced instruments
Behind-the-Scenes Tour: Enjoy a 45-minute guided tour of a working laboratory led by a scientist
Hands-On Learning: Participate in one of three interactive workshops: building an electromagnet, DC electricity, or superconductivity
Living History Experience: Explore a 52-acre outdoor museum blending natural history, wildlife, and Florida heritage
Wildlife & Habitats: Observe red wolves, Florida panthers, native reptiles, and regional flora along scenic boardwalks through a swamp ecosystem
Choose Your Adventure: Enjoy a leisurely docent-led walk or take part in a tree-to-tree zip line adventure above the swamp
Florida Heritage: Learn about pioneer farming and regional history through immersive outdoor exhibits
Conservation Focus: Hear directly from museum staff about ongoing wildlife conservation and preservation efforts
Explore Florida’s “Forgotten Coast”: A full-day tour of one of the most ecologically vital and least developed regions of Florida’s Gulf shoreline. Experience includes the following:
Leon Sinks Geological Area: Walk through a limestone karst landscape featuring sinkholes, underground caverns, and diverse forest and swamp ecosystems
Gulf Specimen Marine Laboratory (Panacea): Hands-on engagement with local marine invertebrates and a working research aquarium with national academic reach
FSU Coastal & Marine Laboratory: Tour an active marine research campus, meet scientists, and experience Gulf and estuarine habitats firsthand (research vessel outing optional)
Carrabelle Lighthouse & Nautical Museum: Visit a historic 1895 lighthouse and maritime museum highlighting the human history of Florida’s Gulf Coast
Lunch is provided. Tour order will vary by group to accommodate capacity, with all groups completing the same experiences.
Karst Landscape: Explore a striking limestone karst system shaped by the Florida aquifer, featuring sinkholes, underground caverns, natural bridges, and tunnels
Guided Nature Hike: Enjoy a 2–3 mile flat hike through the Apalachicola National Forest along swamp and upland habitats
Geological Highlights: View up to nine sinkholes of varying size, color, and depth, each offering a unique window into subsurface processes
Ecology & Wildlife: Opportunities to observe native species such as gopher tortoises, salamanders, hawks, eagles, and deer
Natural Systems Focus: Learn how water movement, geology, and ecology intersect to shape North Florida’s landscape
Historic Roots: Founded over 60 years ago through a collaboration between Jack Rudloe, John Steinbeck, and local shrimpers, with its story chronicled in The Sea Brings Forth
Living Research Facility: A working marine laboratory that supplies specimens to over 30 academic institutions nationwide and supports specimen recovery and care
Hands-On Learning: More than 50% of exhibits are interactive, allowing close observation of local marine invertebrates
Marine Biodiversity: Engage directly with sponges, echinoderms, horseshoe crabs (Limulus), and other species native to the Gulf Coast
Community & Education: Serves as a vital link between marine science, education, and the coastal community of Panacea
Active Research Campus: Visit FSU’s coastal research laboratory dedicated to studying the Gulf of Mexico, Apalachicola River, and surrounding bay systems
Research Focus Areas: Learn about ongoing work in oyster reef ecology, coral reef impacts, coastal and estuarine biogeochemistry, sharks, and meiofauna biodiversity
Behind-the-Scenes Tour: Explore laboratory facilities and gain insight into current research initiatives led by FSU scientists
Scientist Interaction: Meet with researchers to discuss project goals, methods, and conservation-driven outcomes
Gulf Experience: Travel aboard a research vessel to experience the marine habitats that shape the laboratory’s work (alternative nearby activities available for those preferring to remain on land)