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.
Registration Fees
Full Convention Experience: $350
Includes: Access to all presentations, workshops, meetings, award banquet, field trips. Campus lodging accommodations and food are provided throughout the convention from Wednesday evening to Sunday morning. If you are leaving on Saturday, you will still pay for the Full Convention Experience.
Solo bedroom or Solo suite options are available for an additional charge.
Presentation Day Only: $150
Includes: full day participation on Thursday, May 28th to present and attend all presentations, workshops, and keynote speaker meeting and on-campus dining for that day (breakfast, lunch, and dinner).
Guest Attendance: $200
Includes: Access to all presentations, workshops, meetings, award banquet, field trips. Campus lodging accommodations (shared suite) and food are provided throughout the convention from Wednesday evening to Sunday morning.
Full Convention Experience - Without Lodging Accommodations: $200
Includes: Access to all presentations, workshops, meetings, award banquet, field trips, and food is provided throughout the convention from Wednesday evening to Sunday morning. Attendee is responsible for off-campus lodging at their own expense.
All Field Trips are optional and are not included in the Registration Fee.
Click the Register to Attend button to access the online form.
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
- Poster presentations in AM
- Oral presentations in afternoon
- Keynote Speaker Meeting 7pm
Friday, May 30th, 2026
- Field trips morning and afternoon half-day options (details below)
- Awards Banquet 7pm
- 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
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)
If you are presenting research, you MUST upload your abstract when you register to attend the National Convention.
The deadline to submit abstracts to be included in the printed program is TBD, typically 3 weeks prior to the convention.
It is recommended that students email their abstract to themselves and email their presentation to themselves as an attachment as a back up in case of technical problems
Posters may be displayed Wednesday evening and should be no larger than 4ft x4ft.
Judging of posters will be Thursday morning. You will be informed when you need to be present by your poster.
Oral presentations will be Thursday afternoon, May 28th, 2026.
Oral presentations should be 10-12 minutes with two minutes for questions, with a maximum of 15 minutes allowed per presenter.
If your chapter is submitting a Chapter History E-Book for consideration for the Chapter History E-Book (digital scrapbook) Award, please click the button to upload your file. You will be taken to a secure Dropbox link and upload your file accordingly.
Please include your chapter's Greek name, name of your school, and region/district in the file name.
The deadline to submit Chapter E-Books is Wednesday, May 27th, 2026 by 7pm EST.
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.