Students

ACE 2026 Student Events

Student Platform Presentations and Poster Competition
Student platform paper presentations will be held throughout the technical program. See your fellow students present their research as platform presentations throughout the week.

Students will present their posters to the judges during this year’s Student Poster Competition. The competition recognizes student posters to be the best among those considered in the undergraduate, masters, and doctoral categories. Awards for exceptional posters will be provided at the Student Awards Ceremony and Reception.

Environmental Challenge International (ECi) Competition 
Student teams participate in a competition where they devise an environmental solution to a real-world problem and gain experience with proposing effective solutions taking into consideration site conditions, multiple parties' needs, and external events.

Get your team together now and start planning your strategy! This year’s ECi problem will be posted in February.

Student Welcome Reception
Students participating in the Student Paper, Student Poster Competition, and the Environmental Challenge International (ECi) are invited to meet and network with fellow students from around the world. Poster setup guidelines and ECi rules will be reviewed and attendees can enjoy light refreshments.

Career Panel
Get the inside scoop from distinguished professionals working in different parts of the environmental field as they share their career experiences and answer questions in this interactive and enlightening panel.

Student Awards Ceremony and Reception
All students and professionals participating with the Student Program are invited to the Student Awards Ceremony and Reception, which will honor exceptional students who have received scholarships, poster awards, platform paper awards, thesis and dissertation awards, and ECi awards.

Mentor Breakfast
This annual professional networking breakfast gives students, recent graduates, and young professionals the opportunity to network and be mentored by experienced environmental professionals and each other. For established professionals, this is a great opportunity to connect with the industry’s next generation of rising stars.

Advance registration and sign-up for A&WMA Mentoring Program required.

Young Professional/Student Networking Reception
Cost: $35. Tickets must be purchased in advance.

Join A&WMA students and young professionals for a fun evening of networking. This popular event brings together many students, YPs, and seasoned professionals in a fun, casual environment.