Avian Research Symposium: A Look at What’s Taking Flight
March 31 – April 2, 2026
Daily at 5:30 p.m. (CST)
Live, virtual event
About the Symposium
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service’s host 3Virtual Birding Seminars each year. These are live, virtual events designed to connect bird enthusiasts, and provide access to science-based learning across the nation. These online events feature expert speakers, timely topics, and interactive discussion, creating opportunities to learn about birds, conservation, and research from anywhere. Funds generated through our Virtual Birding Seminars fund scholarships for Rio Diablo Birding Camp to help foster the next generation of conservationist. We are expand our support of the next generation by creating the Avian Research Symposium!
Calling Student Researchers
As a student participant in the Avian Research Symposium, you will play a central role in this virtual seminar by sharing your research through a concise, public-facing presentation. This is an opportunity to practice science communication, gain experience presenting to a broad audience, and showcase how your work contributes to our understanding of birds and conservation.
Top student presentations will be featured during the live portion of the seminar, and scholarship will be awarded to top presenters as selected by both public and scholarly judges. We are excited to highlight the work you are doing and invest in the next generation of avian scientists.
How it works
Present your research in a way that is engaging and accessible to a general audience, demonstrate ability to interact with general audience during Q&A session following the presentation, and win a scholarship!
- Submit your research to be featured:
Students will submit a 10 minute video presentation along with a 2-3 sentence summary describing your research.
Deadline to submit: March 6, 2026 - Selection for live presentations:
Scholarly and extension staff will select top presentations and invite students to present live during the Virtual Birding Seminar. - Live Virtual Birding Seminar
Students will be assigned a day and presentation time and will present a live presentation via Zoom to a general audience. Live presentations will include 10 minutes for presenting and 5 minutes for audience Q&As. - Judging of Live Presentations
Winners will be selected based on judges evaluations and audience feedback.
Emphasis will be placed on clarity, engagement and accessibility for the general public. - Prizes
Top 3 presenters in each division will receive scholarships. Division will be Undergraduate, MS and PhD, if less than 10 entries in the MS and PhD divisions these divisions will be combined as graduate division.
Scholarships awards per category will be:
1st – $500
2nd – $250
3rd – $100
Timeline:
Submissions Due – March 6, 2026
Live Presenters Notified – March 16, 2026
Live Presentations – March 31 – April 2, 2026
Students should indicate any conflicts during the submission process, failure to be able to present live, will not be tolerated.
Presentation Submissions
Items needed for your submission:
- 2-3 sentence summary describing research
- YouTube link to 10 minute presentation video (Video should be set to private and unlisted)
- Bio (For use on website if selcted as live presenter)
- Headshot/Picture (For use on wesbite/social media if selected as a live presenter)