The 2026 Invertebrates in Education and Conservation Conference will be held in person August 19th-22nd at the Hilton El Conquistador in Tucson, AZ and broadcast for virtual participants worldwide. Participants come from many backgrounds, including zoos, insectariums, academia, government, and hobby. Discussion topics include but are not limited to:
- Invertebrate husbandry, conservation and welfare
- Invertebrate exhibition
- Educational programming and outreach
- Governmental regulations and oversight
Submission deadline is March 16th and all submissions will be reviewed after this date. You will be notified of the status of your proposal by mid-April. If you have any questions please enter them in the form below or email Erin Sullivan at Erin.sullivan@zoo.org.
To submit your abstract of no more than 100 words, please click this link:
Submission details:
The types of presentations or interactives are:
- Full Paper Presentation (18 min)
- Short Paper Presentation (9 min)
- Workshop (3 hours)
- Round Table Discussion
- Field Trip
Please outline accessibility considerations for participants in your proposal. For workshops, this may include use of open flames, strong odors, loud or sudden noises, large-scale messes, outdoor exposure, physical exertion, or safety equipment. For field trips, please include information on physical exertion and terrain, as well as distance and duration, heat sensitivity, elevation change, trail surface, and any known obstacles.
We offer the registration discounts for presenters and field trip leaders to encourage broad representation by the invertebrate specialist community, and only one registration discount is allowed per presenter or leader. If presenters/leaders are able to decline the discount and pay full registration, we appreciate your support. Additional fees for optional events and meals are not included with any registration discounts. Please, do not submit a proposal unless your support to attend the conference is guaranteed.
Submission of a proposal does not register you for the conference or guarantee a place in the program. Speaker and workshop registration discounts only apply if payment is received by July 31, 2026, unless otherwise arranged.
Young people are always welcome to participate, but those under 18 years of age are required to come with a registered parent or legal guardian who will accompany them at all conference events.