Registration Rates: 2026

2026 Conference for Advancing Participatory Sciences

Registration for the 2026 Virtual Conference for Advancing Participatory Sciences opens soon!

Included in your registration is access to a core program of live events across four days (May 26-29) as well as access to an online event space for enhanced pre- and post-conference connections and conversations. The core program will take place between 12-5pm EDT (UTC -4) and include a variety of engaging session formats.

Globally equitable and reduced rate tickets are available to reduce financial barriers to participation. See details and options below.

BASIC REGISTRATION RATES:

AAPS Members: $95

Non-Members: $135

Register for CAPS

A 10% early bird discount is available to all who register before April 3rd, 2026.

Not yet an AAPS Member? Join as part of registration for a seamless transaction.

Member of a sister Association? The registration form will offer you discounts as follows:

  • Members of ECSA and ACSA: you can become an AAPS member at a discount, allowing you to register at the AAPS member rate for the conference. 
  • Members of RICAP and CitSciAfrica: you can register for this event at AAPS Member rates. If you are based in the Global South you can also use the Global Equity discount (see below).

REDUCED RATE TICKETS:

$60 Reduced Rate tickets are available for qualifying registrants, including:

  • Students – to qualify, students will be required to upload verification of current enrollment
  • K-12 Formal classroom teachers and educators in afterschool programs – educators will be asked to indicate school district and/or afterschool organization to qualify
  • Retirees – those who advanced or continue to work in this field in an emeritus/retiree capacity
  • Environmental Justice Practitioners and Indigenous Practitioners – please register at this rate if working on a career track in this field or if attendance is covered by a grant (see below for additional options)
  • Project Volunteers – for anyone whose sole role in this field is as a project volunteer, please register at this rate if attendance is covered by a grant or if able to accommodate the costs (see below for additional options)

Global Equity Pricing:

To facilitate globally equitable access to this event, registrants who are based in countries classified as the Global South by UNESCO are eligible to register at 50% off of the relevant ticket price (member, non-member, or reduced rate ticket). 

If you are based in the Global South and are in a financial position to register at the appropriate rate in full, please consider doing so to enable our ability to support other accessibility aspects of the event (e.g., translation services).

Please note as above that members of CitSciAfrica and of RICAP (including those with reciprocal RICAP membership via Amazon Waters Alliance and the Brazilian Citizen Science Network) are welcome to register at the AAPS Member rate if not otherwise eligible for the Reduced Rate tickets.

NOTE:  All reduced-ticket registrants must be registered before 17 May 2026.  Additional discounts (such as earlybird and global equity discounts) can also be applied if criteria are met. Registrants unable to provide any requested verification will be subject to full ticket costs.

Earlybird and Late Registration details:

Earlybird registration is now open with a 10% discount on all registrations. This discount will be automatically applied to all registrations prior to 1 March 2026.

Late registrants: Those registering the week of the event are subject to a late fee and are not guaranteed immediate access to the event/event communications. Advance registration is strongly encouraged to facilitate onboarding to event platforms (earlier registration will be required for presenters).

Cancellations and terms of refunds:

Full refunds, minus a $15 processing fee, can be provided for those cancelling by 1 May 2026. After 1 May 2026, cancellations by presenters are subject to a $35 processing fee to accommodate scheduling adjustments. No refunds will be awarded after event access passes are granted. All refunds must be requested via this form. Refunds may not be processed until after the event.

SUPPORT FOR REGISTRATION

For those who do not receive professional or career opportunities by participating, or those who have requested but not been granted financial support to attend, limited volunteer service and pay-what-you-can options are available. 

AAPS is committed to enabling equitable access to conference opportunities, and offers several options to enable attendance by those with financial barriers to registration. This support relies on contributions from partners, supporters, and donors. If you would like to help support equitable participation options, please contact us at events(@)citizenscience.org.   

Apply here for any or all options. For best chance of support, apply by 15 March 2026.

Volunteering for registration discounts

If you are a student or a career-path professional working in this field and need support to attend, consider volunteering to offset event registration costs. There are options for both a 50% discount and a full waiver, depending on need and the time commitment. In addition to cost offsets, volunteering is a great way to connect with other attendees, meet leaders in the field, and gain insights into the inner details of the program.

Volunteers must commit five or more hours to direct programmatic support before and during the virtual event. Volunteer roles may have you supporting sessions, organizing data and reports, or other aspects of the event. The application allows you to express interest, but preferred roles and hours can’t be guaranteed.

A limited number of no-commitment registration waivers are available to those who contribute more to this field than they gain from conference attendance, and who do not have access to funds via grants or partner organizations. Fee waivers can be requested by:

Environmental Justice Practitioners and Indigenous Practitioners – you may be eligible if attending this event does not offer you any career benefit, and if your registration costs are not being covered by a grant (your own or a partner’s).

Project Volunteers – you may be eligible if your sole role in this field is as a volunteer with a project, if you are not working with a project or partner covering your participation on a grant, and if you are not in a financial position to register for the event.

Requesting these waivers is simple and involves a streamlined set of questions in the form to ensure we can reach you with registration waiver details. Note that these waivers are for registration only and we cannot guarantee travel support – if you are also requesting travel support, the form will ask additional questions.

ADDITIONAL OPTIONS:

If you would like to register your team (5 or more individuals) we can facilitate this with an invoice. Email events(@)citizenscience.org to request a custom invoice link. 

Are you employed in this field, or are you a student pursuing relevant studies? Have you requested professional development support from your employer or advisor? Download this letter to help make your case for financial support to attend.