FAQ

• Motivational keynote speakers
• Robust offering of STEM Symposia and Professional Development sessions
• Student research presentations
• Academic and Career Expo
• Cultural celebrations, art, and music
• Lunch each day of the conference for all attendees and exhibitors

Starting on Wednesday, October 29th, you can bring the email with your badge QR code either on your phone or printed to the Convention Center to the registration check-in kiosks. Registration is located in the North Atrium next to the As We Are 3-D artwork.

Reminder: There is a $50 badge reprint fee if the badge is lost. Please take care to not lose your badge, as it will give you access to the conference.

Badge Pick-Up and Registration Hours

Wednesday, October 29 | 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Thursday, October 30 | 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday, October 31 | 7:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday, November 1 | 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

We will miss you at NDiSTEM! All sales are final, cancellations are not permitted. Substitutions for conference registration is permitted prior to October 20, 2025, after that date, substitutions will not be accepted. Only one substitution is permitted per original registrant. The individual submitting the substitution request is responsible for updating contact information AND all financial obligations associated with that substitution. A $50 substitution fee will apply for all substitutions.

No guest passes will be issued at the NDiSTEM Conference. Any person entering the convention center session rooms or exhibit hall will need a paid registration with a verified badge, no exceptions will be made.

We will have cultural events that will be open to the public but will be announced at a later time.

Yes, a limited number of discounted rooms have been held by SACNAS at our conference partner hotels. The direct booking links will be included in the registration confirmation email. You can also find just a list of the hotels under the "Travel" tab of this website.

If the rooms at the discounted rate are sold out, we recommend making reservations at the hotel through their public site which you can access below by clicking the name of the hotel, or at any other hotel around the Convention Center or any other housing option that fits your schedule and budget. 

The discounted room rates are only for attendees of the 2025 NDiSTEM and SACNAS will be checking the reservations against our registration list to ensure only registered attendees are reserving the rooms. The booking links are not transferable and should not be shared. 

Business casual attire. This includes traditional dress, regalia, jewelry, and other items to share your culture with our community! Please also bring nice, comfortable shoes to walk throughout the convention center. (Pajamas, shorts, or sandals are not appropriate for the conference.)

Yes! Lunch is provided on October 30 - November 1 for all attendees. All other meals are on your own and concessions will be open at the Convention Center. 

Welcome to the SACNAS community! If you become a member within one week of registering for the conference, we will refund you the $100 member discount. Fill out this form and we will help you out!

SACNAS does not permit children to attend the conference, as all attendees must be 18 years or older when registering for the conference. In addition, SACNAS does not provide childcare services during NDiSTEM. Attendees requiring assistance with childcare should contact their hotel concierge.

The Family Participation Policy extends to all minors (ages 17 and under). All conference attendees must be 18 years or older, with the only exceptions as follows:

Exceptions

• Infants (up to 12 months) or children up to 24 months can stay with their parent(s) throughout the conference. SACNAS will provide a lactation room at the convention center for nursing and/or bottle-feeding parents.

• Children (up to age 17) of an invited Plenary Keynote or Plenary Featured speakers will be allowed to attend the conference the day their parent or guardian is presenting, but they must be accompanied by another parent or guardian while within the convention center.

• Children (up to age 17) of a session speaker will only be allowed to attend their family member’s session and will not be allowed to attend other conference activities. All minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian while within the convention center.

Disclaimer: If children are brought to the convention center and/or any SACNAS events, the parent/guardian is the sole responsible party. If the child/ren are over 24 months old, the conference participant will be asked to adhere to the Family Participation Policy and remove the child/ren from the conference. SACNAS will not be responsible for any injury, illness, death, loss, damage, expense, cost, or other sum to any child/ren brought to the conference or any related conference activities.

The Greater Columbus Convention Center has a designated nursing room located on the Central Atrium. They also have family restrooms located in Upper A-Pod (behind room A-210) and another in the Center Lounge restrooms near the South Café & Marketplace. These single-use areas are equipped with a seat, electricity outlets and a lockable door. 

COLOR is subject to funding this year. Check back on our website by late May.

Yes, it is possible that more than 1 Officer/Member from each chapter will be accepted. However, priority will be given to ensure that we have AT LEAST 1 representative from each chapter attend COLOR.

COLOR participants are only being selected if they are Chapter Officers this year. Email chapters@sacnas.org for any questions.

Yes, you may participate in COLOR, but depending on how funding is handled this year, you may need to find alternative funding to attend. Please refer to our Funding Page for help!

Accepted COLOR participants will have their airfare, lodging (hotel), and registration for NDiSTEM covered.

To facilitate an uninterrupted community-building experience, COLOR is technology-free for participants— you may bring your devices but please do not use them during the event and do keep them silenced and in your bag during the program.

We recommend bringing a notepad to take notes, but we will be providing folders and pens.

Bring your whole and best self! In other words, we suggest “business casual” (e.g. no graphic t shirts, no jeans, & no sweats), and we welcome traditional regalia or other culturally important items or apparel that represent who you are.

Exhibit Hall Schedule

Exhibit Move In:  
Wednesday October 29, 2025 - 12:00PM to 5:00PM
Thursday October 30, 2025 - 7:00AM to 9:00AM

Exhibit Hall Hours: 
Thursday October 30, 2025 - 10:00AM - 5:00PM
Friday October 31, 2025 - 9:00AM - 5:00PM 

Exhibit Move Out: 
Friday October 31, 2025 - 5:00PM-8:00PM 

We are here to help! We are available Monday-Friday 8:30am-5pm PST. 

You can call us at: 831-512-1173 or email us at:

• Exhibits: exhibits@sacnas.org 
• Sponsorships: partnerships@sacnas.org 
• NDiSTEM Registration: reg@sacnas.org 
• General Info: info@sacnas.org 

Great question! You can register a group here.
There is no discount for registering a large group.

Exclusive registration links via our membership portal, discounted registration pricing, webinars and member events throughout the year. You can find it all here! 

Click here for instructions on how to check your membership status.
Your membership type should say Student, Postdoc/New Professional, Professional 1, Professional 2, or Lifetime to be eligible for member pricing. “Free SACNISTA” members are not eligible.

Email members@sacnas.org.

Yes! Click here to learn more about supporting dues for others. Thank you for your generosity! 

No, acceptance of the Research Presentation does not include funding for your conference registration. You will be responsible for covering the cost of registration.  

Detailed instructions will be emailed to you, do not register before you receive them. For any questions, please email travelscholarships@sacnas.org.

No. If you needed to request funding for NDiSTEM, a separate  SACNAS Travel Scholarship should have also been submitted. The Travel Scholarship application closed on March 28. The Summer application is pending due to funding. 

No, Spring applications are closed but Summer applications will be open June 4th. For more information please visit this link.

Yes, but we encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity! If you would still like to cancel your presentation, contact us immediately at presentations@sacnas.org.  

We encourage you to check out our webpage Funding Your Way to a Conference where you will find resources and ideas, including a downloadable proposal letter template. 

Travel Scholars only, please do not book a hotel room for yourself. SACNAS coordinates all hotel and flight bookings and cannot reimburse you for hotel stays booked on your own.