Annual Conference & Exhibition

Every June, thousands of Association members and other professionals from around the globe gather for the largest environmental management meeting held in North America: the Association's Annual Conference & Exhibition.

Attendees exchange technical and managerial information, enhance professional knowledge and skills and conduct the Association's business. They hear and present papers, meet in committees with colleagues and, perhaps most importantly, interact informally with peers. This personal involvement fosters an exchange of ideas that advances the art and science of air pollution control, waste management and environmental management.

Technical Programs

About 150 technical sessions are held during the Annual Conference & Exhibition. Original technical presentations are offered on the following topics:

Air

  • basic sciences
  • emissions control technology
  • optical sensing
  • sources
  • toxic air pollutants
  • business risk management
  • legal and government policy issues
  • insurance issues
  • financial and accounting issues
  • environmental business decisions

Education

  • job preparation information
  • student information exchange
  • environmental education
  • public information and outreach

Environmental Management

  • effects
  • industrial processes
  • measurement
  • program administration
  • pollution prevention

International

  • international air/waste issues
  • sustainable development
  • transboundary issues
  • technology cooperation
  • environmental education

Waste

  • hazardous, radioactive and mixed waste
  • municipal and medical waste
  • site remediation and closure

Exhibition

The 3-day exhibition is internationally recognized as the most comprehensive event of its kind held annually in North America. Thousands of attendees examine the products and services of the world's leading manufacturers and suppliers of instrumentation, pollution control equipment, and consulting and waste management services.

Business Meetings

More than 80 committees and panels meet during the week to conduct Association business, discuss the state-of-the art in specific areas of environmental expertise, and plan future meetings, publications, education courses, and technical sessions. Committee meetings are open to all members of the Association. Members can influence the scope and direction of the Association's programs by participating in these meetings.

Other facets of the Annual Conference & Exhibition are:

  • Professional development courses
  • Technical tours of facilities related to the technical program
  • Job placement assistance for employees and employers
  • Student programs
  • Annual luncheon of the American Academy of Environmental Engineers (AAEE)
  • Social events including luncheons, receptions and mixers
  • The annual Honors & Awards program during which the Association recognizes individuals and organizations who contribute to the understanding and solution of environmental problems by bestowing formal honors and awards and recognizing distinctive classes of membership
  • Guest program
  • International Urban Forum

Arranging Sessions for the Annual Conference & Exhibition

The Association offers many opportunities to participate in helping to exchange information, but none is so basic as the chance to organize a session for an Annual Conference & Exhibition. Arranging a session enables you to influence the direction and scope of Association activities and programs.

If you want to arrange a session for the Annual Conference & Exhibition, the best way is to become involved with the Technical Coordinating Committee covering your topic of interest. Another way to become involved is to call the Annual Conference Technical Program Chair or Vice Chair and volunteer.

Writing a Paper for the Annual Conference & Exhibition

Typically, more than 750 presentations about air, waste and environmental management issues are delivered at the Annual Conferences. All papers are reviewed and selected by the Annual Conference Technical Program Committee and Technical Council members.

Annual Conference papers come to the Committee in two ways:

  • Session arrangers and chair directly solicit abstracts.
  • A general call-for-papers is published in the Journal, EM, special solicitations and other trade magazines.

Delivering and publishing a paper at the Annual Conference & Exhibition is a valued privilege for most environmental professionals. Since the papers are reviewed and carefully selected, they contribute to the significant literature in the field. As a result, the author receives peer recognition, enhancing his or her professional reputation.

To propose and place a paper, follow these six easy steps:

  1. Select a session from the published list of accepted sessions available from the Home Office at +1-412-232-3444 or on the Web site at www.awma.org.
  2. Submit an abstract via the online abstract submittal program available from the Annual Conference portion of the A&WMA Web site. The deadline for proposals is early fall for the following year's Annual Conference.
  3. You will be notified whether your abstract is accepted.
  4. Once accepted, your manuscript must be submitted by the date designated each year.
  5. Your paper is reviewed by the session chair and others. You will be asked to make any necessary changes and submit the final manuscript by the designated due date.
  6. So that the paper can be included in the CD ROM and available at the Annual Conference, the final manuscript is due about 8 weeks from the review date.