Join the Association of University Business and Economic Research as we explore the dynamic shifts shaping economic development, population trends, and business opportunities across the country. All researchers, practitioners, and students are invited to our 78th annual conference!
The Association for University Business and Economic Research (AUBER) invites you to our 78th annual fall conference, October 4-7, 2025, in Missoula, Montana.
This year’s theme, The New Geography of U.S. Growth, will explore the dynamic shifts shaping economic development, population trends, and business opportunities across the country.
Hosted by the University of Montana, the conference will feature engaging keynote speakers, cutting-edge research presentations, and collaborative discussions on the forces driving regional economies in an era of rapid change. Against the stunning backdrop of Montana’s mountains and rivers, you’ll connect with fellow researchers and practitioners while gaining fresh insights into the evolving economic landscape. Don’t miss this opportunity to share ideas and shape the conversation on the future of U.S. growth!
The AUBER conference is a great environment for students and junior researchers to present their work (finished or ongoing) and receive mentorship from experts.
Likewise, established researchers and practitioners can “talk shop” with peers from across the nation and beyond.
Each presenter is given approximately 30 minutes during their session. We recommend you prepare 15-20 minutes of material and allow 5-10 minutes for audience questions.
Most presentations make use of slide deck software, such as Microsoft PowerPoint, Google Slides, or Apple Keynote. Please upload your finished slide deck to the AUBER Google Drive by Oct. 1. Contact your session moderator for the upload link. This deadline allows us to save time and stress at the conference by troubleshooting technical issues in advance.
The call for submissions to present at the 2025 conference are CLOSED. Contact Victoria or your session chair for further information.
All presenters must register for the conference by Sept. 3 (early-bird rates end Aug. 22). Reserve your hotel room by Sept. 3 using our group booking link (DO NOT use a third-party booking site).
Presentation files should be emailed by Oct. 1 to your session moderator.
Wifi should be available in the conference rooms, but internet speed/bandwidth may be limited.
Each conference room will use a screen projector and have a laptop at the presenter podium. Your presentation files will be saved onto the desktop to save time between presentations. At this time, we do not know what kind of accessory ports will be available.
Please contact your session chair if you have specific technical needs.
What to expect at the AUBER Fall Conference
Saturday events begin on the Upper Lobby Level of the hotel with a welcome reception for all conference attendees and their paid guests (drinks and hors d’oeuvres, business casual attire) in the early evening, followed by dinner on your own. At 9 PM, return to the hotel for a nightcap with fellow attendees in our hospitality suite. A pre-conference workshop may be offered Saturday afternoon (separate fee). Details forthcoming.
Sunday offers a full day of stimulating conference content. Keynote speakers will present during breakfast and lunch and concurrent sessions will run through the day until 5 PM. Dinner is on your own, and the hospitality suite will offer cocktails and conversation 9 PM until midnight.
Monday offers concurrent sessions in the morning, bookended by keynote presentations at breakfast and lunch. The afternoon is reserved for a group excursion that gives a taste of Missoula’s culture, commerce, and natural beauty. A dinner celebration will provide entertainment and local flavors for all attendees and their paid guests. The hospitality suite will be open after dinner until midnight.
Tuesday is the final day of the conference, offering a keynote presentation at breakfast and concurrent sessions in the morning. The conference concludes midday, but a workshop (separate fee) may be offered in the afternoon. An additional field trip (separate fee) may also be organized. Details forthcoming.
Add your spouse, partner, or significant other to your conference registration to attend the following social events—Welcome Reception (Sat.), Hospitality Suite (Sat., Sun., Mon.), Local Excursion (Mon. afternoon), and Dinner Celebration (Mon. evening).
Note: For security, your guest should be accompanied by you at all times while attending these social events as described above. The guest pass does NOT include entry to the daytime conference rooms or the meal and break areas.
Missoula in October
Avg. Daytime High: 57ºF • Avg. Nighttime Low: 23ºF
Fall mornings in Missoula are crisp, with thin layers of frost forming on lawns and car windows. Snow will begin to accumulate high in the surrounding mountains, creating a view of lovely crested peaks. Vibrant autumn colors will seem to appear overnight, telling the birds to pack up and wait out the cold months down south. Our beloved University brings in new faces, friendships and experiences that keep the ever changing and youthful heart of the town beating. All of these signs point to the arrival of fall in Missoula.
Daytime attire at the AUBER conference is business casual. Event spaces at hotels and convention centers are often a little chilly, so we recommend that you bring a blazer or light jacket or cardigan in case you get cold.
We also recommend that you bring a pair of comfortable walking shoes. The hotel is located on the edge of downtown, so many groups may walk to dinner.
The Holiday Inn Missoula Downtown provides a free hotel shuttle to/from the airport (MSO – Missoula International Airport), the hotel, and to any location within Missoula City Limits. Learn More »
Holiday Inn Missoula Downtown
200 South Pattee Street
Missoula, MT 59802
Book online using our group booking link*, or call the front desk at +1.406.721.8550. Be sure to mention our group code when making your reservation to ensure your reservation is included in our block.
Reservation Deadline: September 3, 2025 or until capacity is met. Please note there is no guarantee of hotel availability beyond this date.
* Please note the reservation link is not compatible with mobile devices.
The Holiday Inn Missoula Downtown provides a free hotel shuttle to/from the airport (MSO – Missoula International Airport), the hotel, and to any location within Missoula City Limits. Learn More »
Missoula offers zero-fare bus service, ample parking, and miles of trails for biking and walking throughout the city. View Options for City Bus, Driving, Biking, & More »
Conference room rates are negotiated with an expected minimum number of stays per night during the conference. Your reservation helps us to meet our contractual commitments to the hotel and better plan for the entire event. Please note that if you make reservations through a third-party reservation site instead of within our group block, these rooms will not count toward our contract minimums.
Legacy Lounge
529 S. Higgins • 406.439.3930 • legacyloungmt.com
Legacy Lounge is a small music venue and gallery on the Hip Strip. Come by and see some art that you might not see in a traditional gallery show and listen to music by some of Missoula’s best underground DJs.
MCT, Inc. – Center for the Performing Arts
200 N. Adams • 406.728.1911 • mctinc.org
World-famous Missoula Children’s Theatre and the Missoula Community Theatre focused on building creativity, social skills, and self-esteem through touring and home theater productions.
Missoula Symphony Association
320 E. Main St. • 406.721.3194 • missoulasymphony.org
Missoula’s Symphony Orchestra and Chorale, featuring high-quality musicians, 10 live performances annually, and music education and outreach throughout the year.
The Roxy Theater
718 S. Higgins St. • 406.728.9380 • theroxytheater.org
Missoula’s little theater on the Hip Strip features new and old releases of independent, foreign and classic films, theater, and community events.
Westside Theater & Bare Bait Dance
1200 Shakespeare, Ste. 2 • 406.493.0123 • thewestsidetheater.com
Artist-run nonprofit theater and studio space committed to developing and presenting live performance with a focus on movement and aerial arts.
Boone and Crockett Club & Visitors Gallery
250 Station • 406.542.1888 • boone-crockett.org
With a focus on conservation, ethics, and big game hunting, folks can see extraordinary animals at the visitor center inside the Historic Milwaukee Station.
Historical Museum at Fort Missoula
Building 322 at Fort Missoula • 406.728.3476 • fortmissoulamuseum.org
Missoula’s history lives here in 13 historic structures and multiple exhibits that tell of the story of trade, imprisonment, forestry, and fire.
Missoula Art Museum
335 N. Pattee St. • 406.728.0447 • missoulaartmuseum.org
Missoula’s flagship and admission-free art institution, featuring a brand new outdoor Art Park and eight galleries showcasing diverse and engaging contemporary local and international artists.
Montana Museum of Art & Culture
Performing Arts TV Center, University of Montana • 406.243.2019 • umt.edu/montanamuseum
Home to one of the oldest and most prominent collections in the Rocky Mountain West, the state museum of fine art connects Montana to the world.
Montana Natural History Center
120 Hickory St. • 406.327.0405 • MontanaNaturalist.org
Showcasing Montana’s natural environments, and educating teachers and children about the natural history of the Northern Rockies.
National Museum of Forest Service History
6305 Highway 10 West • 406.541.6374 • forestservicemuseum.org
Missoula’s newest museum dedicated to the history, education and collection of the USDA Forest Service. Located one mile west of the Missoula Airport.
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
5705 Grant Creek • 406.523.3495 • elkfoundation.org
Focused on the preservation of elk and wildlife habitat, and hunting heritage, RMEF has an extraordinary visitors center filled with animal education exhibits.
Options:
AUBER award entries are open now until August 1!
These awards are open to all AUBER members in good standing. Recipients will be announced during the 2025 Fall Conference in Missoula, Oct. 4-7.
Submit your center’s publication or website for an Award of Excellence, or submit your scholarly paper for the Paul Polzin Prize for Best Paper.
Nominate an outstanding individual for the Fellow of AUBER Award or the prestigious R. Thayne Robson Award. You can also recommend an individual (active or retired) for Honorary Membership.
