“Evidence in an Age of Uncertainty: Data, Communication, & Public Trust”
Call for Participation: Present your work at the Boston 2026 conference! Submissions due March 31, 2026.
Association for University
Business and Economic Research
A national association of regional
economic research centers
2026 Conference
Dates & Deadlines
- February: Call for participation opens (view guidelines to submit your work and present at the conference)
- March 31: Deadline for call for participation
- June 1: Tentative program posted for 2026 conference
- Sept. 1: Deadline for individual nominations and award submissions
- Sept. 18: Deadline for hotel reservations
- Sept. 18: Deadline for conference registration
- Oct. 17: AUBER workshop (select when registering for conference)
- Oct. 17-20: 79th annual AUBER Fall Conference in Boston, Mass.
Information for 2026 Conference Presenters
The Association for University Business and Economic Research (AUBER) invites you to participate in our 79th annual fall conference, October 17-20, 2026, in Boston, Massachusetts.
This year’s theme, “Evidence in an Age of Uncertainty: Data, Communication, and Public Trust,” considers our role as the providers and communicators of data and information and considers this pivotal moment in history where we experience notable shifts in technology, politics, and education.
The 2026 conference will feature engaging keynote speakers, cutting-edge research presentations, and collaborative discussions. Don’t miss your chance to participate in our exciting program!
Call for Participation
Want to join the 2026 conference program and present your work? Our concurrent sessions include a variety of work, ranging from scholarly papers, surveys, and traditional academic output, to applied/practical work of all kinds—forecasts, impact analysis, policy briefs, data dashboards, project deployment and best practices, and more.
- Include a brief description or abstract of the project, paper, or other work you would like to present.
- If proposing a panel discussion, please include the names of your panelists as well as the topic to be discussed.
- Multiple ideas may be submitted for consideration.
- Presentations are to be given in-person at the conference. All accepted presenters must register and attend in-person.
Submissions due March 31, 2026. Use our online submission form: https://forms.gle/p2nTf5rwkffLYnLo6
Questions? Contact 2026 Conference Program Chair Rod Motamedi (RMOTAMEDI@donahue.umass.edu).
Important Deadlines for Presenters
Dates subject to change.
- March 31 – Deadline for call for submissions
- May 15 – Submitters will receive notification of acceptance
- June 1 – Tentative program posted online
- Sept. 1 – Deadline to register for conference and reserve room in hotel block, or risk removal from program
- Oct. 1 – Final presentation slideshow or other materials uploaded in preparation for conference
- Oct. 17-20 – Conference held
- Nov. 1 – Recap and conference archives posted
Presentation Guidelines
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.
Technology
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.
Popular Topics
- Applied research projects
- Community resiliency
- Data visualization and dashboards
- Data delivery tools and techniques
- Demographic analysis
- Financial markets
- GIS mapping and output analysis
- Industry analysis and forecasting
- Public policy analysis
- State and local economies
- Statistical modeling and analysis
- Survey research
- Working with public and private sectors
- Center operations and challenges
- Center publicity and communications
Why Present at AUBER?
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.
Since 1947, the Association for University Business and Economic Research is the premier professional organization for economic research centers across the United States, with members from more than 65 universities and affiliate organizations.
Who Should Participate?
- Practitioners and students in the fields of regional economics, business forecasting, industry impact, financial markets, statistical modeling, output analysis, survey research, GIS mapping, data delivery, data visualization, and more.
- Developers of statistical modeling software, data analysis and visualization tools, primary data libraries, and relevant applied research technologies.
- Applied researchers employed by academia, government agencies, nonprofits, and private industry.
- Established and aspiring economists, from graduate students and junior professionals to senior experts.
Information for All 2026 Conference Attendees
Conference Hotel
Courtyard by Marriott Boston Downtown
275 Tremont Street
Boston, MA 02116
Room Block Details
The Courtyard by Marriott Downtown Boston is a boutique hotel with modern rooms and historical touches. It sits across from Tufts Medical Center on Tremont Street and offers easy access to Boston Common, the theatre district, Fenway Park, TD Garden, and the Harvard University campus.
Conference room rate: $269 per night plus applicable tax/fees. Rate ends Friday, Sept. 18 unless sold out.
Please note that when you book through our custom reservation link, you help AUBER meet our contractual quotas. If your organization requires you to use a different reservation service, please contact us (auber@bsu.edu) so we can attempt to bring your reservation into our conference block for account credit.
Hotel Amenities
- Free high-speed internet
- Post No. 10 (breakfast only, sit-down and to-go options)
- Fitness center
- Barber and beauty shop
- Laundry and valet dry cleaning
- Valet parking
Transportation and Parking
- Valet parking $75 per night
- Self-park garage available across the street
- Uber or taxi recommended
- City bus line SL4 (Tufts Medical Center)
Logistics, Travel, & Visitor Information
How to Nominate Individuals & Submit Publications for 2026 AUBER Awards
2026 Conference Contacts
- General Information, Registration & Sponsorship Opportunities
Lisa Goodpaster, AUBER Business Office – auber@bsu.edu - Program Content
Rod Motamedi, 2026 Conference Host and Program Chair – rmotamedi@donahue.umass.edu - Best Paper, Publications, & Individual Awards
Jennifer Green, Awards Committee Chair – jennifer@parcalabama.org
Michael Hicks, AUBER Secretary-Treasurer – mhicks@bsu.edu - Website Updates
Victoria Meldrum, AUBER Business Office – VRMELDRUM@bsu.edu
Boston 2026 Conference Planning Committee
- Rod Motamedi (University of Massachusetts Amherst)
- Vanessa Fry (Boise State University)
- Nicole Gislason (University of West Florida)
- Lisa Goodpaster (Ball State University)
- Jennifer Green (Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama)
- Monica Haynes (University of Minnesota Duluth)
- Michael Hicks (Ball State University)
- Benjamin McKay (Georgia Southern University)
- Victoria Meldrum (Ball State University)
- Sarah Quintanar (University of North Texas)
- Andrew Woods (University of Nevada Las Vegas)
HOSTED BY
Sponsor the 2026 Conference
Conference sponsors connect with faculty, students, and practitioners who conduct research, analyze data, and communicate economic issues that affect businesses, governments, and households.