All undergraduates are encouraged to submit poster and/or lightning round proposals to present their research at the annual meeting, the largest yearly gathering of historians in the United States.

 

Poster Proposals

Posters allow presenters to have one-on-one conversations with other historians about their research. They’re a great way to meet others with similar research interests and make professional connections. The proposal portal is open from August 15 through October 15 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Collect the following information to submit a poster proposal:

  • Abstract of poster (up to 500 words)
  • Short abstract of poster for the meeting app (up to 50 words)
  • Biographical paragraph or link to CV (up to 250 words)

The abstract should establish the geographic and chronological scope of the topic, the topic’s significance, what sources/methods were used, and what your argument is; in addition, poster abstracts should describe how information will be displayed visually in the poster format.

Posters may be presented by an individual or by a group. For more information about preparing a poster, see the AHA’s Poster Resources.

Submit a Poster Proposal

 

Lightning Round Presentations

Share your research in a three-minute presentation to fellow historians. The AHA generally holds two lightning rounds for undergraduate research. The proposal portal is open from August 15 through November 15 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Prepare the following information to submit a lightning round proposal:

  • Presentation title
  • Brief description of research (up to 100 words)—this will not be published

To the extent possible, the brief description should establish the geographic and chronological scope of the topic, the topic’s significance, what sources/methods were used, and what your argument is

Lightning rounds are moderated, 90-minute sessions. The moderator will introduce each presenter and, after all the presentations have been given, will guide an audience Q&A. Presenters may use slides (generally a title card and 1–3 slides). If you are presenting, you should expect to stay for the whole session.

For more information on preparing for the lightning round, take a look at the AHA’s Guide to Lightning Rounds.

For more information about presenting at and making the most of the meeting, view the AHA’s Guide to Navigating the Annual Meeting as an Undergraduate.

Submit a Presentation Proposal